ASAM Practice Pearls

In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Dr. Stephen Taylor welcomes back Dr. Stephanie Weiss and is joined by Dr. Anna Lembke to explore an update on GLP-1 receptor agonists for alcohol use disorder (AUD), discussing current research, how things have evolved since the last discussion, and the challenges and implications of integrating these innovative treatments into addiction care.

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In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Dr. Stephen Taylor hosts Dr. Justin Berk to discuss addiction care for individuals involved in the criminal justice system, including patients in custody and those transitioning back to the community. The conversation explores practical strategies for building therapeutic alliances with incarcerated patients, advocating for evidence-based treatment in correctional settings, and navigating common barriers to care. The episode covers opportunities for clinicians to provide compassionate, patient-centered care that improves outcomes for this high-risk population.

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In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Dr. Stephen Taylor welcomes Dr. Itai Danovitch to discuss the descriptive term polysubstance use and methods for evaluating and managing patients with polysubstance intoxication and unknown toxidromes. The conversation covers strategies for assessing altered mental status, maintaining a broad differential diagnosis, safely managing agitation, and providing supportive care while avoiding common cognitive biases. This episode offers listeners practical insights for navigating clinical uncertainty and supporting patients from stabilization to treatment engagement.

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In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Dr. Stephen Taylor hosts Dr. Stephen Holt in a discussion about practical strategies for initiating and managing patients receiving low-dose buprenorphine and long-acting injectable (LAI) formulations. The conversation explores how to match induction approaches to individual patient needs, guidance on dosing, and ways to support ongoing use, cravings, or withdrawal symptoms. This episode offers listeners practical insights for implementing buprenorphine treatment strategies and expanding access to evidence-based care.

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In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Dr. Stephen Taylor and Dr. Mike Fingerhood discuss the importance of enhancing addiction care through community support and compassionate touch points. They explore how providing access to basic needs can serve as entry points into treatment for individuals struggling with addiction, the effect of compassionate interventions on clinical outcomes, and the challenges related to funding and community acceptance for addiction services.

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In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Dr. Stephen Taylor hosts Dr. Sarah Wakeman to discuss substance use care in the emergency department, sharing highlights from ASAM's new implementation guide for hospital and emergency department (ED) substance use disorder (SUD) care. Together, they explore the gap between evidence-based addiction treatment and current hospital/ED practice, how frontline non-specialist clinicians can provide effective SUD care, practical implementation models, and how to build seamless care transitions from the ED to ongoing treatment.

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EP 03

🎙 Special Series: ASAM's 57th Annual Conference

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This episode is part of a special three-part series spotlighting key sessions from ASAM’s 57th Annual Conference.

 

In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Dr. Elizabeth Salisbury-Afshar is joined by Drs. Ruth Potee and Ari Kriegsman to explore highlights from their session, The Right Dose, Every Day. Together, they challenge the algorithmic, punitive approaches to methadone treatment, instead promoting individualized, patient-centered care. They share their clinical and philosophical approaches to methadone treatment, including split dosing, missed-dosing protocols, and expanded take-home medications, offering practical insights to help you advocate for your patients and collaborate across care settings.

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EP 02

🎙 Special Series: ASAM's 57th Annual Conference

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This episode is part of a special three-part series spotlighting key sessions from ASAM’s 57th Annual Conference.

 

In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Dr. Stephen Taylor is joined by Drs. Tessa Steel and Melissa Weimer to discuss highlights from their Annual Conference session, Advanced Management of Alcohol Withdrawal: Case-Based, Evidence-Informed Solutions. Together, they explore the challenges of managing severe and resistant alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS), effective assessment tools, escalation strategies, and care considerations for high-risk or medically complex patients.

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EP 01

🎙 Special Series: ASAM's 57th Annual Conference

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This episode is part of a special three-part series spotlighting key sessions from ASAM’s 57th Annual Conference.

 

In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Dr. Elizabeth Salisbury-Afshar is joined by Drs. Sara Polley and Daniel Kaufman to explore highlights from their Annual Conference session, Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Addiction Medicine. Together, they discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping addiction medicine, including the many ways AI is already being used in clinical care. The conversation focuses on informed consent, maintaining clinical judgment, and ethical considerations.

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In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Drs. Stephen Taylor and Takeo Toyoshima address the misconception that cannabis is not addictive. They discuss how clinicians can better understand the cannabis products their patients are using, navigate the changing legal landscape, and assess for cannabis use disorder using the “Three Cs” framework. The conversation highlights treatment strategies like motivational interviewing and harm reduction, managing cannabis withdrawal, the risk of psychosis from high-potency products, and emerging pharmacotherapy options. Throughout the episode, they offer practical strategies for keeping patients engaged in care.  

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In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Dr. Stephen Taylor hosts researchers Dr. Kirsten Smith and Katie Hill to explore the rapidly evolving landscape of kratom and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). They examine kratom’s complex pharmacology, review current research on kratom and 7-OH, discuss kratom’s addiction potential, withdrawal patterns, and the challenges of kratom in the clinical setting. The episode provides listeners with a basic understanding of kratom and 7-OH products, helping clinicians better understand where to begin when treating patients who use kratom and kratom-derived products.

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In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Drs. Stephen Taylor and Sharon Stancliff explore the role of social determinants of health (SDoH) in addiction care. They discuss the biopsychosocial model of addiction and emphasize the importance of understanding social factors such as housing, transportation, and economic stability when providing effective care. They highlight the need for clinicians to engage with patients in their environments, advocate for policy changes, and address racial disparities in addiction treatment, offering practical strategies clinicians can use to support patients facing social challenges.  

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In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Drs. Stephen Taylor and Smita Das discuss co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders (SUD). They explore the most common psychiatric conditions seen alongside addiction, share strategies for distinguishing primary psychiatric disorders from substance-induced symptoms, and review approaches to screening, treatment planning, and integrated care. The conversation highlights practical screening tools, medication considerations, and populations with unique clinical needs, emphasizing the importance of treating both conditions concurrently.

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In this episode of ASAM Practice Pearls, Drs. Stephen Taylor and Brian Hurley explore contingency management as an evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders. They address common concerns and share practical strategies for implementing contingency management in real-world clinical settings, offering listeners actionable insights and best practices for integrating contingency management into comprehensive care.

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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, 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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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, 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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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, 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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