Research in the 1950s showed that animals - mammals in particular - compulsively used and abused the same drugs as humans. Yet other psycoactive drugs - the ones used for treatment of mental health conditions - did not cause the same compulsive use patterns. Dr. Darryl Inaba expands on the use of  these medications, and the ways they affect people with substance use disorders - commonly knows as dual-diagnosis or co-occurring disorders.

 

 Psychiatric Medicine & Addiction Recovery: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

As our knowledge of the brain continues to expand, scientists are looking at thousands of neurochemical and brain cells that can be manipulated to reduce the stress mechanism and aid in the addicted person’s recovery. In this podcast Dr. Inaba explores some of the specifics.

 

 Drugs to Suppress Stress and Reduce ravings: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Chemically-assisted detox, replacement therapy, recovery-pharmocotherapy are current buzzwords in addiction treatment. Five years ago these would have been viewed as oxymoronic. Today, our understanding of the brain has advanced the development of more drugs to treat addiction then almost any other health problem. We as a society believe there is a pill for whatever ails you - including being addicted to pills. Dr Inaba explores this trend, its impacts and the conflicts with more traditional approaches (12-step, peer counseling) in recovery treatment.

 

 A Pill for Everything - even your addiction: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

70-80% of people who meet the clinically accepted diagnostic criteria for substance abuse do not believe they have a problem. To increase people’s understanding and acceptance of the issues they are facing, “S-BIRT”, Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral and Treatment has been shown to be very valuable tool. The brief intervention alone, just 5-10 minutes of evaluation and education about drugs (including alcohol and tobacco), drug use and the impact on people’s health and lives, has been shown in studies to have an effect of reducing drug use by up to 50%.

 

 Our Awareness Gap of Addiction and "S-BIRT": Play Now | Play in Popup | Download