Blogs

You Are Now Protected Under The ADA (American disabilities act)

You Are Now Protected Under The ADA (American disabilities act)

Awesome news !!! -How many of you are scared of losing your jobs? -How many of you are scared of losing custody of your children because you are on methadone or Suboxone? -how many of you afraid that your bosses will find out that you have substance use problems and...

Suboxone Implants??

Suboxone Implants??

Hey guys, so there is a lot of hype out there about these implants that will solve all of your problems right? Like with any new product there are always pros and cons. Most of us just want cheaper, simpler, easier, and more convenient but definitely the cheaper is...

Pain Killers Used For Wisdom Teeth May Trigger Addiction

Pain Killers Used For Wisdom Teeth May Trigger Addiction

Hey guys, interesting new study that shows a much higher risk for addiction when patients are given painkillers for wisdom teeth. This is amazing. A new study showed that when younger patients get opiates for wisdom tooth extraction they were 2.7 times more likely to...

Addiction Rotations

Addiction Rotations

So have you guys heard what is next? You know how we call this the opioid epidemic? So what happens when patients cannot get a hold of opioids and no doctor is willing to treat their chronic pain legitimately? ( By the way legitimately means with all non-opioid...

Does Marijuana Cause Bipolar/ Schizophrenia Or Psychosis?

Does Marijuana Cause Bipolar/ Schizophrenia Or Psychosis?

Here is the trouble. We are seeing a ton of connections between these things. Hallucinations, feeling paranoid, persecuted, irritable, feelings of grandiosity. Does weed really cause these problems or does it just “uncover” something that was there from the beginning?...

Fentanyl Guys

Fentanyl Guys

Fentanyl Guys Hey everyone. So looks like fentanyl is now making it to our own beautiful state of Colorado. I have just seen it in my clinic a few times. Keep in mind that the stuff is mixed in with everything else that is used in so you will never be able to sort it...

Suboxone And Methadone Prevent Opiate Overdose Deaths

Suboxone And Methadone Prevent Opiate Overdose Deaths

NEW study shows that death risk DECREASES in patients who are on methadone or Suboxone This is big news!! We ALL Know that NO disease is perfect right? Diabetics will eat boxes of Oreos and cholesterol patients will chow down on cheeseburgers right? Well, addiction is...

Chronic Pain Patients Having Trouble Getting  Medications

Chronic Pain Patients Having Trouble Getting Medications

One of the main difficulties I have in my practice is treating legitimate chronic pain patients with the respect and compassion that they deserve. With the pendulum that has wildly swung into the wrong direction most physicians are avoiding treating chronic pain at...

Spice Or Death…????

Spice Or Death…????

Are you sure you actually know what’s in the stuff you are smoking? Keep in mind that “synthetic cannabinoids” are actually NOT a natural kind of plant. The stuff you smoke is actually just some random plant stuff they found in their backyards the drug itself (the...

Gabapentin Danger

Gabapentin Danger

So…. looks like gabapentin that we use a LOT for withdrawals and for mood disorders might actually be precariously dangerous with taken with all the opioids and benzos. Kentucky has classified it as a schedule 5 and is now on the PDMP. The longer we go the more...

Is Mental Health Really Causing This Violence???

Is Mental Health Really Causing This Violence???

So real interesting question since the NRA and the president is blaming mental health on all of this school violence. "Its mental health, thats what it really is.. Bad bad mental health" So lets look at this claim. 1. The mental health issues that contain violence...

What Is Trump Suggesting??

What Is Trump Suggesting??

The Death Penalty??? Really???? I thought the opioid crisis WAS the death penalty. Now he is suggesting another one. Why doesn’t he realize that many of the folks that get addicted do so from medical prescriptions and not heroin? Is he failing to recognize the simple...

HEROIN vaccine !!!

HEROIN vaccine !!!

Scripps is doing it again and is going to town on their new invention, the HEROIN vaccine. Its passed a lot of the testing and is soon ready for human trials. How does it work??  The vaccine basically forces the immune system to make antibodies that attack the heroin...

Naltrexone/ Naloxone/ Vivitrol… What’s The Difference Anyways

Naltrexone/ Naloxone/ Vivitrol… What’s The Difference Anyways

NALOXONE is the injection (IV/IM) drug we use to pull people out of overdoses. You can now buy these over the counter at most pharmacies. (they even had intranasal version). All ambulances and most police carry one. All patients on pain killers and especially if they...

CAN I GET PAIN MANAGEMENT EVEN IF I HAVE ADDICTION?

CAN I GET PAIN MANAGEMENT EVEN IF I HAVE ADDICTION?

YES, so even patients with addictions are real humans who deserve care when they get injured or have surgery. Earth shattering concept isn’t it?? So what do we do when you have an injury. Thankfully the medication itself (suboxone) is a great tool for pain management...

I CANT BE ON SUBOXONE AND CALL MYSELF CLEAN RIGHT??

I CANT BE ON SUBOXONE AND CALL MYSELF CLEAN RIGHT??

Guys, I cant tell you how often I hear that question. Why the heck is it so difficult to grasp the concept that addiction is NO different from ANY other disease out there??? -A hi blood pressure patient is NEVER cured, just controlled with 1)lifestyle changes &2)...

Are you addicted to opiates? Heroin? Pain killers?

Are you addicted to opiates? Heroin? Pain killers?

Why an addictionologist? Why not just see a “suboxone doc” ??? Are you addicted to opiates? Heroin? Pain killers? Have you surfed the web for “suboxone doc”? I have a lot of patients that have done this. They usually come to me having failed “suboxone” in the past....

Addictions

Addictions

TREATING PATENTS WITH ADDICTIONS WITH THE RESPECT AND HONOR THEY DESERVE So many of my patients come to me with my business card in hand. The card is very worn and old, frayed at the corners and dirty. I ask them how long they have had it and they will often respond:...

Startling Thoughts and Stats

Startling Thoughts and Stats

My professional history leading to becoming board certified in addiction medicine. Why have I chosen addiction medicine? Why choose to spend 10 years training in a field in order to help patients with substance use disorders, opioid dependence, methamphetamine...