Your brain is ancient, but your world is not. We unpack how a hunter-gatherer reward system runs into modern dopamine superstimuli—engineered foods, infinite feeds, one-click buys, and potent drugs—and why that mismatch can spiral into addiction. Using clear language and vivid examples, we explain cravings, compulsion, and consequences through the lens of dopamine: how normal rewards help us survive, how substances hijack that circuitry, and how constant notifications keep the throttle stuck ...

A brightly colored box at a smoke shop should not hit like an opioid, yet that’s the business model behind “gas station heroin.” We dive into how tianeptine—a foreign antidepressant with mu‑opioid activity—landed on American countertops as a “dietary supplement,” and why that mirrors a broader playbook: repackage potent psychoactives, exploit loopholes, pivot fast when bans arrive, and let consumers pay the price. Joined by Matthew Lowe, executive director of the Global Kratom Coalition, we t...

Have you ever wondered what it's like to practice Addiction Medicine? In this episode I speak about what we do in Addiction Medicine - both generally as well as how we do things in our practice on the Central Coast of California. I share how our clinic treats substance use with low‑barrier access, kind care, peer support, and long‑acting injectables while partnering with therapists to address trauma and ADHD that often drive relapse. I also review two cases that reveal how PTSD an...

Dr. Casey Grover welcomes Dr. Sarah Nasir, an addiction medicine specialist, for an insightful conversation about effectively communicating with patients and addressing common myths in addiction treatment. • Personal journeys into addiction medicine that transformed both doctors' understanding of substance use disorders • The science behind medication-assisted treatment and why it's not "trading one addiction for another" • How the body adapts to chronic opioid use through three key mechanis...

Mental health conditions and addiction are deeply intertwined, creating complex treatment challenges that require addressing both simultaneously. Dr. Mark Hrymoc, an addiction psychiatrist, shares insights on effectively treating dual diagnosis patients through parallel treatment plans that address both substance use and underlying mental health conditions. • Dual diagnosis (co-occurring disorders) describes patients with both mental health conditions and substance use disorders • Many patie...

Dr. Casey Grover shares his personal struggle with food addiction and binge eating while exploring the science behind why certain foods trigger addictive behaviors in the brain. He examines how the food industry deliberately engineers products to maximize pleasure and consumption through carefully calibrated combinations of sugar, fat, and salt. • Food addiction involves an intense dopamine response to certain foods that varies between individuals based on genetic predisposition • The food i...

This episode is the fourth and final episode of a four part series on stigma. This episode is done in collaboration with Central Coast Overdose Prevention (CCODP) and was made possible by California Overdose Prevention Network Accelerator funding from the Public Health Institute's Center for Health Leadership and Impact. First responders face unique mental health challenges due to the high-stress nature of their work, but stigma often prevents them from seeking help when they're struggling. D...

This episode is the third episode of a four part series on stigma. This episode is done in collaboration with Central Coast Overdose Prevention (CCODP) and was made possible by California Overdose Prevention Network Accelerator funding from the Public Health Institute's Center for Health Leadership and Impact. In this episode, Wendy Solorio shares her raw, emotional journey as a mother supporting her daughter Gabrielle through addiction and into recovery, highlighting the often-overlooked imp...

This episode is the second episode of a four part series on stigma. This episode is done in collaboration with Central Coast Overdose Prevention (CCODP) and was made possible by California Overdose Prevention Network Accelerator funding from the Public Health Institute's Center for Health Leadership and Impact. In this episode, Gabrielle shares her powerful journey from fentanyl addiction to recovery, highlighting the unexpected moment of compassion from a correctional officer that changed ev...

This episode is the first episode of a four part series on stigma. This episode is done in collaboration with Central Coast Overdose Prevention (CCODP) and was made possible by California Overdose Prevention Network Accelerator funding from the Public Health Institute's Center for Health Leadership and Impact. In this episode, Ana Alamo shares her powerful journey from addiction to recovery, revealing how her personal struggles now help her connect with clients as a peer support specialist. ...

Dr. Casey Grover explores the challenging world of benzodiazepines, explaining why these commonly prescribed medications can create more problems than they solve for patients struggling with anxiety and other conditions. • Benzodiazepines work like alcohol in pill form, enhancing the brain's natural "downer" chemical GABA • Long-term use leads to tolerance, dependence, and potentially Benzodiazepine-Induced Neurological Dysfunction (BIND) • The four most commonly prescribed benzos are diazep...

This is a joint episode between the Addiction Medicine Made Easy Podcast and the Kratom Sobriety Podcast Check out the Kratom Sobriety Podcast: https://kratomsobriety.com/ Trauma and addiction are deeply intertwined, with unresolved PTSD often driving substance use as people attempt to manage overwhelming emotions and physical sensations. • Understanding PTSD beyond combat veterans—recognizing both "big T" traumas and accumulated "little t" stressors • Dr. Grover shares his personal jou...

We discuss practical strategies for staying up-to-date with addiction medicine research in this collaborative episode between Addiction Medicine Made Easy and the Addiction Medicine Journal Club podcast. • Featuring a four-person roundtable with Dr. Casey Grover, Dr. John Keenan, Dr. Sonia Del Tredici, and Thomas Bannard • Understanding why evidence-based medicine matters in addiction care • Incorporating lived experience into addiction education and combating stigma • Developing personalize...

Mark MacNichol, a playwright and charity director, shares how his therapeutic approach called Anonymous Drama helps people in recovery and the justice system process trauma and develop emotional wellbeing by viewing their inner thoughts as characters in a play. • Anonymous Drama is not traditional theater but uses dramatic techniques for therapeutic purposes • The program helps participants identify characters in their life story, such as the protagonist, the inner critic, and the inner ment...

Dr. Amy Swift, Deputy Chief Medical Officer and addiction psychiatrist, shares insights on creating healthcare systems that better serve patients with addiction through reduced stigma, trauma-informed approaches, and greater accessibility. She brings a unique perspective as someone who oversees medical care while remaining deeply connected to patients' experiences, emphasizing the need to understand addiction as a brain disease rather than a moral failing. • Psychiatry and addiction have his...

Addiction medicine specialists Dr. Casey Grover and Dr. Reb Close share essential information about using naloxone (Narcan) to save lives during opioid overdoses. They discuss how naloxone administration differs between hospital settings and community response, emphasizing that having this medication readily available is crucial in today's world of fentanyl-contaminated street drugs. • Naloxone should be as normalized and common as fire extinguishers in homes and workplaces • In medical sett...

Dr. Casey Grover explores the complexities of ketamine, examining its medical benefits, potential for addiction, and growing presence in both therapeutic and recreational settings. • Originally developed as a dissociative anesthetic for surgery that doesn't suppress breathing • Now recognized for treating treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and suicidal ideation • Can reduce suicidal thoughts as quickly as 90 minutes after administration • Also effective for severe pain, alcohol withdrawal...

In this episode, Dr. Casey Grover explores how integrating behavioral health and addiction services into primary care settings can transform healthcare delivery and dramatically improve access to treatment. Dr. Grover speaks to psychologists Patti Robinson and Jeff Reiter about their work creating integrated primary care practices and clinics. • Healthcare in the US is siloed, forcing patients to navigate separate systems for physical health, mental health, and addiction • Mental healt...

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 ...

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 • Liqu...