The Addiction Psychologist

People attempting recovery face formidable challenges to successful sustained remission. Return to use depends upon the individual's access to recovery capital, or the collection of resources available that can bolster or improve recovery. In this episode, Dr. Emily Hennessy discusses the science of recovery capital and how improving recovery capital can enhance recovery and save lives. Dr. Emily Hennessy is the Associate Director of Biostatistics at the Recovery Research Institute and an Associate Director at the National Center on Youth Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery at Massachusetts General Hospital, as well as an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School.

People range in their readiness to make changes to different behaviors. Processes occurring naturally in each stage differ across the spectrum of readiness to for behavior change. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Carlo DiClemente about the origins and development of the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change. This model has become a standard and common language for a generation of behavior change specialists working with people experiencing addiction, in addition to many other health-related behavior changes. Dr. DiClemente is an Emeritus Professor of Psychology the the University of Maryland Baltimore County and a former President of the the Society of Addiction Psychology.

People attempting recovery from addiction are best served when recovery can be achieved through multiple, diverse, pathways that fit their needs and recovery goals. Although the most commonly used recovery support service is Alcoholics Anonymous (or a similar Anonymous affiliated group), some object to core tenets or cultural elements and may benefit from alternative options. SMART Recovery is one example of an alternative mutual help group that was created to meet the needs of those who may benefit from a different pathway to recovery. In this episode, Dr. Horvath discusses the history, core tenets, structure, and evidence base for SMART Recovery. Dr. Horvath is a licensed clinical psychologist and President of Practical Recovery. Dr. Horvath was a founding board member and served as the president of SMART Recovery for 20 years. He has facilitated approximately 1000 SMART meetings and has supported San Diego to become the locality with the greatest concentration of SMART meetings at approximately 40. Dr. Horvath is also a past president of Div 50 (1999-2000).

Dr. Cassandra Gipson-Reichardt, an associate professor at the University of Kentucky, studies the alarming rise of xylazine in the illicit opioid market. She uncovers the shocking 1000% increase in xylazine-related overdoses and explains its dangerous interplay with fentanyl. Delving into community engagement, she emphasizes the importance of public health education and personalized treatment strategies. Dr. Gipson also discusses innovative research methods, advocating for better understanding and collaboration to combat the evolving addiction landscape.

Dr. Katie Witkiewitz discusses the history of relapse prevention and mindfulness-based relapse prevention. The podcast explores the impact of mindset on daily activities, the beauty of nourishing moments, and intentional decision-making. It delves into embracing suffering as part of life, understanding relapse risks in non-abstinence recovery, and the integration of mindfulness in addiction treatment.

Dr. Bill Miller, an expert in Motivational Interviewing, discusses the origins and key tenets of Motivational Interviewing. The podcast explores the importance of building a strong therapeutic relationship and the significance of client language in addressing ambivalence. It also emphasizes the transformative effect of learning motivational interviewing and the key elements of partnership, acceptance, compassion, and empowerment in its practice. The speaker reflects on their desire for change and explores alternative ways to find balance and meaning. The application of Motivational Interviewing in addiction counseling and personal relationships is discussed, highlighting the importance of active listening.

Dr. Jeff Boissoneault discusses the intersection between chronic pain and substance use disorder, highlighting the need to prioritize measuring and treating pain. The podcast covers the impact of chronic pain on recovery goals, addiction stigma, and the effect of alcohol on pain. It also emphasizes the need for further research in the field and provides advice for trainees to have a successful career.

Dr. Stacey Daughters discusses reward processing in substance use disorders and the intersection with neuroscience and psychosocial treatments. She emphasizes the importance of individualized addiction treatment, substance-free rewards, and anticipatory motivation. The chapter also explores efficiency, progress, and individual goals in treatment, changing definitions of recovery, and advice for trainees and early career individuals in research.

Epidemiological surveys suggest that prevalence of harmful patterns of substance use is greatest among Multiracial populations relative to other racial demographic groups. Yet, most studies either do not report full racial demographics or under-sample people who identify as multiracial. In this episode, Tessa Nalven illuminates the importance of studying multiracial populations, discusses theoretical mechanisms for disparities, and provides recommendations for research with multiracial populations. Tessa Nalven is a currently finishing her doctoral degree in clinical psychology at the University of Rhode Island. She is completing her clinical internship year at the Boston VA. Tessa was the recipient of the 2022 Division 50 DEI Student Recognition Award.

In recent years, there has been a dramatic rise in methamphetamine use among people who use opioids. What is driving this effect? How do these drugs interact? Do they serve substitute or complementary functions? Dr. Justin Strickland summarizes the state of the science and outlines potential solutions. Dr. Strickland is a psychologist and assistant professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. You can learn more about his work here.