Best Substanceusedisorder Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 268- Living Out Faith Through Recovery and Avoiding Common Pitfalls 28:35

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1d ago28:35

28:35

Send us a text Living Out Faith Through Recovery and Avoiding Common Pitfalls Step 12 in recovery programs calls us to share the message of recovery with others and practice these principles in every part of our lives. This step is rooted in Matthew 28:19-20, where Jesus commands us to spread His teachings and baptize others, assuring us of His con…

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Episode 267 – Establishing Market Dominance While Leading With Integrity 25:14

9d ago25:14

25:14

Send us a text Episode 267 – Establishing Market Dominance While Leading With Integrity In today's rapidly evolving world, where the challenges we face are as complex as they are varied, the role of leadership has never been more crucial. To the business and community leaders tuning in, I extend a heartfelt welcome. This episode is dedicated to exp…

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Episode 264 - Interview with Charles Meyer, Porn Addiction Recovery Coach 32:43

16d ago32:43

32:43

Send us a text Episode 264 Interview with Charles Meyer, Porn Addiction Recovery Coach Charles is on a mission to end fatherlessness in American homes, and eventually worldwide. Based on the West Coach of Florida, Charles Meyer became a Porn Addiction Recovery Coach because of his own struggles with addiction and a strong sense of purpose from God.…

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Episode 264 - Magick, Recovery, and Transformation with Sunshine Romanowski 28:22

23d ago28:22

28:22

Send us a text In Episode 264, we step into the world of magick, recovery, and spiritual empowerment with Sunshine (aka Jen) Romanowski, also known as The Pink-Haired Sober Witch. Sunshine is a psychic medium, high priestess, spiritual advisor, and the founder of Illuminate: The Unschool of Sober Witchcraft—a transformative community designed to he…

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Episode 263: Drew Hall’s Journey of Faith, Family, and Purpose 29:46

30d ago29:46

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Send us a text Episode 263: Drew Hall’s Journey of Faith, Family, and Purpose In Episode 263 of God Took Me to Las Vegas, we welcome Drew Hall, a pastor, public school teacher, author, and coach, whose life is shaped by faith, family, and a deep commitment to serve others. Drew's life verse, Isaiah 26:3, resonates deeply with his journey: "You will…

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Episode 262 Step 5 - We admitted 32:40

1M ago32:40

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Send us a text Step 5 in faith-based recovery programs outlines how you will grow by admitting to God, oneself, and another person the exact nature of your wrongs. This step is pivotal as it embodies the principles of confession and accountability, which are foundational in Biblical teachings and essential for true healing and transformation. Parti…

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Episode 261 - The release of my memoir: “God Took Me to Las Vegas….to Get Sober! 15:29

1M ago15:29

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Send us a text Welcome to today's episode, where we dive into a remarkable journey of personal growth, redemption, and professional success. The focus is on Randy Mortensen's transformative story as detailed in his compelling memoir, "God Took Me to Las Vegas...To Get Sober." The narrative is not just about overcoming the clutches of addiction in t…

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Episode 260: Gina Kunadian’s Journey to Sobriety and Empowerment 29:50

2M ago29:50

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Send us a text Episode 260: Gina Kunadian’s Journey to Sobriety and Empowerment In Episode 260 of God Took Me to Las Vegas, we sit down with Gina Kunadian, an alcohol-free sobriety coach, TEDx speaker, and the host of the Shine Within podcast. Gina’s powerful story is one of resilience, transformation, and hope. After battling alcohol addiction for…

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Episode 259: Jon Fischer Shares About “Healing Photography” 27:31

2M ago27:31

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Send us a text In Episode 259 of the God Took Me to Las Vegas broadcast, we welcome Jon Fischer, a professional photographer and educator with over 15 years of experience. He has pioneered a revolutionary approach to photography, focusing on authentic expression that fosters real connections. His work is not just about technical skill but about cap…

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Episode 258: The 5 R’s That Represent Great Leaders 24:29

2M ago24:29

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Send us a text Episode 258: The 5 R’s That Represent Great Leaders In Episode 258 of the God Took Me to Las Vegas broadcast, your host, Randy Mortensen unpacks the leadership framework that defines true influence and impact. Drawing from decades of business and leadership experience, he explores the 5 R’s every great leader must master: Reflection,…

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Episode 257: Andrew Bolton’s Journey from Rock Bottom to Redemption & Success 25:02

2M ago25:02

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Send us a text Episode 257: Andrew Bolton’s Journey from Rock Bottom to Redemption & Success In this powerful episode of God Took Me to Las Vegas, we welcome Andrew Bolton, Founder & CEO of TechRescue, a 24/7 human-led tech support company. Andrew’s journey is a story of resilience, faith, and redemption. After hitting rock bottom—grieving, financi…

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Episode 256 – Lessons Learned in 34 Years of Sobriety 25:31

3M ago25:31

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Send us a text Episode 256 – Lessons Learned in 34 Years of Sobriety In this special episode of God Took Me to Las Vegas, I’m sharing “34 lessons I’ve Learned in 34 Years of Sobriety”—truths forged through brokenness, healing, and grace. These aren’t just phrases—they’re lived experiences. Like, “One drink is too many, a thousand never enough”—a re…

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Episode 255 – Interview with Charles Meyer, Porn Addiction Recovery Coach 32:43

3M ago32:43

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Send us a text Episode 255 – Interview with Charles Meyer, Porn Addiction Recovery Coach Charles is on a mission to end fatherlessness in American homes, and eventually worldwide. Based on the West Coach of Florida, Charles Meyer became a Porn Addiction Recovery Coach because of his own struggles with addiction and a strong sense of purpose from Go…

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Episode 254: Lisa Tickel’s Journey Overcoming Trauma and Emotional Eating 29:51

3M ago29:51

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Send us a text Episode 254: Lisa Tickel’s Journey Overcoming Trauma and Emotional Eating In Episode 254 of the God Took Me to Las Vegas broadcast, we’re joined by trauma recovery mentor Lisa Tickel, whose personal healing journey has ignited her passion for helping others overcome their struggles with trauma and emotional eating. Having battled emo…

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Episode 253 - Transforming Lives with Patrick Callaghan 29:08

3M ago29:08

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Send us a text In this enlightening episode, we delve into the inspiring journey of Patrick Callaghan, a certified transformational coach, life mastery consultant, and personal trainer. Patrick's life story is one of resilience, passion, and an unwavering commitment to helping others unlock their full potential. Patrick's journey is marked by a pro…

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Episode 252 – Interview with Dr. Marlene Carson, U.S. Advisory Council on Trafficking Chair 32:33

4M ago32:33

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Send us a text Interview with Dr. Marlene Carson, Chair of the U.S. Advisory Council on Trafficking at the White House In the realm of childhood, where laughter echoes freely and innocence reigns supreme, lies an unthinkable darkness: the theft of joy, playfulness, and innocence itself. This grim reality often unfolds when children fall prey to abh…

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Episode 251- Christopher Deaney: Natural Healing, Kratom, & His Journey to Recovery 29:54

4M ago29:54

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Send us a text Episode 251- Christopher Deaney: Natural Healing, Kratom, & His Journey to Recovery In this episode, we welcome Christopher Deaney, founder of Christopher’s Organic Botanicals, to share his inspiring journey of recovery, resilience, and holistic healing. A passionate advocate for natural remedies, Christopher opens up about his perso…

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Episode 250: Rewiring the Brain for Transformation and Lasting Change 30:19

4M ago30:19

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Send us a text Episode 250: Rewiring the Brain for Transformation and Lasting Change In this episode, we sit down with George Haymaker III, a Certified Transformational Neuroconstructionist Coach and NeuroEducator, to explore the power of neuroplasticity and behavioral transformation. George shares his personal journey—how he navigated the challeng…

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Episode 249 - Having the tough conversation! 15:00

4M ago15:00

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Send us a text Love is not enabling. Love is life-saving! If you've concluded that your loved one may have a problem with the abuse of drugs or alcohol, the next step is to have an honest, empathetic, and open discussion with them. There are some precautions advised - prior to the honest conversation, validate with a trusted friend or another famil…

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Episode 248 -Leading With Integrity – Building Market Dominance Through Authentic Leadership 17:20

4M ago17:20

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Send us a text Episode 248 “Leading With Integrity – Building Market Dominance Through Authentic Leadership" Episode Summary: In Episode 248, we delve into the transformative power of integrity in leadership. Drawing from my impactful talk Leading With Integrity, you will hear me share insights on how authenticity, bravery, and consistency shape ef…

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Episode 10: Reflections on Motivational Interviewing 19:00

1+ y ago19:00

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In this episode, Dr. Stader calls Dr. Barnett to reflect on the philosophy of MI and how it has been transformative for his practice. Additional Learning Resources: Thomas Gordon’s Roadblocks to Communication Motivational Interviewing Workshops

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Episode 9: A Positive UA - Principles of MI in Practice 24:06

1+ y ago24:06

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In this episode, Dr. Stader utilizes the principles of MI when navigating an encounter with Sam, a patient who just had a routine UA test positive for fentanyl, an opioid he is not prescribed. Dr. Barnett and Dr. Stader debrief the details of this case following the encounter including the delicate position a physician occupies when establishing pa…

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Episode 8: Diet Change Talk - Principles of MI in Practice 20:23

1+ y ago20:23

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In this episode, Dr. Stader implements the breadth of MI tactics discussed thus far in an encounter with Peggy, a pre-diabetic patient with high cholesterol to discuss diet changes.

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Episode 7: Scaling and Eliciting Change Talk 18:39

1+ y ago18:39

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In this episode, Dr. Stader meets with Rebecca following a trip to the ER for a fall about the potential need to take fall risk reduction measures as she starts to age. Dr. Barnett and Dr. Stader discuss how scaling can be used to gauge where patients' readiness to implement change.

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Episode 6: Importance of Establishing Boundaries 16:57

1+ y ago16:57

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In this episode, Dr. Stader meet with Mark who would like to increase his opioid prescription for his back pain. Dr. Barnett and Dr. Stader discuss the importance of establishing physician-patient boundaries when discussing change behavior.

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Episode 5: Empathy, Discrepancy, Rolling with Resistance and Supporting Self-Efficacy 19:38

1+ y ago19:38

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In this episode, Dr. Stader conducts a new patient encounter with George. Following the encounter, Dr. Barnett and Dr. Stader talk about the four key principles of motivational interviewing: empathy, discrepancy, rolling with resistance and supporting self-efficacy in patients.

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Episode 4: Fighting the Righting Reflex 18:29

1+ y ago18:29

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In this episode, Dr. Stader meets with Cindy, a fibromyalgia patient on longterm opioid therapy, to discuss decreasing her percocet following a DUI. Following the encounter, Dr. Barnett and Dr. Stader discuss the importance of pushing back against the innate urge to tell a patient the solution to their problem as it can lead to resistance.…

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Episode 3: OARS Technique (Open Questioning, Affirming, Reflecting and Summarizing) 17:18

1+ y ago17:18

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In this episode, Dr. Stader introduces the OARS technique in an encounter with Paul who visits clinic regarding his surgeon’s wish for him to quit smoking pre-operatively. Following the encounter, Dr. Stader and Dr. Barnett dicuss how open questions, affirming patient sentiments, reflective statements and summarizing an encounter and assisting in m…

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Episode 2: Stages of Change 16:24

1+ y ago16:24

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In this episode, Dr. Stader has an appointment with Tom, a chronic pain patient grappling with a new diagnosis of sleep apnea and the need to wear a CPAP machine. Following the encounter, Dr. Stader and Dr. Barnett discuss the stages of change patients traverse.

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Episode 1: The Spirit of Motivational Interviewing 16:15

1+ y ago16:15

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Dr. Don Stader calls mentor Dr. Peter Barnett to vent about some feelings of burnout he is experiencing with his patients not wanting to follow directions and Dr. Barnett helps him reframe his mentality and offers up motivational interviewing as a potential strategy to employ with his patients resisting change.…

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How to Choose the Appropriate Opioid: An Interview with Dr. Heath McAnally 1:28:20

2+ y ago1:28:20

1:28:20

Dr. Don Stader, MD, and Dr. Rachael Duncan, PharmD, sit down to chat with Dr. Heath McAnally, MD, to discuss the nuances between different opioid agents and how to choose between them to match your patient's needs. Tune in as we review the biological pain pathways and how the mu and kappa receptors are involved with different opioid agents and then…

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Mind Body Medicine's Approach to Chronic Pain: An Interview with Dr. Howard Schubiner 1:08:39

3y ago1:08:39

1:08:39

Hosts Don Stader, MD and Rachael Duncan, PharmD sit down with Howard Schubiner, MD to discuss mind body medicine and the power of perception when it comes to pain. Dr. Schubiner discusses how the brain is responsible for much of the pain we experience and how we can harness this knowledge to reduce it after ruling out structural sources. Resources …

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Chronic Pain Advocacy: An Interview with Kate Nicholson, JD 1:13:40

3y ago1:13:40

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Hosts Don Stader, MD and Rachael Duncan, PharmD sit down with Kate Nicholson, JD, the founder of the nonprofit National Pain Advocacy Center whose mission is to advance the health and human rights of people in pain. Kate discusses her entry into the field of pain and her own journey developing and managing chronic pain and how she has used her expe…

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Episode 10: Putting it All Together (Chronic Pain and Opioid Use Disorders) 25:12

3y ago25:12

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Putting it all together Toolkit Opioid Prescribing and Treatment Guidance Toolkit Compass Opioid Stewardship Program Website Compass Opioid Stewardship Expert Spotlight Spotify Apple

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Episode 9: OUD Treatment: Recovery Communities and Social Adjuncts 15:57

3y ago15:57

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Addiction is about giving up everything for one thing. Recovery is about giving up one thing for everything.

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Episode 8: OUD Treatment: Medication for Opioid Use Disorder 24:05

3y ago24:05

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Buprenorphine and X Waivers Toolkit Buprenorphine Protocol Toolkit

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Episode 7: Motivational Interviewing for OUD 21:10

3y ago21:10

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Motivational Interviewing Toolkit

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Episode 6: Deprescribing - A Choice Between Tapering & Addiction Treatment 18:16

3y ago18:16

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Motivational Interviewing Toolkit

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Episode 5: Aberrancy Management in Chronic Opioid Therapy 24:26

3y ago24:26

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Risk Monitoring Toolkit Aberrancy Management Toolkit

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Episode 4: Informed Consents & Controlled Substance Agreements (CSAs) 18:00

3y ago18:00

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Informed Consent & Controlled Substance Agreement Toolkit

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Episode 3: Risk Monitoring and Mitigation for Chronic Opioid Therapy 16:11

3y ago16:11

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Risk Mitigation Toolkit

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Episode 2: Risk Screening and Stratification for OUD in Primary Care 18:46

3y ago18:46

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Opioid Therapy Risk-Assessment Screening Tools Table Recommended Screening Tools for Pain + Opioid Risk Management Toolkit A Comparison of Common Screening Methods for Predicting Aberrant Drug-Related Behavior among Patients Receiving Opioids for Chronic Pain Management

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Episode 1: An Introduction to Co-Occurring Chronic Pain & Opioid Use Disorder 16:49

3y ago16:49

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Summarized DSM-5 diagnostic categories and criteria for opioid use disorder Risks for opioid abuse and dependence among recipients of chronic opioid therapy: results from the TROUP study Rates of opioid misuse, abuse, and addiction in chronic pain: a systematic review and data synthesis

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Benzodiazepine Tapering: An Interview with Dr. Alexis Ritvo 1:17:51

3y ago1:17:51

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Host Rachael Duncan, PharmD sits down with Alexis Ritvo, MD, an assistant professor at CU Anschutz School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Program Director at Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of Colorado to discuss all things benzodiazepines. Tune in to learn about tapering strategies, polypharma interactions and increased …

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Opioids, Health Disparities and COVID-19: An Interview with Dr. Andrew Herring and Charles Hawthorne 50:34

3y ago50:34

50:34

Hosts Don Stader, MD and Rachael Duncan, PharmD sit down with Andrew Herring, MD and Charles Hawthorne of CA Bridge to discuss healthy equity and disparities in the opioid epidemic. CA Bridge is a pioneering organization that expands access of evidence-based addiction care to those who use drugs across California, Andrew serves as the Director and …

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Episode 11: Putting It All Together (Opioid Stewardship) 20:47

3y ago20:47

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In this episode, Dr. Stader and Anne chat about how her pain has improved and she is getting more out of life. Following their encounter, Don and Rachael circle back on the 8 pillars of opioid stewardship tying it all together and and talk about modifying the framework to fit individual patients. Show Notes: Benzodiazepine Deprescribing Algorithm C…

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Episode 10: Cross Titration to Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain 16:39

3y ago16:39

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In this episode, Dr. Stader introduces buprenorphine as a possible agent to help manage Anne's chronic pain. Following their encounter, Don and Rachael discuss the use of buprenorphine for chronic pain and how to effectively cross titrate a patient from other opioids to the safer agent. Show Notes: Buprenorphine and X Waivers IR Opioid Cross Taper …

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Episode 9: Opioid Tapering Tips: Tapering Fentanyl & Oxycodone 16:21

3y ago16:21

16:21

In this episode, Dr. Stader and Anne discuss how her taper is going and they agree on some adjustments. Following their encounter, Don and Rachael take a deeper dive into the specific mechanics of tapering fentanyl and Oxycodone. Show Notes: Opioid + Benzodiazepine Tapering How-To Guide Fentanyl 50 mcg TD Taper Example The Iowa Healthcare Collabora…

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Episode 8: Tapering Conversations and Benefits of Tapering / Deprescribing 20:34

3y ago20:34

20:34

In this episode, Dr. Stader broached his concerns with Anne's medication regimen and they discuss the mechanics of tapering her off some of her medications. Following their encounter, Don and Rachael dive into the collaborative framework for a taper using the BRAVO approach. Show Notes: Optimizing Patient Communication: The Key to a Successful Tape…

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Episode 7: Respiratory Depression & Screening for Sleep Disordered Breathing 15:01

3y ago15:01

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In this episode, Dr. Stader talks with Anne about her sleep study showing sleep apnea and his concern for her medication regimen contributing to it. Following their encounter, Don and Rachael dive into the nuts and bolts of screening for sleep disordered breathing. Show Notes: 2021 BMJ Article Infographic: Diagnosing Sleep Apnea in Patients Taking …