In the latest episode of Cracking Addiction we discuss the symptoms of cannabis withdrawal syndrome and the duration that can be expected for these symptoms, the common reasons that people use cannabis and how to manage these symptoms post cannabis withdrawal, the pharmacological management options for cannabis withdrawal which is largely symptomatic management and also the the common clinical scenarios of comorbid dependency with cannabis and other substances such as tobacco and caffeine and th...
Jul 27, 2022•17 min•Season 1Ep. 50
In this episode of Cracking Addiction we discuss the symptoms of cannabis use disorder and cannabis intoxication, the different preparations of cannabis and the THC contents of these various preparations, the harms associated with cannabis use, the harms of cannabis when compared with tobacco and alcohol usage, the risk factors for developing cannabis use disorder, how to identify a person with cannabis use disorder, the social determinants impacting substance use and the classifications systems...
Jul 20, 2022•27 min•Season 1Ep. 49
In this episode of Cracking Addiction we discuss cannabidiol (CBD) and discuss the clinical effects of CBD, how CBD acts on the cannabinoid receptors, the clinical indications for CBD products, the potential areas where CBD may have the most clinical benefit and discuss the lack of psychoactive properties of CBD. We also discuss the risks associated with CBD and how to counsel patients on these risks. Finally we discuss the potential future role of CBD in the management of chronic pain and peopl...
Jul 13, 2022•16 min•Season 1Ep. 48
In this episode of Cracking Addiction we discuss delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and how it interacts with the cannabinoid receptors and how this interaction with the receptors causes its effects on the body. We also explore the clinical effects of THC, side effects of THC and the clinical indications for THC products. Discussions and comments in our videos are for informational purposes only and should not replace the advice of your medical professional. Please consult with your doctor befor...
Jul 06, 2022•17 min•Season 1Ep. 47
In this episode of Cracking Addiction we discuss the endocannabinoid system, the different types of endocannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, the location of the different receptors, the endogenous ligands of cannabinoid receptors and their synthesis and breakdown and briefly touch on the two best known cannabinoids THC and cannabidiol. Discussions and comments in our videos are for informational purposes only and should not replace the advice of your medical professional. Please consult with your ...
Jun 29, 2022•19 min•Season 1Ep. 46
In this episode of Cracking Addiction, Scot Aitken and Dr Ferghal Armstrong chat about Johan Hari’s book, Chasing The Scream. We explore some of themes of the book including the motivations that underpin the war on drugs, the economic factors that affect the war on drugs and the role of decriminalization of drug use. Discussions and comments in our videos are for informational purposes only and should not replace the advice of your medical professional. Please consult with your doctor before mak...
Jun 22, 2022•22 min•Season 1Ep. 45
In this episode of Cracking Addiction we are again joined by Dr Colin Mendelsohn to discuss the controversies around vaping including the risks around vaping, the thoughts of vaping being a gateway to smoking cigarettes, the risks of EVALI, the role of 'Big Tobacco' in vaping, looking at the evidence around vaping and challenging some of the latest reviews around vaping Discussions and comments in our videos are for informational purposes only and should not replace the advice of your medical pr...
Jun 16, 2022•17 min•Season 1Ep. 44
In part 2 of 3 episodes. In this episode of Cracking Addiction we are again joined by Dr Colin Mendelsohn to discuss the different types of vaping products on the market, the different types of nicotine e-liquids available, how to source vaping products, how to prescribe nicotine and how to vape safely. Discussions and comments in our videos are for informational purposes only and should not replace the advice of your medical professional. Please consult with your doctor before making any change...
Jun 08, 2022•16 min•Season 1Ep. 43
In this 1st of three episodes of Cracking Addiction we are joined by Dr Colin Mendelsohn to discuss the harms of tobacco usage, what vaping is and how vaping can be useful to aid smoking cessation, the myths and benefits surrounding nicotine and the efficacy of vaping in smoking cessation. Nicotine vaping is surrounded in mystery with a lot of myths and misinformation abounding and in this episode we try and dispel some of this misinformation. Discussions and comments in our videos are for infor...
Jun 01, 2022•17 min•Season 1Ep. 42
In this episode of Cracking Addiction we discuss tobacco use in pregnancy and the those with mental health disorders and the evidence around smoking cessation in these special population groups. Discussions and comments in our videos are for informational purposes only and should not replace the advice of your medical professional. Please consult with your doctor before making any changes to your medical treatment or lifestyle. Latest Blogs https://www.meducate.com.au/blog About Meducate ® Meduc...
May 25, 2022•24 min•Season 1Ep. 41
In this episode of Cracking Addiction we discuss various smoking cessation interventions including behavioural interventions, nicotine replacement therapy, varenicline, bupropion and nortriptyline to aid patients in stopping smoking. Discussions and comments in our videos are for informational purposes only and should not replace the advice of your medical professional. Please consult with your doctor before making any changes to your medical treatment or lifestyle. Latest Blogs https://www.medu...
May 19, 2022•18 min•Season 1Ep. 40
In this episode of Cracking Addiction we discuss the harms associated with tobacco use, the health benefits of tobacco cessation, briefly discuss smoking cessation interventions and highlight the importance of brief interventions in eliciting behaviour change. Discussions and comments in our videos are for informational purposes only and should not replace the advice of your medical professional. Please consult with your doctor before making any changes to your medical treatment or lifestyle. La...
May 12, 2022•19 min•Season 1Ep. 39
In Episode 38 of Cracking Addiction we summarise the previous episodes regarding opioid use disorder and discuss a framework on the safe management of patients with opioid use disorder. Discussions and comments in our videos are for informational purposes only and should not replace the advice of your medical professional. Please consult with your doctor before making any changes to your medical treatment or lifestyle. Latest Blogs https://www.meducate.com.au/blog About Meducate ® Meducate provi...
May 04, 2022•33 min•Season 1Ep. 38
In episode 37 of Cracking Addiction we discuss in detail some of the social comorbidities associated with substance use disorders and what to screen for, be aware of and some management strategies to tackle these social comorbidities. Social isolation and alienation are some of the unfortunate hallmarks of substance use disorder. Some of the biggest social harms that occur to the patient are the harms that can occur with increased rates of unemployment, homelessness, broken relationships and soc...
Apr 27, 2022•28 min•Season 1Ep. 37
In episode 36 of Cracking Addiction we discuss in detail some of the physical comorbidities associated with substance use disorders and what to screen for, be aware of and some management techniques. People with substance use disorders often deal with many medical and physical issues that can impact both their quality of life but also increase the risks of morbidity and mortality. There are a number of medical and physical conditions that could be discussed but for the sake brevity this blog pos...
Apr 20, 2022•25 min•Season 1Ep. 36
In episode 35 of Cracking Addiction we discuss in detail some of the psychiatric comorbidities associated with substance use disorders and what to screen for, be aware of and some management techniques. Discussions and comments in our videos are for informational purposes only and should not replace the advice of your medical professional. Please consult with your doctor before making any changes to your medical treatment or lifestyle. Latest Blogs https://www.meducate.com.au/blog About Meducate...
Apr 13, 2022•24 min•Season 1Ep. 35
In episode 34 of Cracking Addiction we discuss how to manage some of the special circumstances in opioid substation therapy including OST in renal and hepatic impairment, managing polypharmacy complications with OST and managing acute pain whilst a patient is on OST. Discussions and comments in our videos are for informational purposes only and should not replace the advice of your medical professional. Please consult with your doctor before making any changes to your medical treatment or lifest...
Apr 06, 2022•18 min•Season 1Ep. 34
In episode 33 of Cracking Addiction we discuss how to manage some of the special circumstances in opioid substation therapy including vomiting of doses of OST, dealing with intoxicated patients, overdoses of OST and transitioning between Methadone and Suboxone and vice versa. Discussions and comments in our videos are for informational purposes only and should not replace the advice of your medical professional. Please consult with your doctor before making any changes to your medical treatment ...
Mar 30, 2022•24 min•Season 1Ep. 33
In episode 32 of Cracking Addiction we discuss the harm reduction intervention of Naloxone and when to consider prescribing this medication, the benefits of take home naloxone and how it saves lives! Discussions and comments in our videos are for informational purposes only and should not replace the advice of your medical professional. Please consult with your doctor before making any changes to your medical treatment or lifestyle. Latest Blogs https://www.meducate.com.au/blog About Meducate ® ...
Mar 23, 2022•22 min•Season 1Ep. 32
In episode 31 of Cracking Addiction we discuss the harm reduction interventions that we can implement for people who inject drugs to decrease the risks of morbidity and mortality. Discussions and comments in our videos are for informational purposes only and should not replace the advice of your medical professional. Please consult with your doctor before making any changes to your medical treatment or lifestyle. Latest Blogs https://www.meducate.com.au/blog About Meducate ® Meducate provides on...
Mar 16, 2022•27 min•Season 1Ep. 31
In episode 30 of Cracking Addiction we discuss the different opioid receptors buprenorphine acts upon and the nature of these effects, the difference between agonists and antagonists, how to start a patient on Suboxone and how to monitor patients on Suboxone and adjust doses. Discussions and comments in our videos are for informational purposes only and should not replace the advice of your medical professional. Please consult with your doctor before making any changes to your medical treatment ...
Mar 09, 2022•22 min•Season 1Ep. 30
In episode 29 of Cracking Addiction we discuss Suboxone and talk about the components of Suboxone as well as the pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of Suboxone. Discussions and comments in our videos are for informational purposes only and should not replace the advice of your medical professional. Please consult with your doctor before making any changes to your medical treatment or lifestyle. Latest Blogs https://www.meducate.com.au/blog About Meducate ® Meducate provides online education for d...
Mar 02, 2022•19 min•Season 1Ep. 29
In episode 28 of Cracking Addiction we discuss our practical tips, advice and experience in managing patients on LAIB and share what we have learned. Discussions and comments in our videos are for informational purposes only and should not replace the advice of your medical professional. Please consult with your doctor before making any changes to your medical treatment or lifestyle. Latest Blogs https://www.meducate.com.au/blog About Meducate ® Meducate provides online education for doctors, cl...
Feb 23, 2022•20 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Episode 27 of Cracking Addiction discusses the patient journey on LAIB and how to adequately deal with and manage adjusting doses of LAIB, commencing and ceasing LAIB and ensuring that patients are maintained on LAIB therapy Discussions and comments in our videos are for informational purposes only and should not replace the advice of your medical professional. Please consult with your doctor before making any changes to your medical treatment or lifestyle. Latest Blogs https://www.meducate.com....
Feb 16, 2022•16 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Cracking Addiction discusses Sublocade one of the LAIB preparations available and how to commence, maintain and manage any dose changes or complications associated with Sublocade. Sublocade is a long acting injectable buprenorphine (LAIB) manufactured by Invidior that uses the “Atrigel” system to provide for a sustained and prolonged delivery of buprenorphine into the systemic circulation after subcutaneous injection. Discussions and comments in our videos are for informational purposes only and...
Feb 09, 2022•15 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Cracking Addiction discusses Buvidal one of the LAIB preparations available and how to commence, maintain and manage any dose changes or complications associated with Buvidal. Buvidal is a long acting injectable buprenorphine (LAIB) preparation manufactured by Camurus and uses “FluidCrystal” technology to provide for a sustained and prolonged delivery of buprenorphine into the systemic circulation after subcutaneous injection.
Feb 03, 2022•17 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Cracking Addiction discusses some of the special or difficult circumstances of prescribing LAIBs including intoxicated patients, pregnant patients, patients with chronic disease, patients with acute pain and our management strategies in these situations.
Jan 26, 2022•20 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Episode 23 of Cracking Addiction explores commencement of patients on LAIB, side effects and risks of LAIB, discussion about precipitated withdrawal and when and how to review patients
Jan 20, 2022•21 min•Season 1Ep. 23
An Introduction to Long Acting Injectable Buprenorphine (LAIB) Long acting injectable buprenorphine (LAIB) are long acting buprenorphine depot preparations that are injected subcutaneously and provide patients with a sustained release of buprenorphine for the duration of the depot preparation. Currently, two LAIB products are available for the Australian market. They differ in their formulations, administration and pharmacology. See blog for further information https://www.meducate.com.au/blog A...
Jan 12, 2022•18 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Episode 21 of Cracking Addiction explores methadone pharmacokinetics, breakdown and interactions within the body and interactions with other drugs. Methadone is a drug with a wide variability in its absorption with oral bio-availability ranges from 35% to 100%. This is a significant amount of variability and explains why the same dose of Methadone can impact different patients differently. Methadone is metabolised within the liver by the cytochrome P450 enzymes but mainly 3A4. There is a 17-fold...
Dec 22, 2021•17 min•Season 1Ep. 21
