Addiction Medicine Archives - Psychiatry Unplugged

I’m On The List! Thanks Los Angeles Magazine!

January 20, 2021March 28, 2018 by rootpsych

I PASSED!

January 20, 2021February 18, 2018 by rootpsych

I’m happy to announce I passed the new Addiction Medicine board certification. This means I’m current in evidence based care for substance use disorders. This new board certification will set the standards for addiction diagnosis and treatment and supersedes the old ABAM certification. I am sometimes floored by the misinformation out there. I don’t really … Read more

How To Detox Yourself From Alcohol

January 20, 2021January 14, 2018 by rootpsych

My new ebook ($1.99) is live! Safe, sane and EASY treatment if you’re suffering. Check it out!

A Real Life Patient Experience

January 20, 2021June 10, 2017 by rootpsych

I got this message via my website from my patient this morning. The reason I’m posting it here is because this is a typical patient experience when it comes to opiate abuse/dependency issues. Typical. People NEED to know treatment is easy and EFFECTIVE. STOP suffering and get help. Most of the time this CAN be done through … Read more

There is a fine line between tolerance and death

January 20, 2021April 30, 2016 by rootpsych

This really breaks my heart. I feel like I grew up under his Purple glory. Prince’s death was probably an accidental overdose. With these drugs, the difference between tolerance and death is a fine line. Rebound pain is a symptom I see frequently with opiate use. When the levels of the opiate drops in the … Read more

Adderall Cheaters

January 20, 2021July 26, 2015 by rootpsych

Everyday in my practice I see patients who want these drugs. They usually don’t have ADHD and present very normally on mental status examinations. Using these drugs for performance enhancement is unethical. I treat disease. I have seen patients get angry and leave bad reviews because I refuse to give out these controlled substance prescriptions. … Read more

Good Research on Marijuana Use, Don’t BLUNT your Dopamine!

January 20, 2021July 20, 2014 by rootpsych

by Marcia Malory Credit: Rice University (Medical Xpress)—People who use marijuana heavily experience a blunted response to dopamine, according to researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory, New York University Langone Medical Center and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. When marijuana abusers took methylphenidate, a drug that stimulates dopamine production, they did not experience … Read more

Longer tapering more effective for prescription opioid addiction : Clinical Psychiatry News

January 20, 2021January 4, 2014 by rootpsych

Longer tapering more effective for prescription opioid addiction : Clinical Psychiatry News Some real evidence to support slower tapers versus the rapid tapers that most of my patients expect. This strategy particularly is helpful for the psychological symptoms of withdrawal which is always longer than physical symptoms of detoxification.

5 Facts About E-Cigarettes – ABC News

January 20, 2021September 24, 2013 by rootpsych

5 Facts About E-Cigarettes – ABC News My patients who are trying to quit smoking frequently ask me about E-Cigarettes. Some quick facts that I think answers some questions.

Drugs and the Brain | National Institute on Drug Abuse

June 17, 2013 by rootpsych

Drugs and the Brain | National Institute on Drug Abuse Nice. Please, Please check this out! Just an excellent discussion on how your brain works and why addictions are diseases and not about identity, character flaw, will power etc., etc., etc. Addictions are mental illnesses that should be treated by psychiatrists. It’s your brain stupid!