The Addiction Psychologist

Dr. Joseph Schacht, an addiction researcher and clinician-scientist, explores whether GLP-1 medications could alter substance use. He explains GLP-1 biology, drug development, and why these drugs might affect reward pathways. The conversation covers current human trial findings, safety and equity concerns, cost and access, and practical clinical questions about who might benefit and how to pair medications with behavioral care.

In this episode of the Addiction Psychologist Podcast, Dr. Andrea King discusses her extensive research on subjective effects of alcohol and their implications for addiction. The conversation covers her journey in addiction research, the Chicago Social Drinking Project, and the importance of understanding individual differences in alcohol response. Dr. King is a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Chicago and the Director of the Clinical Addictions Research Laboratory. Learn more about her work here. Chapters01:07 - Dr. Andrea King's Journey in Addiction Research09:52 - Understanding Subjective Effects of Alcohol18:07 - The Chicago Social Drinking Project Overview25:41 - Longitudinal Findings on Alcohol Sensitivity35:30 - The Complexity of Alcohol Use and Recovery49:21 - Future Directions in Alcohol Research52:31 - Take Home Messages for Recovery and Practice

Dr. Hanna Pickard, a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University and addiction expert, dives deep into the complex nature of addiction. She challenges the conventional view of addiction as a mere brain disease, emphasizing the role of social factors and personal values. Through her book's provocative title, she explores how isolation influences drug use. Pickard elucidates the reasons behind continued use despite severe consequences, discussing concepts like self-medication and identity, and advocates for a multidimensional approach to understanding addiction.

Dr. Katie Witkiewitz, a renowned researcher on alcohol treatment outcomes, and Dr. Jalie Tucker, an expert in behavioral economics, explore the dynamic behavioral ecological model of recovery. They discuss how social networks and environmental factors shape recovery journeys rather than focusing solely on the individual. The fascinating ‘shallow lakes’ analogy illustrates abrupt transitions in recovery. Both emphasize the importance of supportive environments, the need for context-aware precision medicine, and innovative outreach for underserved communities.

What happens when a government sets the minimum price for alcohol? In this episode with Professor John Holmes, we unpack the science behind the minimum unit pricing policy, including the model working conducted by Professor Holmes and members of his team. We then find out how minimum unit pricing was implemented in Scotland and whether (and for whom) it impacted drinking. Professor Holmes is a Professor of Alcohol Policy in the Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research (SCHARR) at the University of Sheffield. He is also the Director of the Sheffield Addictions Research Group, the Lead Director of the Wellcome Doctoral Training Centre in Public Health Economics and Decision Science, and the Co-Director of the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Addictions. Find out more about his work, and the work of the Sheffield Addictions Research Group, here.

In this engaging discussion, Dr. David Rudd, a Distinguished University Professor and expert in suicide and substance use, tackles the rising rates of suicide and its ties to substance use. He highlights the significance of language in understanding suicidal ideation, advocating for compassionate approaches in clinical practice. Dr. Rudd explains the complex interplay between substance use and suicide risk, offering insights into effective interventions. He also emphasizes the importance of hope, accessibility in crisis care, and support for underserved communities.

Over the last decade, more and more people seem to be rethinking their drinking. This is in part evident by the recent surge in popularity of non-alcoholic beverages, or beverages that emulate the characteristics of alcoholic beverages but that have zero or very low alcohol content. How many people drinking non-alcoholic beverages? Are these helpful for people trying to reduce alcohol use? Are they harmful? How can science guide policy to help maximize the benefits and minimize the costs of non-alcoholic beverages? In this episode, Dr. Molly Bowdring generously answers our questions and discusses the current science on non-alcoholic beverages, what we still need to know, and how policy might effect any potential harms or benefits to public health. Dr. Molly Bowdring is an Instructor in the Stanford Prevention Research Center and practicing psychologist in the Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic at Stanford University School of Medicine.

In many clinical contexts, substance use disorder is oftentreated separately from posttraumatic stress disorder. Yet, these conditions commonly co-occur and are reciprocally determinant, meaning that the outcomes of a course of treatment for either condition might depend upon treating theother. On this episode, Dr. Sudie Back talks about the importance of treating co-occurring PTSD and substance use disorder simultaneously, and the prolonged exposure treatment, COPE, she developed with her colleagues to manage both disorders. Dr. Sudie Back is a professor, and the director of the NIH-sponsored DART research training program, in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina. She is also a psychologist at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Hospital.

Behavioral addictions have increased in importance over the past few decades and are perhaps more relevant than ever with the legalization of sports betting across America. However, there is still debate about whether behavioral addictions exist. While some disordered behavior, such as gambling and gaming disorder, have recently received more widespread recognition (as demonstrated by inclusion or consideration in the DSM-5), others, such as sex or food-related addiction, remain controversial. What should we consider when categorizing behaviors as addictions, and how might categorizations impact science and practice? Dr. Josh Grubbs joins us to discuss the journey and complexities of behavioral addictions, whether they are similar or different from substance addictions, and how we might consider treating such conditions moving forward. Dr. Grubbs is an Associate Professor at the University of New Mexico and an investigator at the Center on Alcohol, Substance use, and Addictions (CASAA), where he studies compulsive sexual behavior disorder, gambling disorder, and personality characteristics. Find out more about his work here.

The world population is aging. In the United States alone, the population of older adults 65 and up is projected to nearlydouble by 2060, from 49 million in 2016 to 95 million people. This historic change in population demographics will require shifts in public health responses. In this episode, we spoke with Dr. Alexis Kuerbis about how older adults use substances, and the unique factors to consider when working with aging populations. Dr. Alexis Kuerbis is a Social Worker and Professor in the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College in the City University of New York and The Graduate Center at CUNY. Dr. Kuerbis also maintains a private practice in New York City. Learn more about her work here.