Addiction Medicine: Beyond the Abstract

Medicaid Unwinding: Association With New and Ending Buprenorphine Treatment Episodes

In this episode, Dr. Bradley Stein joins the show to discuss findings from his new study titled Medicaid Unwinding: Association With New and Ending Buprenorphine Treatment Episodes, featured in the September/October issue of the Journal of Addiction Medicine. Dr. Bradley Stein is a practicing physician and senior physician policy researcher at RAND. His research career has focused on improving access to, quality of, and outcomes from care of individuals with mental health and substance use disorders being treated in community settings. For two decades, Dr. Stein has studied the opioid crisis, serving as principal investigator for numerous federally and privately funded studies. He has published multiple peer-reviewed articles related to studies of opioid use disorder treatment, harm reduction, and the effects of state and federal policies, and he has provided Congressional testimony related to his research on multiple occasions. And his work has been covered by a range of media outlets including the Economist, Washington Post, and New York Times.   Article Link: Medicaid Unwinding: Association With New and Ending Buprenorphine Treatment Episodes [https://journals.lww.com/journaladdictionmedicine/abstract/2025/09000/medicaid_unwinding__association_with_new_and.24.aspx] Guest Editorial: Medicaid Unwinding May Have Substantially Disrupted Buprenorphine Treatment [https://www.asam.org/publications-resources/the-asam-weekly/detail/2025/12/08/guest-editorial---contingency-management-saves-lives--from-evidence-to-action]

Non-medical Mephentermine Use: A Systematic Review of Literature

In this episode, Dr. Vinit Patel sits down to discuss his new article Non-medical Mephentermine Use: A Systematic Review of Literature, as well as what exactly mephentermine is, why and how it is currently being used in non-medical settings specifically in India and South Asia, and some of the contributing factors associated with geographic disparities in non-medical mephentermine use.   Article Link: Non-medical Mephentermine Use: A Systematic Review of Literature [https://journals.lww.com/journaladdictionmedicine/abstract/2025/11000/non_medical_mephentermine_use__a_systematic_review.9.aspx]

Medication for Opioid Use Disorder for Hospitalized Patients at Six New York City Public Hospitals with an Addiction Consult Service

Dr. Jennifer McNeely stops by the show to discuss her new article Medication for Opioid Use Disorder for Hospitalized Patients at Six New York City Public Hospitals with an Addiction Consult Service.   Article Link: Medication for Opioid Use Disorder for Hospitalized Patients at Six New York City Public Hospitals with an Addiction Consult Service [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39908531/]

Transition to Extended-release Buprenorphine Injectable Within Seven Days for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment: A Scoping Narrative

Dr. Pouya Azar stops by the show to talk about his recent article Transition to Extended-release Buprenorphine Injectable Within Seven Days for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment: A Scoping Narrative. He discusses the potential benefits of transitioning patients with opioid use disorder from traditional to extended-release or long-acting buprenorphine within 7 days or 24 hours, respectively, of treatment, as well as challenges and future questions that arose from his narrative review. Pouya Azar, MD, FRCPC, DABAM, is a clinician-scientist in addiction psychiatry and pain medicine based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He serves as co-medical manager of the Complex Pain and Addiction Service (CPAS) at Vancouver Coastal Health, a consult service providing management of pain, mental health disorders, and substance use disorders across Vancouver General Hospital, the University of British Columbia (UBC) Hospital, and GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre. He is also an assistant professor (tenure-track) in the UBC Department of Psychiatry, research scientist co-lead of the Substance Use Disorder Clinical Research Unit at the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, and a physician at the Vancouver General Hospital Transitional Pain Clinic. Dr. Azar’s clinical and translational research focuses on developing novel opioid agonist treatment initiation and withdrawal management protocols, medical devices, digital health apps, and prevention programs to improve patient outcomes. - Article Link: Transition to Extended-release Buprenorphine Injectable Within Seven Days for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment: A Scoping Narrative [https://journals.lww.com/journaladdictionmedicine/abstract/2025/07000/transition_to_extended_release_buprenorphine.7.aspx]

Relationship Between Methadone Induction Dosing and Retention in Treatment in Opioid Treatment Programs

Host Dr. Shawn McNeil is joined by Dr. Robert Sherrick to discuss his new article Relationship Between Methadone Induction Dosing and Retention in Treatment in Opioid Treatment Programs featured in the July/August issue of the Journal of Addiction Medicine.   Robert Sherrick, MD, DFASAM, is chief science officer for Community Medical Services, a company that serves patients through over 70 Opioid Treatment Programs in 12 states. He also has experience working at an inpatient addiction treatment facility, Pathways Treatment Center, treating all forms of substance use disorders and dual diagnosis patients.   Dr. Sherrick has been providing medication treatment for opioid use disorder since 2003, initially in an office setting using buprenorphine and subsequently with methadone in Opioid Treatment Programs. He established a state-wide buprenorphine treatment program for VA Montana with extensive use of telemedicine. He is board certified in internal medicine and addiction medicine through the American Board of Preventive Medicine. He is past president of the Northwest Chapter of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). - Article: Relationship Between Methadone Induction Dosing and Retention in Treatment in Opioid Treatment Programs [https://journals.lww.com/journaladdictionmedicine/abstract/2025/07000/relationship_between_methadone_induction_dosing.17.aspx]