The influence of the Twelve Steps recovery program of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is pervasive, but many psychiatrists treating patients with alcohol use—or other substance use—disorders may be unaware of exactly how it can help them in their work.

This article summarizes each step in the Twelve Step program and provides a menmonic device to help clinicians remember them.

How can Twelve Step programs help patients struggling with addiction? Marvin Seppala, MD, discusses the nature of these programs and how psychiatrists can use them in their treatment strategies.

After reading these articles, you should be able to…

Over the past several years, the explosion of “designer drugs”—so named because they are designed to evade regulation and law enforcement—has continued unabated. Here is an update on the most popular of these: synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic cathinones, and synthetic hallucinogens.

Dr. Michael Weaver discusses the latest in club drugs, providing insight on the background, dangers and legal issues surrounding these drugs, and also how to talk to patients about them with a credible understanding.

Varenicline (Chantix) is probably the single most effective medication for smoking cessation. Some research has suggested that Chantix is more effective for women. A recent meta-analysis attempted to add statistical power to evaluating that question.

After reading these articles, you should be able to…

If a patient comes in and says, “doc, I think I need to go to rehab,” what should you do? Most people think of rehabs as residential facilities, but these days, the term “rehab” includes a broad spectrum of treatment settings, most of which, in fact, are not residential—only 10% of people receiving specialized addiction services go to residential rehab.

What goes on inside a residential rehab program? Inquiring minds would love to know, especially those of us who are treating addicts and counseling concerned family members. Rehab has traditionally been a kind of black box, an opaque entity where addicts enter, and 30 days later exit with an epiphany and a lifelong commitment to sobriety. Until they relapse and go back to another rehab, that is.