The Addiction Psychologist

Alcohol use produces changes in the cardiovascular system affecting heart rate. These systematic differences in heart rate can, in turn, function as a biological signature (i.e., biomarker) of dysfunction among those with alcohol use disorder (AUD). In addition to assessing difficulties, understanding heart rate modulation may have important treatment implications. Dr. David Eddie talks about heart rate variability as a biomarker of AUD and his work developing behavioral skills that can target heart rate using biofeedback to improve AUD treatment outcomes. Dr. Eddie is an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and a Research Scientist at both Massachusetts General Hospital’s Center for Addiction Medicine and Recovery Research Institute.

Most commonly known psychedelics are considered schedule 1 substances by the controlled substances act, meaning they is no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. However, there is emerging evidence that psychedelics may have some therapeutic value. Dr. Matthew Johnson discusses the history of psychedelic research in the United States and his work on understanding abuse potential and therapeutic value of one specific psychedelic, psilocybin. Matt is the Susan Hill Ward Professor in Psychedelics and Consciousness and Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins.

A great deal of our research focuses on adults with substance use disorder. Yet, many who develop severe substance use disorder begin during adolescence. What types of psychosocial treatments are available for adolescents? What about pharmacological treatments? Does combining psychosocial and pharmacological treatments increase efficacy? In this episode, Dr. Robert Miranda discusses treatments available for adolescents and the complications of developing these treatments. Dr. Robert Miranda is a Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior in the Warren Alpert Medical School, a Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences in the School of Public Health, and the Training Director of the NIAAA/NIDA Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies at Brown University. He is also the Clinical Director of the Vista Intensive Outpatient Program at Bradley Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island.

On this new Addiction Psychologist segment, we talk to experts about new policy developments to get a better understanding of the implications for our work, our clients, and our personal lives. On this episode, we talk with Dr. Adam Leventhal about the October 12, 2021 announcement that the FDA has authorized the marketing of three new tobacco products, marking the first set of electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) products ever to be authorized by the FDA through the Premarket Tobacco Product Application (PMTA) pathway. Dr. Adam Leventhal is a Professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Psychology in the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California and a member of the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee for the Food and Drug Administration. You can read the full FDA press release here. In the days after the recording of this episode, the FDA made a similar announcement authorizing several oral tobacco products, suggesting that authorizations may occur at a rapid pace in the coming weeks. 

Cannabis is becoming increasingly tolerated, both culturally and legally, across the United States and other parts of the world. Yet, there are at least 100 different psychoactive cannabinoids in any strain of cannabis. What do we know about these cannabinoids? Dr. Hollis Karoly talks about the two most common cannabinoids, THC and CBD, and what the scientific evidence suggests about their harms and benefits. She then discusses the connection between cannabinoids and alcohol use. Dr. Hollis Karoly is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Colorado State University.

Addiction is characterized in part by habitual drug seeking and use and diminished pleasure from nondrug alternatives. Both may serve as critical points of intervention in the treatment of substance use. Mindfulness, the practice of intentional awareness, may be a useful tool to help clients notice habitual behavior and savor nondrug alternative rewards. Dr. Eric Garland discusses integrating mindfulness with cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to create Mindfulness Oriented Recovery Enhancement. Dr. Eric Garland is the Distinguished Endowed Chair in Research, Distinguished Professor, and Associate Dean for Research in the University of Utah College of Social Work. He is also the Director of the Center on Mindfulness and Integrative Health Intervention Development (C-MIIND). Find out more about his website. 

Contingency management is a therapy based in behaviorism in which individuals are 'reinforced' for evidence of positive behavioral change. In this episode, Dr. Stephen Higgins explains contingency management and outlines the support for its efficacy. He also discusses why it hasn't been adopted more widely, despite its strong efficacy, and why we should be doing more contingency management. Dr. Higgins is the Virginia H. Donaldson Professor of Translational Science, Vice Chair of Psychiatry, Professor of Psychiatry, Professor of Psychological Science, and Director of Vermont Center on Behavior and Health at The University of Vermont. The recent systematic review and meta-analysis, led by Dr. Hypatia A. Bolivar and published in JAMA Psychiatry, referred to in the podcast can be found here.  

Listen to the future voices of addiction research. Ten students/ECRs discuss their excellent work which will also be presented live, along with other excellent research, on August 13, 2021 during the NIAAA/NIDA student/ECR poster session. The poster session  is sponsered by NIDA/NIAAA, and all researchers were provided travel awards by either NIAAA or NIDA. Primary presenters, poster titles, and timestamps for posters below. To learn more about the poser session or to sign up to attend this free live event, please click here.  1. Julie Wojtaszek (2:09-7:10) - Changes and moderating influences on addictive and mental health symptoms associated with COVID-19 2. Tessa Frohe (7:10-17:50) - Qualitative Findings from a Smartphone Intervention Application for Individuals on Medication for Opioid Use Disorder: How User-Centered Design Offers Promise for Harm Reduction 3. Nathan Kearns (17:50-28:17) - Effect of Trauma-Related Stress After Alcohol Consumption on Perceived Likelihood of Negative Consequences and Willingness to Drive 4. Satveer Kler (28:17-33:37) - Are Social Support and Racialized Heterosexism Predictors of Alcohol Dependence among QTBIPOC? 5. Courtney Doxbeck (33:37-41:49) - Exploring Social Norms, Pandemic Partying, and E-cigarette Use in United States College Students 6. Benjamin Shepherd (41:49-52:01) - Suicidal Ideation, Substance Use Disorders, and Co-occurrences among Sexual Minority People of Color 7. Kirsten Smith (52:01-1:02:11) - Psychosocial and substance use correlates of lifetime Kratom use in a large online sample 8. Andrea Vásquez Ferreiro (1:02:11-1:09:55) - Relations among Key Correlates in a Mobile Attentional Bias Retraining Study for Opioid Use Disorder 9. Irene Pericot-Valvedre (1:09:55-1:18:09) - Diagnostic Accuracy of the BDI-II and its Relationship to Direct-Acting Antiviral Adherence: Implications for Hepatitis C treatment Among People Who Inject Drugs on Medications for Opioid Use Disorder 10. Alexandra Palmisano (1:18:09-1:28:21) - Examining the Association between PTSD Symptom Heterogeneity and Alcohol Use Disorder in Veterans

A great deal of individual's require substance use treatment that is more active than brief motivational interventions, yet are unable or unwilling to attend long-term inpatient treatment. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for is an effective treatment for substance use disorders. CBT for substance use disorder targets emotions, cognitions, and behaviors associated with substance use and teach skills in order to reduce use. Dr. Kate McHugh discusses CBT for substance use disorder, including her work to increase its overall impact. Kate is the Director of the Stress, Anxiety, and Substance Use Laboratory and Director of Behavioral Therapy Development, Training and Research at McLean Hospital. She is also an Associate Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

College students drink at higher levels than most other groups; yet, their motivation to reduce drinking is often low because alcohol consumption provides salient social benefits. Despite these benefits, emerging adulthood is a critical developmental period that can impact the likelihood of alcohol use disorder over the lifespan. Dr. Jim Murphy talks broadly about brief motivational interventions (BMIs) for college populations, which typically deliver personalized feedback in a motivational interviewing style to increase motivation to change drinking practices among college students. Jim also discusses the limitations to BMIs and discusses his work to try to extend their efficacy. Dr. Jim Murphy is the Dunavant Professor in the Department of Psychology in the University of Memphis.  This is the first episode in a three part series on intervention and treatment, which will be followed by episodes on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Contingency Management.