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Dr. Noah Emery and Samuel Acuff interview researchers, clinicians, and policymakers in the field of addiction psychology with the hopes of enhancing recovery. New episodes the second Monday of every month, with some added content in between. The podcast can also be accessed through Apple podcasts and Spotify. Official podcast of the Society for Addiction Psychology. Transcripts of each episode can be found by clicking here.
posted: Monday, August 17, 2026 - 06:45
Veterans in the United States have higher rates of mental health concerns and substance use compared to the general population, yet tend to seek care at lower rates. How can we provide care to people in need outside of the therapy room or the hospital? Dr. Eric Pedersen discusses his work developing mobile interventions to fill a critical gap in care for veterans. Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Director of Social Behavioral Research at the Institute of Addiction Science in the Keck School of Medicine at USC. You can find out more about his research here.
posted: Monday, July 13, 2026 - 07:34
Theories of addiction abound: various choice models and brain disease models, all trying to explain why people use substances in ways that appear to harm them. Theories are often pitted against one another. But does this always have to be the case? In this episode, Dr. David Epstein discusses problems that arise from theories using their own definitions for addiction, and ways in which considering various etiological pathways may help us better understand and treat the heterogenous presentations of addictive behavior. Dr. Epstein also enlightens us with a conversation about the association between substance use and boredom. Dr. David Epstein is the Chief of the Real-World Assessment, Prediction, and Treatment Section at the National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program. Find out more about his work here.
posted: Monday, June 29, 2026 - 07:18
Healthcare in the United States can be exceptional—that is, if you have enough resources. What if our systems worked to support people with fewer resources to get the help they needed? Dr. Ricky Bluthenthal discusses systemic barriers impeding access to harm reduction and just how much policy influences health outcomes. Dr. Ricky Bluthenthal is a Distinguished Professor and Chair of of the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, and the Flora L. Thornton Chair in Preventive Medicine, at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. Find out more about his work here.
posted: Wednesday, March 11, 2026 - 09:29
GLP-1s have rapidly increased in popularity, Due to their seemingly remarkable ability to facilitate weight loss. These findings have led to increased interest in understanding whether GLP-1s might be useful for changing other behaviors, such as as substance use. In this episode, Dr. Joseph Schacht discusses the science behind GLP-1 medications and their potential as treatments for substance use disorders, including recent research, mechanisms, and future directions. Dr. Joseph Schacht is an Associate Professor and Co-Director of the Division of Addiction Science, Prevention, and Treatment in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado Anschutz. Learn more about his work here.
posted: Monday, February 9, 2026 - 05:30
In this episode of the Addiction Psychologist Podcast, Dr. Andrea King discusses her extensive research on subjective effects of alcohol and their implications for addiction. The conversation covers her journey in addiction research, the Chicago Social Drinking Project, and the importance of understanding individual differences in alcohol response. Dr. King is a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Chicago and the Director of the Clinical Addictions Research Laboratory. Learn more about her work here.
Chapters
01:07 - Dr. Andrea King's Journey in Addiction Research
09:52 - Understanding Subjective Effects of Alcohol
18:07 - The Chicago Social Drinking Project Overview
25:41 - Longitudinal Findings on Alcohol Sensitivity
35:30 - The Complexity of Alcohol Use and Recovery
49:21 - Future Directions in Alcohol Research
52:31 - Take Home Messages for Recovery and Practice
Resources are available for those struggling with addiction and numerous effective treatments exist. Whether you are looking for help for yourself or a loved one, we encourage you to seek out help.
