The Addiction Psychologist

Healthcare in the United States can be exceptional—that is, if you have enough resources. What if our systems worked to support people with fewer resources to get the help they needed? Dr. Ricky Bluthenthal discusses systemic barriers impeding access to harm reduction and just how much policy influences health outcomes. Dr. Ricky Bluthenthal is a Distinguished Professor and Chair of of the Departm...

GLP-1s have rapidly increased in popularity, Due to their seemingly remarkable ability to facilitate weight loss. These findings have led to increased interest in understanding whether GLP-1s might be useful for changing other behaviors, such as as substance use. In this episode, Dr. Joseph Schacht discusses the science behind GLP-1 medications and their potential as treatments for substance use d...

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 Behavio...

What would you do alone in a cage with nothing but cocaine? These are the precise experimental arrangements in animal models that served as the foundation for popular models framing addiction as a compulsive brain disease. Yet, follow up studies have demonstrated that, under conditions with alternatives or social connection, rats (and humans) respond differently. In her new book, What would you do...

How does the environment impact a person's recovery journey over time? In this episode, Drs. Jalie Tucker and Katie Witkiewitz discuss their recently articulated dynamic behavioral ecological model of recovery , with a bonus discussion about shallow lakes! Dr. Jalie Tucker is the Founding Director of the Center for Behavioral Economic Health Research and the Mary F. Lane Endowed Professor in t...

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 Pro...

Death by suicide has increased in recent decades, propelling it to the 11th leading cause of death in the United States. Substance use is common among people at risk for suicide and is often involved during suicide attempts. In this episode, Dr. David Rudd talks with us about suicide, it's overlap with substance use, and current clinical best practice for managing suicidal thoughts, feelings,...

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 the...

In many clinical contexts, substance use disorder is often treated 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 the other. On this episode, Dr. Sudie Back talks about the importance of treating co-occurring PTSD and substance...

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...

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 consi...

On this Addiction Psychologist segment, we talk to experts about new policy developments to get a better understanding of the implications for our work, our clients, and our personal lives. On this episode, we talk with Dr. Lara Coughlin about the science of contingency management, recent changes in incentive allowance for contingency management, and how these changes might impact practice. Dr. La...

Dr. Kirsten Smith joined us in June 2022 for a wonderful discussion about Kratom. In this episode, she updates us on the volatile changes that have occurred since our last discussion. Dr. Kirsten Smith is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in the Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit at Johns Hopkins University.  If you haven't heard the first episode, make sure to ha...

Although risk of substance use disorder exists for anyone that uses substances, study after study shows that early initiation of substance use in adolescence is a strong predictor of later substance-related problems and is associated with higher risk . What is going on in the brain during adolescence, and how do substances affect it? Dr. Lindsay Squeglia discusses the development of the brain duri...

Gambling continues to grow in popularity in the United States, particularly with the introduction of sport betting. Should we be concerned? Dr. Jeremiah Weinstock joins us to discuss prevalence of gambling disorder, differences between gambling and substance use disorders, and the potential implications o rapidly rising rates of gambling in the United States. Dr. Weinstock is a Professor and the D...

Alcohol is often consumed around others: at bars or clubs, social events, college parties, or dinner with friends. How does alcohol influence social connection, and vis-a-versa? Why are they so seemingly interconnected? In this episode, Dr. Michael Sayette discusses his research on alcohol's relationship with the social context and the clinical importance of understanding how the acute effects of...

Substance use often initiates in adolescence, and an earlier age of first use is associated with a higher likelihood of lifetime problems. But, do risky behaviors carry the same risks for everybody? Dr. Tammy Chung discusses social determinants of health and racial health disparities in young people and highlights how factors in our society create disparities, resulting in more risk from substance...

Alcohol impairs motor activity and cognitive functioning that is critical for effective and safe driving, increasing risk of accident. In fact, approximately 1/3 of all traffic fatalities are alcohol-related. Why do some people drive after drinking despite these risks? Dr. Denis McCarthy discusses the history of impaired driving and policy, theories of impaired driving-related decision making, and...

People attempting recovery face formidable challenges to successful sustained remission. Return to use depends upon the individual's access to recovery capital, or the collection of resources available that can bolster or improve recovery. In this episode, Dr. Emily Hennessy discusses the science of recovery capital and how improving recovery capital can enhance recovery and save lives. Dr. Em...

People range in their readiness to make changes to different behaviors. Processes occurring naturally in each stage differ across the spectrum of readiness to for behavior change. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Carlo DiClemente about the origins and development of the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change. This model has become a standard and common language for a generation of behavior cha...

People attempting recovery from addiction are best served when recovery can be achieved through multiple, diverse, pathways that fit their needs and recovery goals. Although the most commonly used recovery support service is Alcoholics Anonymous (or a similar Anonymous affiliated group), some object to core tenets or cultural elements and may benefit from alternative options. SMART Recovery is one...

In the past few years, a novel adulterant, Xylazine, has emerged in the illicit opioid drug supply. Between 2020 and 2021, there was a more than 1000% increase in xylazine-positive overdose mortalities in the United States from 2020 to 2021. What is Xylazine? How does it work? Why has it emerged in the supply? Dr. Cassandra Gipson-Reichardt discusses emerging literature on Xylazine and answers our...

Many with substance use disorders make recovery attempts, whether through abstinence or reduction goals. However, some level of return to previous levels of use are relatively common, and treatments developed over the past four decades have typically included elements focused on relapse prevention. However, this was not always the case. Dr. Katie Witkiewitz discusses the history of relapse prevent...

In general, most people have some degree of ambivalence towards behavior change. Whether reducing television in the evenings, eating less chocolate, or deciding to limit or abstain from alcohol, most people can identify reasons they would prefer to maintain the status quo and reasons to make a change. How can one move from ambivalence to action? Dr. Bill Miller discusses the origins and key tenets...

Chronic pain commonly co-occurs with substance use disorder and may get in the way of recovery goals and valued living. Despite this, chronic pain can go untreated and unmanaged in treatment settings, and many people with substance use disorders struggle to get treatment for pain due to addiction stigma. Dr. Jeff Boissoneault provides an overview of the intersection between pain and substance use...