ASAM Practice Pearls

Understanding Medetomidine: Emerging Challenges for Addiction Medicine

In the Season 2 premiere of ASAM Practice Pearls, Drs. Stephen Taylor and Jeanmarie Perrone follow up on Season 1’s episode, Emerging Illicit Substances: What Clinicians Need to Know. Together, they discuss how medetomidine has continued to spread to different regions and what has changed over the past year. They explore strategies for managing medetomidine withdrawal, keeping patients safe, and preparing for this growing public health threat. 

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Overdose Awareness: Preventing, Responding, and Intervening

In recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day, the Season 1 finale of ASAM Practice Pearls explores recent trends in overdoses. Drs. Stephen Taylor and Alexander Walley discuss the increase of fentanyl and other contaminants in the drug supply, the impact of racial and geographic disparities, and the importance of community-specific responses. They highlight the value of compassionate overdose care, data-driven interventions, and strategies to help individuals post-overdose. Together, they discuss the need to lower barriers to treatment and foster future leaders in addiction medicine.

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Perinatal Substance Use Care: Listening, Trust, and Treatment

In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Dr. Stephen Taylor and Dr. Cara Poland explore the unique challenges of perinatal substance use care. They discuss the impact of stigma, the importance of compassionate care, and the use of medications for addiction treatment in pregnancy. Additionally, they address polysubstance use, physiological changes during pregnancy, and the critical postpartum period, sharing insights from their clinical experience and emphasizing a patient-centered, non-judgmental approach to improve treatment outcomes for mothers.

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Listening First: The Future of Women's Addiction Treatment

In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Dr. Peter Selby and Dr. Hendree Jones discuss the importance of implementing gender-responsive and trauma-informed care in addiction treatment. They offer insights on recognizing trauma in patients, creating safer treatment environments, addressing gender-specific treatment gaps, and emphasizing the importance of language and empathy in clinical practice. Together, they highlight the positive impact that a compassionate and inclusive approach can have on patient care and treatment outcomes.

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Neurologic-Informed Care: Integrating Brain Injury Awareness into Addiction Medicine

In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Dr. Peter Selby and Dr. John Corrigan explore the intersection of brain injury and addiction treatment. They introduce the concept of neurologic-informed care and discuss how cognitive impairments from brain injuries impact addiction recovery. The episode explores practical strategies for screening, treatment, and creating supportive environments to enhance outcomes for individuals with co-occurring brain injury and substance use disorder.

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When Behavior Becomes Addiction: What Clinicians Need to Know

In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Dr. Peter Selby and Dr. Emily Brunner explore behavioral addictions—including gaming, gambling, sex, and social media. They discuss how these behaviors impact the brain, how they present clinically, and how to recognize and treat them using evidence-based approaches. The episode emphasizes the importance of validating these conditions and offering appropriate care. 

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Sickle Cell Disease: Intersection of Pain and Addiction

In recognition of Sickle Cell Awareness Day (June 19), this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls features host Dr. Peter Selby and expert Dr. Andrew Smith as they explore the complex intersection of sickle cell disease (SCD), pain, and addiction. They discuss the challenges individuals with SCD face in accessing effective pain management, often compounded by stigma and opioid-related concerns. The episode provides insights into evidence-based treatments, the balance between pain relief and opioid dependence risks, and strategies for compassionate, patient-centered care.

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Engaging and Retaining Young People in OUD Treatment: Making the Wish Come True

In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Dr. Stephen Taylor welcomes Dr. Marc Fishman for an insightful conversation on improving engagement and retention of youth in medication treatment for opioid use disorder (MOUD). They examine the unique challenges young people face and present developmentally informed strategies—including prevention, family involvement, and assertive outreach. The discussion highlights the importance of a medication-first approach and building partnerships with schools and communities to foster long-term recovery.

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Annual Review of Addiction Medicine: Highest Impact Publications 2024-2025

EP 04

🎙 Special Series: ASAM's 56th Annual Conference

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This episode is part of a special four-part series spotlighting key sessions from ASAM’s 56th Annual Conference.

 

In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Dr. Elizabeth Salisbury-Afshar is joined by Drs. Sarah Wakeman and Joshua Lee to review the most influential addiction medicine publications of 2024–2025. They discuss the criteria used to identify high-impact papers, highlight key findings, and explore how these insights can inform clinical practice and future research.

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Methadone Initiation for Opioid Use Disorder in the Emergency Department

EP 03

🎙 Special Series: ASAM's 56th Annual Conference

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This episode is part of a special four-part series spotlighting key sessions from ASAM’s 56th Annual Conference.

 

In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Dr. Elizabeth Salisbury-Afshar is joined by Drs. Rachel Haroz, Bill Soares, and Ryan McCormack to discuss their session, Methadone Initiation for Opioid Use Disorder in the Emergency Department. The episode covers implementation strategies, regulatory considerations, and practical steps for introducing methadone as a treatment option in emergency care.

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Emerging Illicit Substances: What Clinicians Need to Know

EP 02

🎙 Special Series: ASAM's 56th Annual Conference

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This episode is part of a special four-part series spotlighting key sessions from ASAM’s 56th Annual Conference.

 

In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Dr. Stephen Taylor is joined by Drs. Jeanmarie Perrone and Alaina Steck to explore key insights from their session, Emerging Illicit Substances: What Clinicians Need to Know. The conversation covers emerging drugs of concern, clinical challenges, and practical strategies for clinicians navigating this rapidly evolving field.

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How to Transform Hospitals to Better Care for People with Addiction

EP 01

🎙 Special Series: ASAM's 56th Annual Conference

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This episode is part of a special four-part series spotlighting key sessions from ASAM’s 56th Annual Conference.

 

In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Dr. Elizabeth Salisbury-Afshar welcomes Dr. Itai Danovitch to explore highlights from his session, Hospitals as a Frontline for Addiction: Lessons from the START Study. They’ll discuss the pivotal role hospitals play in identifying and treating substance use disorders, drawing on insights and outcomes from the START (Substance Use Treatment and Recovery Team) Study. 

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Navigating Alcohol Withdrawal Management: Strategies and Insights

In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Dr. Stephen Taylor and Dr. Tessa Steel explore the management of alcohol withdrawal in ambulatory, hospital-based, and ED-initiated care settings. They discuss best practices, risk stratification, medication strategies, and emerging approaches to support effective withdrawal management.

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Treating Alcohol Use Disorder: Medication Considerations and Goals Beyond Abstinence

In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Dr. Stephen Taylor and Dr. Melissa Weimer revisit the fundamentals of alcohol use disorder (AUD), discussing medications like acamprosate, disulfiram, naltrexone, topiramate, and others and how to support various treatment goals, whether that means reducing use or achieving abstinence. 

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Benzodiazepine Tapering: New Guideline and Clinical Strategies

In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Dr. Peter Selby and Dr. Emily Brunner explore The Joint Clinical Practice Guideline on Benzodiazepine Tapering: Considerations When Benzodiazepine Risks Outweigh Benefits. They discuss key recommendations and best practices for tapering benzodiazepines safely and effectively. Additional topics include the risks and benefits of tapering, common withdrawal symptoms, strategies to support patients while minimizing new dependencies, and navigating patient resistance and fear.

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Ketamine Infusion Therapy for Addiction Treatment: The Whys and Hows, The Dos and Don'ts

In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Dr. Stephen Taylor and Dr. Brent Boyett explore the potential of ketamine in addiction treatment. They discuss its history, mechanism of action, current research, clinical applications, risks, and future outlook. The episode offers valuable insights into ketamine’s role in addiction treatment while considering safety and its impact within the biopsychosocial-spiritual model. 

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Managing In-Hospital Substance Use

EP 04

🎙 Special Series: Advances in Buprenorphine Education

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This episode is part of a special series on improving hospital and clinic-based buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder.

 

In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Dr. Carolyn Chan and Dr. Shawn Cohen welcome addiction medicine expert Dr. Marlene Martin. With extensive experience in helping care teams navigate the complexities of in-hospital substance use, Dr. Martin provides insights on how hospital-based providers can effectively address these challenges with confidence and compassion.

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Balancing Patient Confidentiality and Legal Obligations

EP 03

🎙 Special Series: Advances in Buprenorphine Education

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This episode is part of a special series on improving hospital and clinic-based buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder.

 

In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Dr. Stephen Holt and Dr. Shawn Cohen welcome addiction medicine expert Dr. Catherine Trimbur. They explore the delicate balance between protecting patient confidentiality and fulfilling legal responsibilities when responding to requests from parole officers, child welfare agencies, and other external entities.

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Creating Realistic Follow-Up Plans for Unstable Patients

EP 02

🎙 Special Series: Advances in Buprenorphine Education

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This episode is part of a special series on improving hospital and clinic-based buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder.

 

In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Dr. Shawn Cohen is joined by addiction medicine experts Dr. Carolyn Chan and Dr. Stephen Holt. Together, they explore effective strategies for managing unstable patients and creating realistic follow-up plans that prioritize patient engagement and continuity of care.

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Overcoming Barriers to MOUD at Discharge: Ensuring Continuity of Care from Skilled Nursing Facilities

EP 01

🎙 Special Series: Advances in Buprenorphine Education

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This episode is part of a special series on improving hospital and clinic-based buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder.

 

In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Dr. Stephen Holt is joined by addiction medicine experts Dr. Carolyn Chan and Dr. Shawn Cohen. They explore key challenges and solutions in ensuring continuity of care for patients receiving medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) during discharge from skilled nursing facilities.

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Tackling Tobacco Use Disorder: Challenges, Innovations, and E-Cigarettes

In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Dr. Peter Selby and Dr. Nancy Rigotti explore current and emerging strategies for treating tobacco use disorder (TUD). They discuss the latest pharmacological interventions, behavioral approaches, harm reduction strategies, and the evolving role of e-cigarettes in smoking cessation. 

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Treating Stimulant Use Disorder: Guidelines and Challenges

In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Dr. Stephen Taylor and Dr. Brian Hurley discuss the complexities of stimulant use disorder (StUD). Topics include challenges in managing StUD without FDA-approved medications, the impact of socioeconomic and cultural factors, and practical insights from the ASAM/AAAP guidelines. 

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GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Explained: Their Potential Role in Addiction Treatment

In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Dr. Stephen Taylor hosts Dr. Stephanie Weiss from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to explore the potential of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA), particularly semaglutide, in treating alcohol use disorder. They discuss the underlying science, current research, and the challenges and implications of integrating these innovative treatments into addiction care.

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