substance-use | CARLAT PUBLISHING

The Continuing Challenge of Designer Drugs

September 10, 2021

Marilyn A. Huestis, PhD

Senior fellow at the Institute on Emerging Health Professions, Thomas Jefferson University. Former Chief of the Chemistry and Drug Metabolism Section, IRP, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIA). Dr. Huestis has disclosed that she has received payment as a consultant for Dynacare Laboratories, which provides lab testing.

Dr. Capurso has reviewed this article and found no evidence of bias in this educational activity.

Designer drugs is a catchall term for a large group of illicit substances that can have disparate effects. Dr. Huestis provides an in depth look at the current state of designer drugs, what clinicians should be wary of, and treatment options.

CLINICAL UPDATE

Primer: Physical Examination in Addiction Practice

November 22, 2019

Whether you are referring your patient for a physical or doing an initial one yourself, clinicians should be familiar with the basics of physical examination with a focus on knowing how to look for medical complications of addiction. This article walks you through a basic physical exam and what signs and symptoms to look for in patients with current or past substance use.

Screening and Prophylaxis of Infectious Diseases in Addiction Practice

November 22, 2019

Sandra Springer, MD

Sandra Springer, MD

Associate Professor of Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine. Director of the Infectious Disease Clinic (Newington) and Attending Infectious Disease Physician (West Haven), VA Connecticut Healthcare System.

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

In this QA, we invite Dr. Sandra Springer to walk us through the various screenings for infectious diseases ranging from HIV to Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C, as well as Tuberculosis.

PrEP: Introduction to the Basics

November 22, 2019

With the rate of new HIV infections at just under 40,000 new infections per year, it is important for addiction practitioners to be on the front lines of HIV prevention. This article and corresponding table cover the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with Truvada.

Perioperative Management of Patients on Buprenorphine Maintenance

November 22, 2019

Gregory Acampora, MD

Gregory Acampora, MD

Psychiatrist, Pain Management Center, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Center for Addiction Medicine, Boston, MA. Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School.

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

For patients on buprenorphine maintenance facing surgery, it is crucial to balance the need to minimize pain while addressing the risk of relapse. In this interview, Dr. Gregory Acampora guides us through the specifics on perioperatively managing patients on varying doses of buprenorphine maintenance.

Exposure Therapy Efficacious for PTSD Co-Occurring With Alcohol Use Disorder

November 22, 2019

Brian Frankel, MD

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

Prolonged exposure is one of the best treatments available for patients with PTSD. This study examines the advantages of using prolonged exposure for patients who have PTSD with co-occurring alcohol use disorder.

Varenicline and Bupropion: Soaring Again With EAGLES?

November 22, 2019

Nicholas Rosenlicht, MD.

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

This research update unpacks the details behind the landmark “EAGLES” trial (Evaluating Adverse Events in a Global Smoking Cessation Study), which led to the removal of the varenicline black box warning.

The COMBINE Study: A Core Paper in the Treatment of AUD

November 22, 2019

Brian Frankel, MD

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

This research update summarizes the results of the landmark COMBINE study which evaluated the effectiveness of stand-alone and combined pharmacological and behavioral interventions for treating alcohol use disorder.

Strategies for Getting Patients to Quit Smoking

June 21, 2019

For patients who smoke intermittently, you should start with nicotine replacement therapies, such as nicotine lozenges or gum, which can be used on a PRN basis.Patients who smoke more frequently, such as several times per day, will need consistent nicotine replacement from a patch to prevent the peaks and troughs...

Switching from Buprenorphine to Extended-Release Naltrexone: Does it Work?

February 27, 2019

Extended-release naltrexone (Vivitrol) has had some good data, yet getting patients on it remains a challenge, because an opioid-free period is required before starting it. Understandably, practitioners get nervous when patients stabilized on buprenorphine ask to be transitioned to extended-release (XR) naltrexone.