Addiction - Articles - Page 14

Reports of Gabapentin Misuse and Abuse Appear to Be True

August 1, 2016

Bret A. Moore, PsyD, ABPP Board-Certified Clinical Psychologist, San Antonio, TX Dr. Moore has disclosed that he has no relevant financial or other interests in any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity.

Gabapentin is FDA-approved for seizures and neuropathic pain, but it’s commonly used off-label for a variety of psychiatric and physical conditions, including anxiety, insomnia, borderline personality disorder, alcohol use disorders, and multiple pain disorders. Another aspect of gabapentin use that has come to light in recent years is a seemingly pervasive pattern of misuse and abuse.

Buprenorphine for Suicidality? Maybe

July 25, 2016

Bret A. Moore, PsyD, ABPP

...

Buprenorphine for Suicidality? Maybe

July 1, 2016

Bret A. Moore, PsyD, ABPP

Bret A. Moore, PsyD, ABPP Board-Certified Clinical Psychologist, San Antonio, TX Dr. Moore has disclosed that he has no relevant financial or other interests in any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity.

When patients become severely suicidal, we have few good treatment options. Recognizing the need for more options, Israeli researchers studied the use of very low doses of buprenorphine in suicidal patients. Patients with suicidal ideation were recruited from four medical centers.

Motivational Interviewing: Ten Tips

June 1, 2016

David Rosengren, PhD

Dr. Rosengren presents ten tips for motivational interviewing to help clinicians listen and help their clients struggling with addiction issues.

CLINICAL Q&A

Using Motivational Interviewing in Your Practice

June 1, 2016

David Rosengren, PhD

David Rosengren, PhD. President of Prevention Research Institute, Inc.
Dr. Rosengren has disclosed that he receives book royalties from Guilford Press. Dr. Carlat has reviewed this article and found no evidence of bias in this educational activity.

At its most basic, motivational interviewing is a conversation in which you are trying to help someone deal with ambivalence that prevents them from acting on a problematic behavior. At a more complex level, it has to do with things like paying attention to how the patient talks and what kind of language they’re using. In this interview, Dr. Rosengren discusses the language and process of motivational interviewing.

CLINICAL UPDATE

Medication Treatment of Anxiety Disorders in Substance Abusers

May 1, 2016

Daniel Carlat, MD

Daniel Carlat, MD

Editor-in-Chief, Publisher, The Carlat Report.

Dr. Carlat has disclosed that he has no relevant relationships or financial interests in any commercial company pertaining to this educational activity.

While benzodiazepines are effective anti-anxiety workhorses for many patients, most guidelines tell us to avoid prescribing them to substance abusers. The concern is that the benzo high will remind patients of their substances of choice, and that benzo withdrawal symptoms will lead to old substance abuse habits.

EXPERT Q&A

Benzodiazepines: Dependence, Tolerance, and Addiction

May 1, 2016

Alex Stalcup, MD

Alex Stalcup, MD
Medical director of the New Leaf Treatment Center in Lafayette, CA.
Dr. Stalcup has disclosed that he has no relevant financial or other interests in any commercial companies pertaining to this
educational activity.

One good way to think of benzodiazepines is that they are literally, physiologically anyway, alcohol in a pill. Especially the fast-onset/fast-offset benzodiazepines like alprazolam (Xanax) have a very similar pharmacologic profile to alcohol. This discussion with Dr. Alex Stalcum covers strategies of using benzodiazepines as anxiety treatments for substance-abusing patients.

RESEARCH UPDATE

Synthetic THC and Antihypertensive Provide Little Benefit for Cannabis Dependence

May 1, 2016

Bret A. Moore, PsyD, ABPP

Bret A. Moore, PsyD, ABPP. Board-Certified Clinical Psychologist, San Antonio,.

Dr. Moore has disclosed that he has no relevant financial or other interests in any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity.

Second only to alcohol, marijuana is the most common reason people enter substance abuse treatment. And unlike alcohol dependence, there are virtually no effective medications available for those addicted to it. It’s not from a lack of trying. A recent review of 14 drug studies for cannabis dependence revealed little benefit from antidepressants, anticonvulsants, or anxiolytics.

RESEARCH UPDATE

When Physicians Become Addicted: How Well Do Treatment Programs Work?

May 1, 2016

Bret A. Moore, PsyD, ABPP

Bret A. Moore, PsyD, ABPP. Board-Certified Clinical Psychologist, San Antonio, TX.

Dr. Moore has disclosed that he has no relevant financial or other interests in any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity.

When physicians are diagnosed with opioid or other drug dependence, they are required to receive treatment from special physician health programs (PHP) if they want to keep their medical licenses. Unlike treatment programs for the general population, PHPs do not use opiate agonists, such as methadone or buprenorphine.

How to Treat Opiate Use Disorders

March 1, 2016

Michael Weaver, MD, FASAM

Michael Weaver, MD, FASAM.

Professor and medical director at the Center for Neurobehavioral Research on Addictions at the University of Texas Medical School.

Dr. Weaver has disclosed that he has no relevant financial or other interests in any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity.

Opiate use disorder is increasingly common, and it is important to develop a systematic approach for treating it. In this article, I will discuss some of the more important elements of treatment, starting with the need to address patients’ denial and moving on to some of the nitty gritty aspects of medication-assisted treatment.