Addiction Medicine Made Easy | Fighting back against addiction

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 parasympat...

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), ...

Today we speak with Dr. Samantha Harte about her experience living as a high-functioning person with addiction and how perfection masks internal struggles. She shares her journey from overdosing on cocaine as she was accepted into her doctoral program to becoming an author and recovery coach helping others find authentic healing.

• High-functioning addiction often hides behind external success and achievements
• Contro...

Dr. Casey Grover explores the history, neuroscience, and treatment approaches for methamphetamine use disorder, highlighting how methamphetamine releases more dopamine than any other known substance.

• Methamphetamine was widely used during World War II by German, Japanese, and Allied forces to enhance performance
• Modern meth production shifted from ephedra to P2P method, creating cheaper, more potent meth with worse...

In this episode, we discuss the fundamentals of treating opioid and alcohol use disorders with medication-assisted approaches. We review how to understand addiction as self-regulation with substances and how healthcare providers can leverage familiar medications alongside specialized treatments to help patients recover.

We also discuss

• Addiction fundamentally involves helping patients shift from self-regulating with subst...

This episode is an interview with Matt Butler, a singer-songwriter who has performed in jails and prisons across America for a decade. He shares how music creates transformative spaces for healing in correctional environments.

• Matt's musical journey began after writing songs for a documentary about recovery high schools
• Music penetrates emotional defenses faster than conventional approaches, allowing inmates t...

Dr. Casey Grover breaks down psychiatric medications and their role in addiction treatment, explaining how different medications work, when they're most appropriate, and which ones to avoid. He provides a practical overview based on his extensive experience treating patients with substance use disorders.

• Psychiatric medications get developed through research on brain receptors and undergo rigorous testing before FDA...

Kyle Santoro, a 19-year-old filmmaker, created the documentary "Fentanyl High" to explore teenage psychology behind substance abuse after witnessing overdoses at his high school. His film takes a peer-to-peer approach to addiction education, removing stigma and creating spaces for vulnerable conversations about why teens turn to substances.

Kyle and Dr Grover discuss his experiences making the film and what he ha...

Tom Barnum, former Michigan State linebacker and NFL player, shares his remarkable journey from addiction to finding joy in sobriety through his team-based approach to recovery. 

He is the author of the book "Sobriety is a Team Sport"

We discuss:
• Addiction recovery requires admitting the problem is beyond personal control
• Tom identifies the three paths for people with addiction: sobriety, jail, or death
• AA...

Dr. Casey Grover interviews fellow addiction medicine physician Dr. Jason Giles to explore how addiction specialists approach treatment using long-acting injectable medications as tools for recovery.

We discuss:

• Dr. Giles shares his personal journey from anesthesiology to addiction medicine after developing his own dependency on fentanyl
• Addiction as a disease of executive functioning that impairs decision-making ability
...

Dr. Casey Grover shares his clinical experience treating Kratom Use Disorder through a detailed case presentation of a 38-year-old man who struggled to find medical professionals knowledgeable about kratom addiction.

• Many healthcare providers lack knowledge about kratom, causing delays in patients receiving proper treatment
• Kratom creates opioid dependence similar to traditional opioids, leading to withdrawal sympt...

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS), also known as "scromiting," is a debilitating condition characterized by severe nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain that affects heavy cannabis users. Dr. Casey Grover explains this increasingly common syndrome caused by high-potency cannabis products, which paradoxically improves with hot showers and proves challenging to treat with conventional medications.

• First ident...

The cannabis available today is dramatically stronger than what existed in previous decades, with THC levels climbing from 1% in 1970 to 25-30% in 2025, creating serious risks particularly for young people who don't understand appropriate dosing. Dr. Grover shares how cannabis has been deliberately bred for higher potency and how new extraction techniques have created products with astronomical THC levels, leading to dangerous...

Trauma is a crucial aspect of addiction treatment, often serving as the underlying cause for substance use. In this illuminating interview with trauma therapist Dr. Jessica Cooper, we explore the mechanics of trauma therapy and how it helps people heal from devastating experiences.

• Breaking down trauma therapy into three essential phases: establishing safety, processing memories, and reconnection/integration
• Unders...

Exploring the growing problem of recreational nitrous oxide use and its serious medical complications, including paralysis and permanent nerve damage. I share personal patient cases and investigate how this addictive substance is readily available in smoke shops and even on Amazon with minimal warning labels.

• Multiple patients experiencing serious neurological complications from recreational nitrous oxide use
• Perso...

Join me, Dr. Casey Grover, as I provide a comprehensive guide to treating opioid use disorder during pregnancy, examining evidence-based approaches that protect both mother and baby through critical periods of care. The statistics are sobering - opioid use disorder in pregnancy has more than doubled in recent years, with overdoses now a leading cause of pregnancy-associated death.

• Two major medical societies (ACOG and AS...

This episode provides a deep dive into the complexities of addiction medicine learned from seeing patients in my practice. Through real patient cases, I highlight the importance of tailored approaches to addiction that consider both the physiological and psychological aspects of recovery.

We discuss
• Insights into demographics of substance use in a rural setting 
• The effectiveness of dual medication therapies for alcohol ...

This episode delves into the role of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in treating cannabis use disorder, exploring scientific studies and their findings. Listeners will gain insights on the efficacy of NAC, its potential in addiction treatment, and practical considerations for use.

• Overview of cannabis use disorder statistics and the need for treatment options 
• Explanation of N-acetylcysteine and its mechanism of action in a...

Trauma plays a pivotal role in the journey of addiction, with many individuals using substances as a means to cope with unresolved issues. Addressing PTSD is crucial for effective recovery, as understanding the link between trauma and addiction can empower individuals toward healing. 

In this episode we discuss:
• Trauma and its historical context in PTSD understanding 
• Description of brain responses to trauma an...