Addiction | CARLAT PUBLISHING

Research Update

Perinatal MOUD Use and Infant Discharge to Biological Parents

October 31, 2023

Destiny Pegram, MD. Dr. Pegram has no financial relationships with companies related to this material.

Pregnant patients with OUD may be reluctant to reveal their substance use for fear of losing their baby if reported to Child Protective Services. But this recent study shows that pregnant patients receiving medication treatment for OUD were more likely to leave the hospital with their baby than patients not receiving treatment.

Research Update

Can Psilocybin Treat Alcohol Use Disorder?

October 31, 2023

Anirudha Deka, MD

Anirudha Deka, MD. Dr. Deka has no financial relationships with companies related to this material.

Recent preliminary research reveals that psilocybin helped participants with alcohol use disorder cut back on drinking. Dive in to discover how this psychedelic compound might offer hope for patients who have found other current treatments ineffective.

Expert Q&A

When and How Should We Prescribe Benzos?

October 31, 2023

Tae Woo (Ted) Park, MD

Tae Woo (Ted) Park, MD. Assistant professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA.

Dr. Park has no financial relationships with companies related to this material.

Despite their risks, benzodiazepines remain a widely prescribed class of medication. In the prescriber right hands, benzodiazepines can help many patients cope with a variety of psychiatric issues. Here, Dr. Park reviews how to evaluate patients prior to starting benzodiazepines and reviews strategies to ensure that prescriptions are done safely.

Expert Q&A

Deprescribing Benzos: A How-To Guide

October 31, 2023

Audrey Abelleira, PharmD, BCPP

Audrey Abelleira, PharmD, BCPP. Clinical pharmacist practitioner, VA Connecticut Healthcare System; clinical instructor, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.

Dr. Abelleira has no financial relationships with companies related to this material.

Benzodiazepines are widely prescribed but carry significant risks. The best course of action for many patients is to have their benzodiazepine prescription discontinued, but physiologic dependence can make stopping benzodiazepines a big challenge. Dr. Abeillera teaches us how to identify those who might benefit from a taper and covers all the details on how to do it as safely and effectively as possible.

Expert Q&A

Prescription Drug Misuse

July 3, 2023

Joseph Pierre, MD.

Joseph Pierre, MD.

Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco.

Dr. Pierre has no financial relationships with companies related to this material.

Medication misuse requires more than telling your patient, “Just say no.” Dr. Pierre shows us how to keep the conversation firm but therapeutic.

Research Update

Are Higher-Potency Cannabis Products Riskier for Mental Illness?

April 1, 2023

Deepti Anbarasan, MD and John Wang, MD

John Wang, MD, and Deepti Anbarasan, MD. Dr. Wang and Dr. Anbarasan have no financial relationships with companies related to this material.

In recent years, cannabis with widely varying THC concentrations has become available. But is there a link between how much THC a cannabis product contains and its risk of adverse effects. Researchers here add to the mounting evidence that the answer is likely yes.

Research Update

Methamphetamines and Opioid-Related Overdose Risk

April 1, 2023

Peter J. Farago, MD.

Peter J. Farago, MD. Dr. Farago has no financial relationships with companies related to this material.

Researchers provide a detailed glimpse into the chaotic state of the illicit opioid supply and show that the potentially dangerous misconception that methamphetamines can be used as an opioid overdose reversal agent is widespread.

Clinical Update

Gabapentin: A Double-Edged Sword

April 1, 2023

Noah Capurso, MD and Shram Shukla, MD

Shram Shukla, MD. Addiction psychiatry fellow, Yale School of Medicine. New Haven, CT.

Noah Capurso, MD, MHS. Assistant professor of psychiatry, Yale University. New Haven, CT. Editor-in-chief of The Carlat Addiction Treatment Report.

Dr. Shukla and Dr. Capurso have no financial relationships with companies related to this material.

Gabapentin has become one of the most widely prescribed medications in America. At the same time, concerns have emerged about its association with opioid overdose deaths. In this article, we review the data behind gabapentin treatment: when it should be used, how to use it, and when it should be avoided.

Expert Q&A

Substance-Induced Depression: Diagnosis and Treatment

April 1, 2023

Bryan K. Tolliver, MD, PhD

Bryan K. Tolliver, MD, PhD

Associate professor, Addiction Sciences Division, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina. Charleston, SC.

Dr. Tolliver has no financial relationships with companies related to this material.

“When tailoring medication choice, a careful history can guide you. If I’m treating a patient who drinks excessively at night to sleep or who struggles with insomnia when they try to stop drinking, I’ll start with a sedating antidepressant like mirtazapine. That’s not an evidence-based decision, it’s a clinical decision that I think can be helpful.”

Dr. Tolliver gives us a framework to understand the relation between depression, substance use, and substance-induced mood disorders.