The Treat Addiction Save Lives Podcast American Society of Addiction Medicine

Marianne Fingerhood, DNP, ANP-BC, joins us to share her journey into the field of addiction medicine and discuss the importance of providing medication treatment for addiction within a primary care setting. She talks about the essential role nurse practitioners (NPs) play in treating addiction, how crucial it is for NPs to have proper support, and the benefits of a professional community. Marianne touches on the dynamics of having a husband, Dr. Michael Fingerhood, who also treats addiction. She describes the unique ways nurses can combat stigma related to addiction and shares about the Words Matter Pledge initiative within the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Marianne also emphasizes the significance of resilience as a provider and offers words of wisdom to future NPs and addiction medicine practitioners.
Dr. Marianne Fingerhood has been a nurse since 1985, a nursing educator since 1990, and a nurse practitioner in primary care since 1999. In all settings, she has brought a passion for sharing knowledge, whether with patients, students, or colleagues. In her clinician role, she is the champion for expanding access to treatment for substance use disorders (SUD) in the primary care setting. As the Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program director at Johns Hopkins University, she created a curriculum related to compassionate treatment of chronic pain, safe opioid prescribing, and recognition and treatment of SUD. She directs the Supporting Nursing Advanced Practice Transitions (SNAPT) Fellowship for nurse practitioners entering practice post-graduation. Her fellows work in community-based practices and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) where they care for patients with opioid use disorder.
 
Links
Johns Hopkins School of Nursing
DNP: Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program
Supporting Nursing Advanced Practice Transitions (SNAPT) Fellowship
Johns Hopkins Medicine - The Words Matter Pledge
Dr. Michael Fingerhood podcast episode
 
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM’s Patient Resources page for more information.
The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or ASAM management.

In this episode, Geri-Lynn Utter, PsyD, shares her personal journey from growing up as a child of parents who struggled with addiction to becoming a clinical psychologist and author. She discusses her documentary, Utter Nonsense, her books, Mainlining Philly and Aftershock, and her podcast, Mind Over Mayhem. Dr. Utter offers insights on addiction, harm reduction, and her experiences in Philadelphia; addresses stigma around addiction; and offers advice for the next generation of mental health professionals and those who may have a loved one with addiction.
Dr. Utter is a licensed psychologist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is PSYPACT certified, allowing her to conduct telepsychology across state boundaries. Dr. Utter specializes in working with individuals who struggle with co-occurring mental health concerns like substance use disorders in conjunction with severe depression and anxiety. She also works in medical affairs as a clinical scientist in the substance use disorder space.
In 2020, Dr. Utter released her first book, Mainlining Philly: Survival, Hope, and Resisting Drug Addiction, which resulted from her desire to share her story and instill hope in others. The book is based on her life experiences and challenges as a result of her parents’ struggles with drug and alcohol addiction, and other mental health concerns like major depressive disorder, severe anxiety, and trauma.
Her documentary, cleverly titled Utter Nonsense, was released on Apple TV and Prime Video in August of 2023. It is an informative, touching, and personal look into the world of drug addiction. It focuses on individuals in the Kensington section of Philadelphia and follows her story and that of a few others to educate viewers about how addiction impacts everyone in its orbit.
Released in September of 2023, her second book, Aftershock: How Past Events Shake Up Your Life Today, focuses on the aftershock phenomenon, a repertoire of delayed mental health symptoms like irritability, emotional fatigue, and depression, all rooted in seemingly everyday events like parenting, changing careers, divorce, the death of a loved one, etc., that produce real but often unrecognized stress and trauma.
Dr. Utter currently lives in a Philadelphia suburb with her husband and two children. When she is not practicing psychology or writing, she can be found on the soccer field or basketball court cheering for her kiddos.
 
Links:
Dr. Geri-Lynn Utter, PsyD
Utter Nonsense
Mainlining Philly: Survival, Hope, and Resisting Drug Addiction
Aftershock: How Past Events Shake Up Your Life Today
Mind Over Mayhem
 
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM’s Patient Resources page for more information.
The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or ASAM management.

In this episode, Jason Kirby, DO, MBA, FASAM, shares what led him to the field of addiction medicine and describes a particular turning point in his career path. Dr. Kirby discusses the importance of individualized treatment, the similarities between fitness and recovery communities, and how his interest in human behavior influenced his career journey. He stresses the critical importance of self-care among physicians and other care providers, the benefits of physician health programs, and addressing the four facets of well-being. Dr. Kirby shares his thoughts about the stigma associated with addiction and the critical role education plays in reducing stigma and promoting recovery. He discusses his efforts as president of the Tennessee Society of Addiction Medicine (TnSAM) to address stigma and other issues and shares his primary goals in this leadership role. Dr. Kirby highlights some impactful moments during his career and offers advice for the next generation of addiction medicine providers.
Dr. Jason Kirby serves as the chief medical officer for Landmark Recovery and Praxis by Landmark Recovery and is currently the president of TnSAM. He is an expert in population health policy, healthcare economics, and human behavior and is dual board-certified in addiction medicine and family medicine. He received his medical degree from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine and his MBA from Point Park University. Dr. Kirby also is a fellow and leader of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), having served or currently serving on its Finance, ASAM Criteria Strategy Steering, Annual Conference Program Planning, and Levels of Care Certification Oversight Committees. Recently, he co-authored the withdrawal management chapter for The ASAM Criteria, 4th Edition. He previously served as medical director of addiction and recovery services at St. Peter’s Health Partners in Albany, NY, and practiced at St. Peter’s Hospital as their chief of behavioral health. Prior to that, Dr. Kirby served as medical director for Gateway Rehabilitation Center and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Medical Management and Policy Division. Originally from West Virginia, Dr. Kirby is also an avid woodworker, competitive CrossFitter, husband, and father to three amazing little boys.
Links:
Tennessee Society of Addiction Medicine (TnSAM)
American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)
The ASAM Criteria, 4th Edition
Find your State Physician Health program
CrossFit
 
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not along. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM’s Patient Resources page for more information.
The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or ASAM management.

In this powerful episode, ASAM’s 2024 Training Directors Award recipient Dr. Scott Teitelbaum shares his own journey with addiction and recovery. He discusses the importance of compassionate care, addresses stigma around addiction, and emphasizes the importance of recognizing addiction as an illness while also acknowledging the often hurtful behavior associated with it. Dr. Teitelbaum talks about the critical need for early training on addiction, reflects on his life’s journey thus far, and offers advice to the next generation of addiction care team members.
Dr. Teitelbaum, MD, FAAP, ABPM-ADM, DFASAM, is the Pottash Professor in Psychiatry and Neuroscience at the University of Florida’s (UF) College of Medicine, where he serves as vice chair of the Department of Psychiatry, chief of the Division of Addiction Medicine, medical director of the UF Health Florida Recovery Center, and former fellowship director of UF’s American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM) – Addiction Medicine Fellowship. Originally trained as a board-certified pediatrician, Dr. Teitelbaum later completed fellowships in addiction medicine and child psychiatry at UF. He became medical director of the Florida Recovery Center in 2002, and since then has been involved in the evaluation and/or treatment of more than 5,000 health care providers and other professionals from across the country. Dr. Teitelbaum developed one of the first-ever accredited fellowships in addiction medicine, and his program has trained more addiction medicine fellows than any other program nationwide. In 2016, Dr. Teitelbaum was awarded the Pottash Endowment, allowing for the creation of a research initiative that is focused on addiction medicine and the fight toward recovery. He has been honored on multiple occasions with the Exemplary Teacher Award for his guidance of medical students. In addition to receiving ASAM’s 2024 Training Directors Award, Dr. Teitelbaum also received ASAM’s Annual Award in 2018.
 
Links:
UF College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program
American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)
2024 ASAM Award Recipients
Nicole Labor Treat Addiction Save Lives podcast episode
 
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM’s Patient Resources page for more information.
The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or ASAM management.

In this episode, Dr. James Baker, MD, MPH, describes his experience with addiction both as an emergency physician and as a father who lost his son, Macky, to an opioid overdose. Sharing Macky’s story throughout, Dr. Baker emphasizes the evolution of his own feelings toward those who suffer from addiction, from anger to gentle compassion, and shares what inspired him to write This Monstrous Obsession: Hard Lessons Learned About Addiction. Dr. Baker describes his experiences helping Macky access treatment and talks about the importance of medical training regarding addiction and the relationship between pain and overdose and death from opioids. Dr. Baker addresses the stigma surrounding addiction and shares his thoughts on the current and future state of the field of addiction medicine. He also offers advice for those who are or may be entering the field.
Dr. Baker is president of the Massachusetts Society of Addiction Medicine (MASAM), physician expert for the Massachusetts Consultation Service for Treatment of Addiction and Pain (MCSTAP), associate medical director of Merrimack Valley Hospice, and assistant professor of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine.
 
Links:
James Baker
This Monstrous Obsession
Massachusetts Society of Addiction Medicine
Massachusetts Consultation Service for Treatment of Addiction and Pain (MCSTAP)
This Mass. Doctor hopes his son’s addiction story can help others
 
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM’s Patient Resources page for more information.
The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or ASAM management.

In another special episode, we are joined by 2024 ASAM Media Award recipient Teri Sforza. Teri describes her journalistic approach as that of an "accountability reporter." In this conversation, she shares her journey to the field of addiction reporting and her thoughts about the need for potential legislation and oversight related to the addiction treatment industry. Teri discusses her work as a lead reporter on the award-winning series, Rehab Riviera. She also addresses how she has perceived stigma through her reporting, how journalists can help combat stigma, and what motivates her to continue her work. Teri offers advice and words of wisdom for up-and-coming or current journalists who may be interested in reporting on addiction.
Teri Sforza, MFA, is one of the lead reporters on the Orange County Register (OCR)/Southern California News Group’s ongoing probe of fraud, abuse, and death in the Southern California addiction treatment industry. The Rehab Riviera series coverage won first place for investigative reporting from the California Newspaper Publishers Association (CNPA), first place for projects reporting from Best of the West, and was a finalist for the National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation's print award in 2018. Teri birthed the Watchdog column in 2008, aiming to keep a critical (but good-humored) eye on governments and nonprofits, which won first place for public service reporting from the CNPA in 2010. She contributed to the OCR's Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation of fertility fraud at UC Irvine, covered what was then the largest municipal bankruptcy in America‘s history, and is the author of The Strangest Song, the first book to tell the story of a genetic condition called Williams syndrome and the extraordinary musicality of many of the people who have it. She earned her M.F.A. from UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television, and enjoys making documentaries. She's honored that her work has been recognized by ASAM and hopes for a brighter future for people struggling with addiction.
Links:
ASAM Awards & Scholarships
Rehab Riviera
The Orange County Register
Southern California News Group
American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)
California Society of Addiction Medicine (CSAM)
The Strangest Song: One Father’s Quest to Help His Daughter Find Her Voice
 
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Treatment is available and recovery is possible. Visit ASAM’s Patient Resources page for more information.
The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or ASAM management.