Join the ME SUD Learning Community for the June 4, 2026, presentation “PMP: Approaching ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment: Embracing the Complexity” presented by Leah Bauer, MD and Andrea Truncali, MD, MPH. PowerPoint Slides Podcast
PMP Series | Approaching ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment: Embracing the Complexity Read More »
Join the ME SUD Learning Community for the January 29, 2026, presentation “Exploring the Role of Prescription Stimulants in Treating Stimulant Use Disorder: Rationale, Evidence and Clinical Applications” presented by Leah Bauer, MD; Andrea Truncali, MD, MPH. PowerPoint slides Podcast
I have recently enjoyed working with addiction medicine fellows at Maine Medical Center. A patient was referred to our office with cirrhosis due to alcohol use disorder, to maybe start naltrexone (NTX). The fellow was nonplussed; why wouldn’t we start it? And there I was: Crusty. I had seen some folks with cirrhosis prescribed NTX,
October 2025 Journal Club – Naltrexone (NTX) for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in Cirrhosis Read More »
Digital health applications can be valuable tools for individuals seeking to reduce or manage their alcohol use.
Apps to Support Alcohol Use Reduction Read More »
Apps and Websites Everywhere, Can They Stop the Drink? How can we better support patients in thinking about or changing their use of alcohol? In a recent newsletter, I reviewed a study showing a possible benefit of a breathalyzer-linked smartphone app among people with alcohol use disorder (Osth et al., 2025). This led me on
August 2025 Journal Club – Apps and Websites Everywhere, Can They Stop the Drink? Read More »
Even with therapies and medication, we have a long way to go in helping people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) to cut back or quit. There is an early but growing body of evidence1,2 suggesting that “digital interventions” may be helpful in this regard. Before widespread smartphone access, most were text message-based interventions, but smartphone
Patients with methamphetamine (MA) use disorder present a treatment challenge. Contingency management has a good evidence base, though not always available or preferred by patients. The question is often raised about whether providing a prescription for stimulants will indeed suppress or substantially reduce illicit MA use.
“The ads have been popping up on Facebook”… what’s the deal with Suboxone and teeth? Back in 2022, during the haze of the pandemic, the FDA issued a warning about dental decay risk from sublingual buprenorphine medications. What is this based on? How likely is this to be a significant risk? Are films worse than
Maine has been spared from a high burden of HIV, making transmission among people who inject drugs (PWID) relatively uncommon. However, things can change quickly. With this year’s HIV cluster in Penobscot county (https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/hiv-cluster.shtml) we are reminded of the need to be making PrEP recommendations to any of our patients who inject drugs – as
Precipitated withdrawal (PW) is a deterrent to initiating MOUD for both patients and providers. Experiencing PW can turn an ambivalent patient further from accepting medication, as can the need to experience withdrawal simply to start treatment. Having a medication at the ready, without the need to wait for withdrawal to ensue is of great appeal.
