The Transformed Minds Pod

Cannabis is more available, more potent, and more normalized than ever but what does the evidence say about its effects on teenagers? In this episode of Transformed Minds, Dr. O is joined by Dr. Vito, a child, adolescent, and addiction board-certified psychiatrist and faculty member at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, to discuss the latest research on cannabis and adolescent mental health. Togethe...

Can psilocybin help patients with treatment-resistant depression and what does the latest clinical evidence mean for people dealing with both depression and addiction? In this episode of The Transformed Minds (Host Rx), psychiatrist Dr. O breaks down a landmark 2022 NEJM phase II randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial examining psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Dr....

Can psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy help reduce heavy drinking in alcohol use disorder? In this Host Rx episode, Dr. O analyzes the landmark 2022 JAMA Psychiatry randomized clinical trial examining psilocybin combined with psychotherapy for adults with alcohol dependence. Dr. O explains: • The study design and outcomes • How psilocybin may promote cognitive flexibility • Safety considerations •...

Stimulant overdose deaths are rising rapidly and one of the most effective treatments remains widely misunderstood. In this episode of Transform Minds Podcast, Dr. O sits down with addiction psychiatrist Dr. Dong Chan Park to explore contingency management (CM), an evidence-based treatment for stimulant use disorder that uses immediate rewards to reinforce recovery behaviors. Drawing on a 2025 Ame...

In this episode, Dr. O examines how self-harm, substance use, and emotional dysregulation interact to increase risk in adolescents and young adults. Drawing on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2025, this discussion highlights how mental disorders, substance use, and self-harm are leading contributors to disability in ages 10–24. Key topics include: Substance use as a major risk factor for suicid...

Are dose caps on buprenorphine costing lives? In this episode of the Transform Mind Podcast, Dr. O and Dr. Drits dig into the evidence and the gaps around buprenorphine dosing for opioid use disorder In the fentanyl era, drawing on a 2023 narrative review by Grande and colleagues published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine. Higher doses are consistently linked to better treatment retention. Yet...

Why does mental health care stay fragmented when the evidence for effective treatment already exists? In this Host Rx episode, Dr. O argues that persistent treatment gaps are a structural problem, not a knowledge problem. Drawing on a 2023 Lancet Psychiatry paper, Dr. O breaks down what's actually driving fragmentation: Insurance design and weak parity enforcement Prior authorization delays bl...

In this episode of Transformed Minds Season 2, Dr. O sits down with addiction medicine specialist Dr. Desai, a CATCH Team Lead Physician (Consult for Addiction Treatment and Care in Hospitals), for a deep clinical dive into alcohol withdrawal management in the hospital setting. Whether you're a hospitalist, internist, nurse, resident, addiction medicine clinician, or medical student, this epis...

In this Host Rx episode, Dr. O examines a critical reality in addiction care: access gaps. Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), including buprenorphine, reduce all-cause mortality by approximately 50%. The evidence is clear. Yet in the United States, who receives these medications often depends on race, income, insurance status, and geography. What This Episode Covers - Racial disparities i...

Does incarceration actually reduce substance use or does it make it worse? In this episode of The Transformed Mind, Dr. Owusu sits down with forensic and addiction psychiatrist Dr. Jason Barrett to examine the growing body of evidence showing that incarceration is not a deterrent to drug use and may actually increase risk after release, even after controlling for prior substance use. Using longitu...

In the season finale of  The Transformed Minds , Dr. O brings the series full circle, reflecting on the season’s core lessons around evidence-based, humane, and equitable care in substance use and psychiatric treatment. This episode focuses on the heightened risks of the holiday season, a time when emotional stress, trauma activation, social isolation, and structural inequities often collide. Dr....

Tackling Addiction and Homelessness with Dr. Fabiola Arbelo Cruz In this episode of the  Transformed Minds Podcast , Dr. Owusu speaks with Dr. Fabiola Arbelo Cruz, Addiction Psychiatrist at the Connecticut Mental Health Center and Yale School of Medicine. They explore how mental health, addiction, and homelessness intersect, the barriers unhoused individuals face, and the innovative approaches use...

Welcome to the Transform Mind Podcast with Dr. O. In today's episode, we delve into the joint clinical practice guidelines for benzodiazepine tapering released in June 2025. Dr. O breaks down the essential principles, patient-centered approaches, and key recommendations to ensure safe and effective benzodiazepine tapers. Learn why slow and supported tapering, shared decision making, and harm r...

What happens when life-saving anxiety medication becomes a system-wide challenge? In this episode of The Transformed Minds, host Dr. O, unpacks the clinical, systemic, and human dimensions of benzodiazepine use disorder; where relief meets risk. Drawing from evidence-based literature and the 2025 Joint Clinical Practice Guideline on Benzodiazepine Tapering, we explore how dependence develops, why...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Chapman, we continue exploring the wholistic approach to Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), diving deep into how economics, genetics, and the state of American healthcare shape treatment and recovery. From the science of addiction to the social systems that sustain it, Dr. Chapman offers valuable insight into building a more compassionate and effective framework for...

In this episode, we explore how the renowed Dr. Edwin Chapman, a leading physician and researcher, is redefining the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) by integrating housing, social determinants of health (SDOH), and genetics into a groundbreaking model of care. From the streets of Washington, D.C. to advocacy and the latest advances in addiction treatment, Dr. Chapman’s Urban Health Model ad...

In this Host Rx episode, Dr. O explores both sides of kratom. We break down: A 2025 meta-analysis linking long-term kratom use to improved metabolic health. A 2021 case series documenting kratom use disorder and its treatment with buprenorphine/naloxone. Kratom may offer benefits — but it also carries real risks. Join us as we ask what the science actually says and what it means for clinicians, pa...

Improving Access to Evidence-Based Medical Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder Despite proven treatments, access to care remains a major challenge for individuals with opioid use disorder. This episode dives into the barriers—stigma, policy hurdles, and system gaps—and offers strategies for creating a more equitable and effective treatment system. 🎙️ Featuring  Dr. Bowe  | Yale and WVU-trained, boar...

In this Host Rx episode, we unpack a Tennessee Medicaid study (2010–2021) tracking over 14,000 maternal–infant pairs. Researchers Krishnapura SR, McNeer E, Loch SF, et al. compared pregnancy outcomes for mothers with opioid use disorder who received buprenorphine versus those who didn’t. Hear what the data reveals about maternal health, newborn outcomes, and best practices for treatment during pre...

What do the latest data reveal about youth substance use, mental health trends, and future challenges in addiction care? Dr. Phi Owusu sits down with Dr. Gomez to break down findings from the Monitoring the Future survey and their implications for public health, psychiatry, and harm reduction. In this episode, we cover: – Key substance use trends in the latest survey – Emerging patterns among teen...

Xylazine, an animal tranquilizer not approved for human use, is increasingly found in street opioids, complicating overdoses and causing devastating wounds. In this episode, we unpack the evidence: – Why naloxone often fails – The unique dangers of xylazine toxicity – What the latest research reveals about toxicity, dependence, withdrawal, and treatment – Real-world evidence-based recommendations...

Welcome to the premiere of  The Transformed Minds Podcast . I’m your host, Dr. Owusu — psychiatrist, researcher, and advocate for equity in mental health and addiction care. Today, I’m joined by the brilliant  Dr. Ayana Jordan —addiction psychiatrist, NYU researcher, and national voice for health equity. We explore her groundbreaking study,  “Integrating Ambulatory Addiction Consultation Service I...

TOMORROW → something powerful begins. 🎙️ The Transformed Minds Podcast premieres TUESDAY, JULY 1 — and we’re starting with a conversation that could shift how we think about addiction and mental health in our communities. This podcast brings together: 🧠 Clinical insight 🗣️ Lived experience 🙏🏾 Faith & purpose ⚖️ Justice & healing If you care about mental health, substance use, or systemi...