Addiction Medicine Podcast

In this special update, we’re offering a preview of the 2026 Addiction Medicine Conference, taking place April 9–11 in Asheville, North Carolina, with both in-person and virtual attendance options.We discuss key topics, including substance use disorder treatment, co-occurring mental health conditions, patient-centered care, and emerging drug trends, along with opportunities for nearly 20 hours of CME for healthcare providers.Conference details + registration: https://addiction-medicine.org/spring-conferenceSend us Fan MailThanks for listening! Get more of our addiction medicine-related content and learn about the work we do with Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families at our YouTube Page - youtube.com/govinst.

Dr. David Ryan returns for Part 2 of his presentation from the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians Alcohol Use Training Webinar. Building on the foundations from Part 1, this session takes a closer look at treatment options for alcohol use disorder.Dr. Ryan walks through FDA-approved medications, behavioral interventions, and the importance of connecting patients to ongoing support.Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! Get more of our addiction medicine-related content and learn about the work we do with Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families at our YouTube Page - youtube.com/govinst.

Dr. David Ryan shares Part 1 of his presentation from the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians Alcohol Use Training Webinar. This session covers how to recognize when alcohol use becomes a concern, with an overview of screening tools, diagnostic criteria, and the neurobiology of addiction.Dr. Ryan also discusses current drinking guidelines, population-level risks, and key points from the epidemiology of alcohol use. It’s a practical, evidence-based look at how providers can better identify and understand alcohol use disorder in clinical settings.Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! Get more of our addiction medicine-related content and learn about the work we do with Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families at our YouTube Page - youtube.com/govinst.

In this episode, host Cheryl Viracola, Director of Practice Advancement with the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists, speaks with Dr. Vera Reinstein and Dr. Charles McCormick about how prescribers and pharmacists can work together to expand access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD).They explore how collaborative care models make treatment more accessible, the role of prescribers in initiating partnerships, and practical steps to build these connections.Listeners will also learn about the PhARM-OUD Guideline and resources that support both providers and pharmacists in improving patient care.Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! Get more of our addiction medicine-related content and learn about the work we do with Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families at our YouTube Page - youtube.com/govinst.

In this episode, host Pollen Williamson, Director of Physician and Advanced Practice Provider Initiatives at the Governor’s Institute, sits down with Dr. Michael Baca-Atlas—family physician, addiction medicine specialist, and current President of the North Carolina Society of Addiction Medicine (NCSAM).Together, they explore the vital role of NCSAM, the benefits of membership, and how the organization is advancing care in the Tar Heel State.Listen now to get insight on how you can connect, grow and make an impact.Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! Get more of our addiction medicine-related content and learn about the work we do with Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families at our YouTube Page - youtube.com/govinst.

In this episode, Peter Rives, MSW, LCSWA, LCASA, shares his presentation from the Governor’s Institute’s 2025 Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Conference. Focused on motivational interviewing (MI), this session explores how MI can be used to effectively engage adolescents in conversations about behavior change—especially when they're feeling unsure or resistant.Peter breaks down the core principles and spirit of motivational interviewing, offers practical tips for applying MI techniques in real-life clinical settings, and highlights common challenges providers may face when working with young people navigating substance use.Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! Get more of our addiction medicine-related content and learn about the work we do with Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families at our YouTube Page - youtube.com/govinst.

In this episode of the Addiction Medicine Podcast, we’re joined by Anna Stanley, State Administrator of the State Opioid Treatment Authority (SOTA), to discuss the role of Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) in addressing the opioid crisis in North Carolina. We explore what OTPs are, common barriers to access like stigma and transportation, recent policy changes, and innovative approaches like mobile medication units. Tune in to learn how North Carolina is working to expand access to treatment and integrate OTPs into the broader healthcare system.More episodes and resources at governorsinstitute.org.Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! Get more of our addiction medicine-related content and learn about the work we do with Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families at our YouTube Page - youtube.com/govinst.

Dr. Corey Waller, a nationally recognized expert in substance use disorder, explores the rapid evolution of SUD treatment over the past five years. He delves into the improved understanding of care delivery, the development of evidence-based treatment guidelines, and the critical role these advancements play in saving lives and enhancing patient outcomes. Dr. Waller also sheds light on the shifting approach of the justice system towards addiction, emphasizing the importance of providing accessible, comprehensive care that meets the highest standards of fidelity.Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! Get more of our addiction medicine-related content and learn about the work we do with Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families at our YouTube Page - youtube.com/govinst.

In Part 2 of our podcast episode on Sexually Transmitted Infections, we dive deeper into STI screening, prevention, and treatment with experts Dr. Shannon Dowler and Dr. Amy Marietta. 👀 Want to know:The must-know screening guidelines for ALL patients?How new meds like PrEP and Doxy PEP are changing prevention?Why partner treatment is a game-changer in fighting reinfection?This episode is packed with expert tips that will make you rethink how we approach sexual health and harm reduction.Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! Get more of our addiction medicine-related content and learn about the work we do with Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families at our YouTube Page - youtube.com/govinst.

Season 4 of the Addiction Medicine Podcast kicks off with a 2-part episode on Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI). In Part 1, we dive into how the term ‘infection’ can reduce stigma, encourage testing, and emphasize the importance of regular screenings. We also discuss current trends, cultural trends, health inequities, and the role of healthcare providers in STI care. And there's even a rap song about syphilis!Joining us for this important conversation are Dr. Shannon Dowler, a board-certified family physician with a national reputation in health policy, public health, and sexual health, and Dr. Amy Marietta, board-certified in family medicine and addiction medicine. Dr. Dowler is currently Deputy Director in the Mecklenburg County STI Clinic while Dr. Marietta serves as the Medical Director of MAHEC’s Project CARA, a comprehensive perinatal substance use treatment program in Asheville, North Carolina.Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! Get more of our addiction medicine-related content and learn about the work we do with Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families at our YouTube Page - youtube.com/govinst.

In this episode, Dr. Cynthia Kuhn gives an update on cannabis in North Carolina and talks about 'New Drugs on the Radar' at the 2023 Addiction Medicine Conference in Asheville, NC.Dr. Kuhn is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University.Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! Get more of our addiction medicine-related content and learn about the work we do with Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families at our YouTube Page - youtube.com/govinst.

This presentation, 'Evolution of Fentanyl: Understanding the Relevance of Xylazine' was given at the 2023 Addiction Medicine Conference in Asheville, North Carolina by Robyn Jordan, MD, PhD and Zoe McElligott, PhD.Dr. Jordan is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist and Addiction Medicine Specialist and is an Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. Dr. McElligott is an Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! Get more of our addiction medicine-related content and learn about the work we do with Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families at our YouTube Page - youtube.com/govinst.

Episode 4 is a presentation from the 2023 Addiction Medicine Conference in Asheville, North Carolina from Dr. Jon Zibbell, a senior scientist in the Center for Behavioral Health Epidemiology, Implementation & Evaluation Research at RTI International.It's titled, 'Emerging Trends in Overdose Mortality Against the Backdrop of Growing Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Co-Use: Implications for Public Health.'Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! Get more of our addiction medicine-related content and learn about the work we do with Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families at our YouTube Page - youtube.com/govinst.

In this episode of our 3-part series on recent changes to the rules around who can prescribe buprenorphine, we get answers to questions that providers and pharmacists may have about these changes. Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! Get more of our addiction medicine-related content and learn about the work we do with Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families at our YouTube Page - youtube.com/govinst.

Now that all practitioners who have a current DEA registration that includes Schedule III authority can prescribe buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder, pharmacies may now see an increase in the number of prescriptions for the life-saving medication. In this second episode we talk with Dr, Cheryl Viracola, Director of Practice Advancement for the NC Association of Pharmacists.Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! Get more of our addiction medicine-related content and learn about the work we do with Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families at our YouTube Page - youtube.com/govinst.

We're kicking off Season 3 of the Addiction Medicine Podcast with a hot topic - buprenorphine. Over the last year, there have been important changes in requirements related to prescribing buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid use disorder. To better understand these changes, we talk to Dr. Blake Fagan, Clinical Director of Substance Use Disorder Initiatives at the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) in Asheville, NC.Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! Get more of our addiction medicine-related content and learn about the work we do with Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families at our YouTube Page - youtube.com/govinst.

In this bonus content, you’ll hear eight common questions women ask, or want to ask their prenatal care providers. Judith Johnson-Hostler, a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist and Perinatal Substance Use Specialist, and Melissa Godwin, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, respond to the questions, sharing facts, resources and other tips for patients and providers along the way. Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! Get more of our addiction medicine-related content and learn about the work we do with Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families at our YouTube Page - youtube.com/govinst.

The 4th episode of Season 2 looks at some unusual and interesting cases in addiction medicine.Dr. Edwin Salsitz, an attending physician in the Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Division of Addiction Medicine in New York City since 1983, gave this presentation on 'Interesting Cases in Addiction Medicine' at the 2022 Addiction Medicine Conference in Asheville, NC.Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! Get more of our addiction medicine-related content and learn about the work we do with Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families at our YouTube Page - youtube.com/govinst.

Episode 3 addresses some of the unintended consequences of the 2016 CDC Opioid Guidelines which were widely misinterpreted and implemented.After the guidelines were published, Dr. Stefan Kertesz, a Professor of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and attending physician at the Birmingham VA Health Care System, began researching and writing about the unintended consequences, especially for stable patients with severe chronic pain who were subject to prescription opioid reductions or who lost access to the medications altogether.This is his talk from the 2022 Addiction Medicine Conference titled, Irrational Exuberance, Incautious Stoppage: Lessons from Our Prescription Opioid Story.Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! Get more of our addiction medicine-related content and learn about the work we do with Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families at our YouTube Page - youtube.com/govinst.

Over the past 13 years, the Governor’s Institute’s Addiction Medicine Conference in Asheville, North Carolina has become the region’s premiere conference for substance use disorder related education.In this first episode of season two, you’ll hear an outstanding presentation from the 2022  conference by Dr. Matthew Johnson - a professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University. This presentation, Psilocybin in the Treatment of Mental Health, explores the research on what is known about hallucinogens’ treatment effect on smoking cessation, depression and anxiety as well as the potential use for alcohol use disorder and a variety of behaviors besides addiction. Dr Johnson also addresses possible mechanisms for how behavior change is achieved.The slides that coincide with this presentation can be found on our website, addiction-medicine.org, under the 'training' tab.Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! Get more of our addiction medicine-related content and learn about the work we do with Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families at our YouTube Page - youtube.com/govinst.