This is a bonus episode. I was asked to speak at several schools in the area around where I work about drugs and alcohol - both to students and to parents. I wanted to make the education as impactful and real as possible. So I focused on the substances that are most likely to affect our youth and their families - alcohol, cannabis, nicotine/vaping, and fentanyl. To help make my presentation as real as possible, I actually went to a liquor store, a tobacco shop, and a cannabis dispensary to look ...
Nov 25, 2024•41 min
* Link to get CME at the bottom of the show notes * Ever wondered if a plant could be both a herbal remedy and a controversial subject in addiction medicine? Join us as we uncover the multifaceted nature of Kratom with Dr. Sonia Del Tredici and Dr. John Keenan from the Addiction Medicine Journal Club podcast for a journal club style episode on Kratom. Together, we explore Kratom's historical uses for pain relief and fatigue management and its growing popularity as an aid in opioid withdrawal. Th...
Nov 18, 2024•53 min
I'm thrilled to welcome Amity Cooper to the Addiction Medicine Made Easy Podcast! Amity is a mental health professional specializing in equine therapy, to share her unique perspective on the pivotal role of mental health in achieving and maintaining sobriety. Together, we explore the intersection of mental health and addiction recovery, delving into therapies that support individuals on their journey to a fulfilling sober life. Amity's insights provide insight at how equine therapy and holistic ...
Nov 12, 2024•40 min
Join us for a riveting discussion with Chris Terzakos, an insightful author and life coach, who shares his compelling journey from the gritty streets of New York City to finding solace in fitness. Chris opens up about witnessing the widespread impact of drugs like cocaine and LSD in his neighborhood and how he turned to exercise as his lifeline. Discover how the pursuit of a natural high through fitness provided a therapeutic escape, laying the foundation for Chris's message about the healing po...
Nov 04, 2024•52 min
Have you ever considered the emotional journey of siblings when they discover a loved one's trauma? This episode invites you to explore this often-overlooked perspective with our special guest, Keeper Catran-Whitney, the author of "Helplessness: What Happens To Brothers When We Learn Our Sisters Have Been Molested By Our Parents?." Keeper opens up about the personal journey of grappling with childhood trauma, poverty, and the complex layers of emotions that arise when a brother learns of his sis...
Oct 30, 2024•1 hr 4 min
Unlock the complexities of Kratom, a substance both fascinating and misunderstood, as we promise to enrich your understanding with insights from Dr. Sonya Del Tredici and Dr. John Keenan of the Addiction Medicine Journal Club. Join us as we explore Kratom's dual identity as a stimulant and opioid-like substance, its traditional roots, and the reasons behind its rise in popularity. Despite its widespread use, many see Kratom as an herbal supplement rather than a drug, leading to an awareness gap ...
Oct 14, 2024•39 min
What if the root of America’s deadly opioid crisis lies in a single pharmaceutical company’s marketing strategy? Dr. Casey Grover takes you on a compelling journey through the origins and evolution of this epidemic. From Purdue Pharma's aggressive promotion of OxyContin to the alarming rise of synthetic opioids like fentanyl, we dissect how tolerance and dependence perpetuate the cycle of addiction. You'll also gain historical insights into heroin's early marketing by Bayer Pharmaceuticals as a ...
Oct 07, 2024•22 min
Can CBD truly provide effective pain relief, or is it just another overhyped remedy? Join us in this eye-opening episode of Addiction Medicine Made Easy, where Dr. Casey Grover critically examines the realities behind cannabidiol (CBD) usage for pain management. We start the episode with inspiring encounters, including a discussion of the work of musician Matt Butler, who uses his songs to shine a light on addiction in prisons and jails. Dr. Grover also shares his heartfelt recommendation of Ste...
Sep 30, 2024•13 min
Can smart people really be immune to addiction? On this special bonus episode of the Addiction Medicine Made Easy podcast, Dr. Casey Grover uncovers the truths behind common myths about addiction, drugs, and overdoses. Designed for students from grades 6 through 12, this episode is both engaging and educational, challenging misconceptions such as the addictive potential of cannabis and the dangers of merely touching fentanyl. You'll gain a deeper understanding of how addiction affects decision-m...
Sep 23, 2024•22 min
Curious about the mysterious herb that's causing a stir in both traditional medicine and recreational circles? Join Dr. Casey Grover as we uncover the fascinating details about kratom, a plant from Southeast Asia with unique stimulant and opioid-like properties. You'll learn about its historical uses for pain relief and energy, as well as its modern-day appeal for euphoria. We break down the science behind kratom, from opioid receptor agonism to COX-2 inhibition, and even explore how an overdose...
Sep 09, 2024•16 min
Have you ever wondered how early childhood traumas can shape our mental and physical health, leading to conditions like PTSD, anxiety, and addiction? Join us as Dr. Casey Grover and Dr. Reb Close unravel these complexities with compelling real-life examples from their extensive careers in addiction medicine and emergency care. Hear a poignant story that underscores the importance of understanding a patient's history and using empathetic, non-stigmatizing language. This discussion promises not ju...
Aug 26, 2024•27 min
Curious about how to effectively talk to your kids about the perils of drugs and alcohol? Join me, Dr. Casey Grover, as I share my personal experiences and practical strategies for starting these critical conversations. Reflecting on a talk I gave at a local school, I unravel the complexities of parenting in the face of substance use, emphasizing the importance of early and regular communication. Through heartfelt anecdotes, including one particular impactful story, we explore best practices for...
Aug 19, 2024•47 min
Discover the life-saving potential of buprenorphine in the fight against opioid overdoses with Dr. Casey Grover on the latest episode of Addiction Medicine Made Easy. We start with a poignant patient story that showcases the remarkable impact of addiction medicine using Topamax for alcohol use disorder. From there, we shift our focus to the powerful effects of buprenorphine in reducing fatal opioid overdoses, especially in the context of acute fentanyl exposures. Drawing on a pivotal 2020 study ...
Aug 12, 2024•19 min
Can cannabis put your heart at risk? Join me, Dr. Casey Grover, as we unpack groundbreaking research that challenges the widespread perception of cannabis as a harmless, natural remedy. We'll kick off by discussing a revealing study from the Journal of Pain, which found that CBD products may be ineffective for pain relief and even potentially harmful. Then, we delve into a critical study from the Journal of the American Heart Association, shedding light on the alarming rise in cannabis use and c...
Jul 22, 2024•17 min
How does a drug deal work? How do people with addiction find out what their drugs are cut with? Can you ask your dealer if your drugs are cut with fentanyl? In this episode, Dr. Grover interviews Jeremy, who is a former injection drug user about what it's like buying drugs in the illicit market. This is a rebroadcast of Episode 64, with improved audio quality
Jul 15, 2024•36 min
Traditional medicine involves going to the doctor. How is medicine different when we bring the doctor to you? Could we do a better job treating addiction if we brought the doctor to the patient? Better yet - for our unhoused patients - shouldn't we be bringing the doctor to the patient given all the barriers they face? In this episode Dr. Grover interviews Dominique McDowell, who is an experienced healthcare provider – who has worked in a variety of clinic settings – but has done great work with...
Jul 07, 2024•42 min
Episode 78. Traditional teaching to medical students about pain management was to give Tylenol, then Advil, then opioids in ever increasing doses without any maximum dose! Turns out that wasn't quite right. In this episode, Dr. Grover and his colleague Dr. Reb Close share their expertise on best practices in pain management, including how to maximize non-opioid and opioid-sparing medication regimens.
Jun 16, 2024•1 hr 1 min
Naltrexone - a medication used to reduce alcohol consumption - is usually prescribed on a scheduled basis when treating alcohol use disorder. Could prescribing it to be taken only on drinking days work too?? In this episode Dr. Grover reviews a recent study on how "targeted" naltrexone can be used to reduce alcohol use.
Jun 03, 2024•16 min
We all know that options to treat stimulant use disorder are limited. In this episode Dr. Grover interviews Dr. Michael Miller, an Addiction Medicine doctor in Indiana who has developed a novel approach to treating stimulant use disorder. In this interview, Dr. Miller describes his novel approach and his outstanding results (Spoiler Alert! - he is seeing an 86% reduction in methamphetamine use in his patients!!!)
May 13, 2024•45 min
In this episode we tackle opioid use disorder during pregnancy with OB-GYN Dr. Kenneth Spielvogel. Dr. Grover and Dr. Spielvogel discuss multiple topics including the use of methadone and buprenorphine during pregnancy, overdoses during pregnancy, fentanyl exposure during pregnancy, and breastfeeding while taking buprenorphine.
May 01, 2024•1 hr 15 min
Dr. Grover was asked to speak at a high school on the topic of food, nutrition, eating disorders, and how ultra processed food can be addictive. He recorded the lecture while giving it - so here it is as a bonus episode.
Apr 20, 2024•39 min
We tried to cover counseling and talk therapy as a part of treatment for addiction in a single episode - but it was too big of a topic! This episode is part 2 of Dr. Grover's interview with Andrew Finley, LMFT on the topic of counseling and talk therapy as a part of treatment for addiction.
Apr 13, 2024•1 hr 23 min
Ok...so you have a patient using nicotine, cannabis, alcohol, and methamphetamine. What substance should you focus on helping the patient stop first? Or should the patient stop everything at once? In this episode Dr. Grover interviews Addiction Medicine physician Dr. Lee Goldman on the topic of how to treat patients who use multiple substances.
Apr 01, 2024•49 min
In this episode, we take a second look at cannabis withdrawal. Dr. Grover covered this topic on a previous episode, but as cannabis use is very common, and many people don't realize that cannabis has a withdrawal syndrome - it needed another look. This episode is an up to date review of cannabis withdrawal, including options for treatment.
Mar 18, 2024•21 min
How much do you know about talk therapy and counseling? How does it work? How does a therapist decide what to talk about? How does one define a successful therapy session? In this episode, Dr. Grover interviews Andrew Finley, LMFT, about how counseling and talk therapy work for patients with addiction. And since it's such a big topic, it will take several episodes to cover.
Mar 04, 2024•55 min
Are you familiar with Bromazolam? Carfentanil? Isotonitazene? Flualprazolam? What do all these substances have in common? They are showing up in the illicit drug market, and we'll likely be seeing more of them in the future. Dr. Grover gives an update on what's coming next in the illicit drug supply
Feb 25, 2024•46 min
Dr. Grover was asked to speak at a high school to parents on how to talk to kids about drugs and alcohol - and this episode is a recording of that lecture. Dr. Grover reviews how to talk to kids about substance use in general, as well as how to talk to kids who are actively using substances. Pardon the raspy voice - Dr. Grover is getting over pneumonia :)
Feb 12, 2024•52 min
We finally came up with a new and better name for the podcast! Addiction in Emergency Medicine and Acute Care is now Addiction Medicine Made Easy. Dr. Grover shares his thoughts on the why behind the name change.
Feb 03, 2024•5 min
We all know that the illicit drug supply is full of contaminants, some more dangerous than others. I am seeing, in my practice, more of my patients who use stimulants test positive for fentanyl. In this episode, we review a study that analyzes specimens of meth and cocaine to see how often they are laced with fentanyl. Spoiler alert...it's pretty common :(
Jan 29, 2024•16 min
Do your patients use whippets? Have they ever mentioned that they use nitrous? Not quite sure what we're talking about? In this episode we look at recreational use of nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas or whippets.
Jan 18, 2024•18 min
