EP 58 – The Science of Addiction with Dr. David Smith

Kaleidoscope of Possibilities

To watch the video of this episode, please go to: https://youtu.be/NdaFuJuggxE

What is really happening with addiction and what does recovery actually entail?

How do psychedelics work with addiction, trauma, and mental disorders?

What is the future of addiction treatment and recovery?

Discover these fascinating insights into addiction and trauma and so much more in this powerful episode of Kaleidoscope of Possibilities: Alternative Perspectives on Mental Health in which Dr. Adriana Popescu is joined by addiction treatment pioneer Dr. David Smith. Dr. Smith brings his lifetime of leadership in the field of addiction and recovery and shares his wisdom, experience, strength, and hope.

In this episode:

• Dr. Smith’s history
• Developing a free medical clinic
• LSD and psychedelic medicine
• Psychedelic revolution
• How psychedelics work
• Trauma capsule
• Bad trips
• Integration of treatment
• Avery Lane
• The disease and dysfunctional behaviors of addiction
• Relapse
• The neurology of addiction
• Self-medication
• TJ Woodward
• Brainspotting
• The addictive process
• Psychedelic-assisted therapies
• Psilocybin
• MAT or Medication Assisted Therapies
• A vision for the future

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Dr. Smith’s website: http://www.drdave.org/index.html

Avery Lane: https://www.averylanewomensrehab.com/

TJ Woodward: https://www.tjwoodward.com/

About Dr. Smith:

Dr. David E. Smith is recognized as a national leader in the areas of the treatment of addictive disease, the psychopharmacology of drugs, new research strategies in the management of drug abuse problems, and appropriate prescribing practices for physicians. He is the Founder of the Haight-Ashbury Free Clinics in San Francisco, which merged with Walden House in mid-2011 to form HealthRIGHT 360, which provides services at multiple sites throughout California.

Dr. Smith is currently the Chair of Addiction Medicine for Muir Wood Adolescent and Family Services, a gender-specific residential program for teenagers suffering from substance abuse and co-occurring issues in Petaluma, California. He is also the Medical Director for Center Point, a 6-month residential therapeutic community in San Rafael, California, which provides comprehensive, integrated services to at-risk individuals and families. He also serves as Chief of Addiction Medicine for Alta Mira Recovery Programs in Sausalito, California, a private residential chemical dependency program, and is the Medical Director at Avery Lane in Novato, California, a holistic drug and alcohol rehabilitation center for women with co-occurring substance use and mental disorders and trauma.

Dr. Smith has also served as Adjunct Professor at the University of California, San Francisco; as Medical Director of the California State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs; and as Medical Director of the California Collaborative Center for Substance Abuse Policy Research. He is a Fellow and Past President of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and of the California Society of Addiction Medicine.

He is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the University of California, San Francisco Medal, the Peter E. Haas Public Service Award from the University of California, Berkeley, the Robert D. Sparks, MD, Leadership Achievement Award of the California Medical Association, and the Annual Award of the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

Dr. Smith is the Founding Editor of the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs and an Editorial Board member of the Journal of Addiction Medicine. In addition, he has authored or co-authored 26 books, written over 350 journal articles, edited 28 journals, and has been the technical consultant for 28 drug abuse-related films. He is the co-author, with Dr. Daniel G. Amen, of Unchain Your Brain: 10 Steps to Breaking the Addictions that Steal Your Life.

“We are in the midst of the biggest drug epidemic in US history and the things that we have learned about how to treat addiction should be available to all people who have addictive disorders.” – Dr. Smith

Would you like to continue this conversation and connect with other people who are interested in exploring these topics? Please join us on our Facebook group! (https://www.facebook.com/groups/kaleidoscopeofpossibilitiespodcast/)

About your host:

Dr. Adriana Popescu is a clinical psychologist, addiction and trauma specialist, author, speaker and empowerment coach who is based in San Francisco, California and practices worldwide.

For more information on Dr. Adriana, her sessions and classes, please visit: https://adrianapopescu.org/

To learn about her new trauma treatment program Firebird Healing, please visit the website: https://www.firebird-healing.com/

You can also follow her on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAdrianaPopescu/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dradrianapopescu/?hl=en

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrAdrianaP

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriana-popescu-ph-d-03793

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/dradrianapopescu

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCflL0zScRAZI3mEnzb6viVA

Clubhouse: https://www.clubhouse.com/club/kaleidoscopepossibilities

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dradrianapopescu?

Disclaimer: This podcast represents the opinions of Dr. Adriana Popescu and her guests. The content expressed therein should not be taken as psychological or medical advice. The content here is for informational or entertainment purposes only. Please consult your healthcare professional for any medical or treatment questions.

This website or podcast is not to be used in any legal capacity whatsoever, including but not limited to establishing “standard of care” in any legal sense or as a basis for legal proceedings or expert witness testimony. Listening, reading, emailing, or interacting on social media with our content in no way establishes a client-therapist relationship.