Educational Activities Archives

This episode examines how these newer compounds differ pharmacologically, why they are more dangerous, and how clinicians can recognize and respond to kratom-related harms. Listeners will gain practical strategies for identifying kratom use disorder, managing withdrawal, and having informed, non-stigmatizing conversations with patients as these products continue to emerge and change.

Stigma shows up in electronic medical record (EMR) notes, decisions, and outcomes. Drs. DiRocco and Tong talk with Dr. Alena Balasanova, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, University of Nebraska Medical Center, about how language in medical records shapes care, how a scalable tech nudge can clean up documentation, and which education strategies actually shift clinician behavior. The episode closes with three practical steps listeners can implement immediately.

Opioid overdose remains a national emergency, and EMS responders are often the first — and sometimes only — healthcare professionals to encounter patients at a critical moment. This SAEM podcast explores the emerging practice of EMS-initiated buprenorphine, an innovative approach that allows paramedics to begin medication for opioid use disorder in the field.

This episode of the Stigma and Substance Use podcast, explores the “contagious” nature of stigma in substance use disorders (SUDs), revealing how shame and discrimination spread beyond the 45-50 million Americans with SUDs to affect an estimated 45-300 million family members. While stigma’s impact on individuals with SUDs is well-documented, this conversation spotlights how families become “stigmatized by association,” driving them “underground” and leading to isolation, delayed help-seeking, compromised mental health, strained relationships, and poorer recovery outcomes for the entire family system.

If you are interested in becoming a board-certified Addiction Psychiatrist, or if you are still on the fence about fellowship, you will want to check out this podcast where we interviewed applicants from the 2024 application cycle! Applicants may start submitting applications for fellowship through ERAS starting July 2nd, 2025.

In this episode of the Stigma and Substance Use Podcast, we dive into why language in client and patient records matters—and how it can shape care experiences. We explore practical ways to use non-stigmatizing language in health records and discuss the role of electronic health record (EHR) in shaping documentation. Who designs these systems, and how can they be improved? We also examine real-world case scenarios where stigmatizing notes have had lasting impacts on individuals. Whether you’re a provider, policymaker, or advocate, this episode offers insight into making health records more respectful, equitable, and aligned with patient-centered care.