Medicine Grand Rounds: What the Science Says about Addiction

What the Science Says about Addiction:   Neurobiological Aspects of Addiction and Medicines Used in Treatment

Presented by: Mark Stanford, PhD, and Nancy Krauss, PhD

Data from NIH indicates that about 20% of patients seen by family physicians have a substance abuse problem (excluding tobacco use). In the everyday practice of medicine it is important to consider substance abuse as part of the differential diagnosis. Substance abuse can lead to significant social and family dysfunction and cause problems with finances, relationships and employment. Medical problems can be difficult to manage, and chronic conditions can be exacerbated, leading to increased morbidity and mortality.

 Desired Outcomes:

• Identify the common neural pathways of drug addiction
• Discover the mechanism of action of 2 medications in the treatment of opioid use disorder
• Discover the mechanism of action of 2 anti-craving medications for alcohol use disorder
• Identify 2 ways to refer patients into treatment for substance use treatment.

CME Activity Flyer (PDF)