Now that we can identify common intoxication/withdrawal syndromes, we will shift our focus to substance use treatment in the second part of our two-part series on substance use. While therapies are a huge part of substance use treatment, we will primarily discuss medication management of withdrawal and relapse prevention. By the end of this episode, you will have a better sense of how to manage withdrawal and prevent relapse for patients with alcohol, benzodiazepine, nicotine, stimulant, opioid, cannabis, and hallucinogen use disorders. We’ll also highlight key medications that have been used to fight the opioid epidemic including suboxone, methadone, naltrexone, and naloxone.

Photo Credit: Curtis Simmons, “the monaco-sails-into sandstorm-burning-man-2014,” Flickr

Episode Music Credits: Javier Suárez, Tumbling Dishes, Better With Music

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In our two-part series on substance use, we will first discuss drugs of abuse and intoxication/withdrawal syndromes. We’ll provide a conceptual framework for how to differentiate common toxidromes frequently encountered in psychiatry. We’ll then reinforce your knowledge through a series of cases highlighting the clinical presentations of  sedatives, opioids, stimulants, hallucinogens, cannabinoids, and dissociatives. Come on down to the (metaphorical) Burning Man medical tent and learn to identify common toxidromes with us!

Photo Credit: Curtis Simmons, “bw-temple-tempest-burning-man-2014” Flickr

Episode Music Credits: Javier Suárez, Tumbling Dishes, Better With Music

Podcast: Play in new window | Download