Discover how stimulating specific points on the ear can dramatically reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms through an FDA-approved device called the ST Genesis. Shelley Halligan, President of Speranza Therapeutics, explains the science behind percutaneous nerve field stimulation and its remarkable effects on patients struggling with addiction. • The device works by targeting cranial nerves in the ear to activate the parasympathetic nervous system • Small electrical pulses delivered continuously for ...
Jul 07, 2025•43 min
Urine drug testing provides critical insights for addiction treatment, helping clinicians understand what substances patients are actually using and how the drug supply is rapidly changing. Matthew Rutledge, founder of MD Labs, shares his expertise on testing methodologies, detection capabilities, and emerging trends in substance use. • Different drug test types include basic immunoassay cups (similar to pregnancy tests), which detect drug shapes but can have false positives/negatives • Liquid a...
Jun 30, 2025•43 min
Today we speak with Dr. Samantha Harte about her experience living as a high-functioning person with addiction and how perfection masks internal struggles. She shares her journey from overdosing on cocaine as she was accepted into her doctoral program to becoming an author and recovery coach helping others find authentic healing. • High-functioning addiction often hides behind external success and achievements • Control and perfectionism become secondary addictions that receive cultural reinforc...
Jun 23, 2025•47 min
Dr. Casey Grover explores the history, neuroscience, and treatment approaches for methamphetamine use disorder, highlighting how methamphetamine releases more dopamine than any other known substance. • Methamphetamine was widely used during World War II by German, Japanese, and Allied forces to enhance performance • Modern meth production shifted from ephedra to P2P method, creating cheaper, more potent meth with worse psychiatric effects • Meth causes dopamine release up to 1,400 ng/dL of dopam...
Jun 16, 2025•38 min
In this episode, we discuss the fundamentals of treating opioid and alcohol use disorders with medication-assisted approaches. We review how to understand addiction as self-regulation with substances and how healthcare providers can leverage familiar medications alongside specialized treatments to help patients recover. We also discuss • Addiction fundamentally involves helping patients shift from self-regulating with substances to self-regulating without them • Distinguishing opioid dependence ...
Jun 09, 2025•54 min
This episode is an interview with Matt Butler, a singer-songwriter who has performed in jails and prisons across America for a decade. He shares how music creates transformative spaces for healing in correctional environments. • Matt's musical journey began after writing songs for a documentary about recovery high schools • Music penetrates emotional defenses faster than conventional approaches, allowing inmates to be vulnerable • Songs like "Good Friday" and "Time to Be a Man" directly speak to...
Jun 02, 2025•48 min
Dr. Casey Grover breaks down psychiatric medications and their role in addiction treatment, explaining how different medications work, when they're most appropriate, and which ones to avoid. He provides a practical overview based on his extensive experience treating patients with substance use disorders. • Psychiatric medications get developed through research on brain receptors and undergo rigorous testing before FDA approval • Medications often have "off-label" uses that weren't originally int...
May 26, 2025•34 min
Kyle Santoro, a 19-year-old filmmaker, created the documentary "Fentanyl High" to explore teenage psychology behind substance abuse after witnessing overdoses at his high school. His film takes a peer-to-peer approach to addiction education, removing stigma and creating spaces for vulnerable conversations about why teens turn to substances. Kyle and Dr Grover discuss his experiences making the film and what he has learned through making it: • Kyle began the project after a classmate overdosed in...
May 19, 2025•43 min
Tom Barnum, former Michigan State linebacker and NFL player, shares his remarkable journey from addiction to finding joy in sobriety through his team-based approach to recovery. He is the author of the book "Sobriety is a Team Sport" We discuss: • Addiction recovery requires admitting the problem is beyond personal control • Tom identifies the three paths for people with addiction: sobriety, jail, or death • AA meetings provide essential human connection that helps rewire the brain's dopamine sy...
May 12, 2025•29 min
Dr. Casey Grover interviews fellow addiction medicine physician Dr. Jason Giles to explore how addiction specialists approach treatment using long-acting injectable medications as tools for recovery. We discuss: • Dr. Giles shares his personal journey from anesthesiology to addiction medicine after developing his own dependency on fentanyl • Addiction as a disease of executive functioning that impairs decision-making ability • Recovery requires building new neural pathways - learning to manage e...
May 05, 2025•49 min
Dr. Casey Grover shares his clinical experience treating Kratom Use Disorder through a detailed case presentation of a 38-year-old man who struggled to find medical professionals knowledgeable about kratom addiction. • Many healthcare providers lack knowledge about kratom, causing delays in patients receiving proper treatment • Kratom creates opioid dependence similar to traditional opioids, leading to withdrawal symptoms when stopping • The convenience of buying kratom at smoke shops contrasts ...
Apr 28, 2025•17 min
Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS), also known as "scromiting," is a debilitating condition characterized by severe nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain that affects heavy cannabis users. Dr. Casey Grover explains this increasingly common syndrome caused by high-potency cannabis products, which paradoxically improves with hot showers and proves challenging to treat with conventional medications. • First identified in 2009 and named "scromiting" to reflect the combined screaming and vomiting ...
Apr 21, 2025•32 min
The cannabis available today is dramatically stronger than what existed in previous decades, with THC levels climbing from 1% in 1970 to 25-30% in 2025, creating serious risks particularly for young people who don't understand appropriate dosing. Dr. Grover shares how cannabis has been deliberately bred for higher potency and how new extraction techniques have created products with astronomical THC levels, leading to dangerous situations like young people consuming 60 times a reasonable dose. • ...
Apr 14, 2025•32 min
Trauma is a crucial aspect of addiction treatment, often serving as the underlying cause for substance use. In this illuminating interview with trauma therapist Dr. Jessica Cooper, we explore the mechanics of trauma therapy and how it helps people heal from devastating experiences. • Breaking down trauma therapy into three essential phases: establishing safety, processing memories, and reconnection/integration • Understanding how childhood trauma creates patterns that can lead to re-traumatizati...
Apr 07, 2025•53 min
Exploring the growing problem of recreational nitrous oxide use and its serious medical complications, including paralysis and permanent nerve damage. I share personal patient cases and investigate how this addictive substance is readily available in smoke shops and even on Amazon with minimal warning labels. • Multiple patients experiencing serious neurological complications from recreational nitrous oxide use • Personal investigation revealing easy access to nitrous oxide on Amazon marketed fo...
Mar 31, 2025•27 min
Join me, Dr. Casey Grover, as I provide a comprehensive guide to treating opioid use disorder during pregnancy, examining evidence-based approaches that protect both mother and baby through critical periods of care. The statistics are sobering - opioid use disorder in pregnancy has more than doubled in recent years, with overdoses now a leading cause of pregnancy-associated death. • Two major medical societies (ACOG and ASAM) recommend treating with methadone or buprenorphine rather than attempt...
Mar 24, 2025•31 min
This episode provides a deep dive into the complexities of addiction medicine learned from seeing patients in my practice. Through real patient cases, I highlight the importance of tailored approaches to addiction that consider both the physiological and psychological aspects of recovery. We discuss • Insights into demographics of substance use in a rural setting • The effectiveness of dual medication therapies for alcohol use disorder • The link between trauma and substance use disorders • Emer...
Mar 17, 2025•20 min
This episode delves into the role of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in treating cannabis use disorder, exploring scientific studies and their findings. Listeners will gain insights on the efficacy of NAC, its potential in addiction treatment, and practical considerations for use. • Overview of cannabis use disorder statistics and the need for treatment options • Explanation of N-acetylcysteine and its mechanism of action in addiction • Review of clinical trials evaluating NAC's effectiveness in reducing...
Mar 10, 2025•19 min
Trauma plays a pivotal role in the journey of addiction, with many individuals using substances as a means to cope with unresolved issues. Addressing PTSD is crucial for effective recovery, as understanding the link between trauma and addiction can empower individuals toward healing. In this episode we discuss: • Trauma and its historical context in PTSD understanding • Description of brain responses to trauma and the feedback loop • Big T and little t traumas and their cumulative effects • The ...
Mar 03, 2025•37 min
Understanding the teenage brain’s vulnerability to addiction can help parents and educators guide youth more effectively. This episode explores the brain's development, early drug use risks, emotional impairment, and effective prevention strategies drawn from successful programs like Iceland's. Key points: • Teenage brains develop until around age 26, with the prefrontal cortex being critical for decision-making • Early substance use increases the risk of developing addiction • Social and emotio...
Feb 24, 2025•13 min
Can personal stories of struggle and resilience reshape our understanding of addiction? The answer is YES! My patients teach me about addiction all the time! Join me, Dr. Casey Grover, as I share the powerful stories of three patients whose experiences challenge society’s perceptions of addiction. Their journeys highlight the need for understanding over judgment and the vital role healthcare providers play in supporting those in need. This episode is a heartfelt call to action. Byy raising aware...
Feb 17, 2025•18 min
This podcast episode delves into the groundbreaking concept of dual brain psychology and its implications for understanding trauma and addiction. Dr. Fred Schiffer shares his insights on how different hemispheres of the brain process trauma and the methods developed to facilitate healing through dual brain dynamics. • Explanation of split brain studies and their significance • Distinction between the functions of each brain hemisphere • Insights on how trauma resides in different sides of the br...
Feb 10, 2025•46 min
This is an episode on addiction and trauma, with the author Rikki West as a guest. Rikki shares her powerful story of assault, addiction, and healing, and we discuss the deep connection between trauma and addiction. We had a fantastic conversation about personal struggles and the importance of community support, as well as finding the path to healing. We discuss: • Exploring the connection between trauma and addiction • Rikki's journey from childhood through addiction to recovery • Impact of fam...
Feb 03, 2025•54 min
In this episode, we are tackling stigma. Specifically stigma against patients by healthcare providers. Stigma against patients struggling with addiction is a significant barrier to effective healthcare treatment, leading to profound consequences, including increased harm and even death. The episode highlights the definition of stigma, its impacts on patient behavior, and actionable strategies to reduce it within the healthcare system. We discuss: • Definitions and types of stigma • The harmful e...
Jan 20, 2025•22 min
We're talking about Xylazine again. We haven't covered it on the podcast since 2022, and since it's becoming more common in the drug supply, it was time to discuss it again. Unlock the secrets to understanding one of today's most alarming substances misused in addiction – Xylazine, infamously dubbed the "Zombie Drug." Join me, Dr. Casey Grover, as I dive into the world of Xylazine, a veterinary medication with unintended and dangerous consequences when misused by humans. Discover the pharmacolog...
Jan 13, 2025•20 min
This episode explores the complexities surrounding kratom, featuring insights from Matthew Lowe of the Global Kratom Coalition (GKC). We discuss the dual nature of kratom, its benefits and risks, the importance of consumer education, and the ongoing push for industry regulation to protect users. We discuss • An overview of kratom's rising popularity and consumer demographics • The role of word-of-mouth and the internet in kratom discovery • Importance of accurate labeling and consumer education ...
Jan 06, 2025•50 min
Evan Morgan, a dedicated fire captain from Central California, provides a raw and deeply personal account of his struggle with addiction, illustrating the harsh realities faced by healthcare professionals battling the stigma that comes with it. Once an ambitious student experimenting with drugs, Evan’s journey spiraled into dependency on prescription painkillers after a workplace injury. His candid narrative reveals the devastating effects of addiction on his professional life and personal relat...
Dec 23, 2024•47 min
Join me, Dr. Casey Grover, on an eye-opening journey as we tackle the tough questions surrounding addiction medicine. We start by discovering why cannabis isn't the harmless plant many believe it to be, especially in the context of recovery. Drawing from a compelling study, we reveal how cannabis use in sober living environments may set the stage for relapse into alcohol and other drugs, challenging the notion that it can coexist with sobriety. But that's just the beginning. We next do a deep di...
Dec 16, 2024•26 min
Imagine battling substance addiction for decades, only to find your path to recovery through personal growth and self-awareness. In this heartfelt episode, I, Dr. Casey Grover, sit down with Paul Giovino, a Monterey resident who courageously shares his transformative journey from dependency to resilience. Paul's story is not just about overcoming addiction; it's about addressing the emotional roots of substance use and finding strength in building self-esteem. Together, we explore the significan...
Dec 09, 2024•48 min
Discover the transformative potential of ADHD medications in addiction treatment as we bring you a captivating discussion with Dr. Justin Mohatt, a renowned child and adolescent psychiatrist. Dr. Mohatt joins us to unravel the complexities of using ADHD medications to combat stimulant addiction, shedding light on how these drugs can make a difference. We'll explore a myriad of medications, including guanfacine, clonidine, and atomoxetine, and discuss their respective roles in addressing adult AD...
Dec 02, 2024•50 min
