Addiction, Aging, and Patient-Centered Medicine

Dr Civelli sits down with addiction medicine specialist Dr Matt Bear to discuss harm reduction, opioid policy, functional medicine, and why patient-centered care may be the most powerful tool in modern medicine.Episode DescriptionIn Episode 5 of White Coat Black Sheep, Dr Civelli and Dr Matt Bear explore addiction medicine, burnout, harm reduction, and the evolving philosophy of patient-centered care.They discuss how addiction is a complex neurobiological disease, why moral narratives fail patients, and how harm reduction strategies save lives.The conversation expands into opioid prescribing, chronic pain, hyperalgesia, and the unintended consequences of regulatory fear. They also examine functional medicine, sleep optimization, inflammation, Alzheimer risk, and the future of longevity care.This episode blends science, real-world practice, and honest reflection about where medicine needs to evolve.