The Addiction Psychologist

Some research demonstrates that rats will self-administer dangerously high levels of drugs under certain schedules of reinforcement. However, much of this research has been done under conditions of depravity, in which the rat does not have any access to alternatives. Humans almost always make choices between a menu of options, suggesting a different, more dynamic choice context with competing reinforcers. Keanan discusses his work in this area, in addition to the importance of confirming self-report findings by using multimethod approaches, such as psychophysiology. Keanan Joyner is a doctoral student at Florida State University and a Ford Fellow. 

Most definitions of recovery from addiction require abstinence from the problem substance. Dr. Katie Witkiewitz discusses the limitations of abstinence-based models of recovery and describe why non-abstinent models may have a positive public health impact. Namely, Katie's research suggests that many people regain functioning in interpersonal, occupational, and health domains without achieving full abstinence, and that these definitions actually prevent people from seeking treatment. Katie outlines the benefits of incorporating non-abstinent recovery options alongside the dominant abstinent model, and also shares NIAAA's preliminary definition of recovery from alcohol. Dr. Katie Witkiewitz is the Regent's Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of New Mexico. She is also a Scientist at the Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse & Addictions (CASAA), and the Technology Committee Chair for the Society of Addiction Psychology.

Systematic barriers can prevent educational and occupational attainment for those with substantive substance use or incarceration histories. For example, the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 prevents those with a felony from receiving a Pell grant, effectively preventing college entry for most. Further, reporting that you have been arrested and/or convicted of a crime on college applications prevents many from applying, even though applications are rarely rejected for this purpose. Dr. Noel Vest talks about his lived experience through substance use, prison, and his journey into the academy, which has resulted in two primary areas of passionate engagement.  First, Noel pushes for policy-level change to ensure that those with lived experience have an opportunity for continued education and opportunity. Second, Noel engages in research to enhance recovery for those already in college in the form of collegiate recovery programs. Dr. Noel Vest is a postdoctoral fellow working with Dr. Keith Humphreys at Stanford University School of Medicine. 

Abstinence models have historically dominated definitions of recovery. However, research suggests that there is not necessarily a 1:1 ratio of substance use to problems, highlighting the importance of targeting harm rather than consumption. In recent decades, harm reduction models of recovery and policy have increasingly gained traction. Drs. Seema Clifasefi & Susan Collins talk about the history and definition of harm reduction, and about how a harm reduction approach informs their research and policy application. They also discuss diversity initiatives being implemented in Division 50. Dr. Seema Clifasefi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington, and the chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee of Division 50. Dr. Susan Collins is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Washington State University, and the Division 50 APA convention chair and chair of the membership committee for Division 50. Together, they are co-Directors of the Harm Reduction Research & Treatment Center.

Listen to the future voices of addiction research. Ten students/ECRs discuss their excellent work which will also be presented live, along with 23 others, on August 7, 2020 during the NIAAA/NIDA student/ECR poster session. Content ranges from psychometric analyses of new measures to policy-level decision making about harm reduction approaches, and everything in between. Primary presenters, poster titles, and timestamps for posters below.  Silvi Goldstein (3:44-8:44) - Cross-cultural validity of the SIP-2R for Indigenous and Black adults experiencing homelessness with alcohol use disorders Rachelle Kromash (8:44-13:33) - Psychometric properties of the Illness Attitudes Scale among people with substance use disorders Katie Lindstrom (13:33-19:05) - Social network feedback and drinking outcomes in community-dwelling emerging adults recruited by peer referral Shelbi Fisher, Tyron Slack, and Alan Crutchfield (19:05-24:36) - Positive psychology in alcoholics anonymous literature Stephanie Coronado-Montoya (24:36-29:02) - SPICE: Intervention preference survey for people with early psychosis using cannabis Dr. Lourah Kelly (29:02-33:33) - Interactive effect of adverse child experiences and suicidality on adolescent alcohol and marijuana use frequency Dr. Alejandra Fernandez (33:33-37:21) - Screening for family functioning in primary care: Preliminary evidence Kate Bartley (37:21-42:44) - Health risk perceptions and secondhand exposure behaviors related to vaping among student veterans Kathleen Giarrantano (42:44-46:50) - Assessing support for safe injection sites among adult constituents in New York Jacob Daheim (46:50-52:37) - The Pain Medication Attitudes Questionnaire and conformity to masculine norms on men’s risk of abusing opioids in chronic pain

Although in-person treatment is beneficial, many clients need to use skills in moments (e.g., under conditions of emotional distress or craving) that can make effective skill utilization difficult. Dr. Tyler Wray talks about harnessing technology for just-in-time interventions to help "nudge" clients people towards effective behavior change. Importantly during the COVID-19 era, Tyler discusses remote enrollment and data collection related to these studies, which helps his team gain access to vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations. Dr. Tyler Wray is the Edens Family Chair in Healthcare Communications & Technology at the Brown University School of Public Health and leads the School's academic programs in digital health and behavior. His research explores various ways technology can be used to help people make healthier decisions  and lead healthier lifestyles.

Dr. Brandon Bergman continues his discussion about recovery support services and communities available through the Internet. Dr. Brandon Bergman is an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and the Associate Director of the Recovery Research Institute, which is housed in the Center for Addiction Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn more about their mission at recoveryanswers.org.

Physical distancing recommendations from the COVID-19 pandemic has complicated addiction recovery, forcing many addiction recovery support services online for the foreseeable future. In the first half of our interview with Brandon Bergman, he discusses the difference between addiction treatment and recovery-support services, setting the stage for a discussion about online recovery support communities (Episode 1 Part 2).  Dr. Brandon Bergman is an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and the Associate Director of the Recovery Research Institute, which is housed in the Center for Addiction Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn more about their mission at recoveryanswers.org.