Psychopharmacology in the Treatment of Substance Abuse Disorders

Substance use disorders are growing at an alarming rate in the United States. Psychopharmacologically treating addiction is already difficult in mono-diagnosis SUD patients. However, many patients with substance abuse disorders have poly-substance use disorders or have accompanying comorbid mental and physical health disorders that add to the complexity of psychopharmacological treatment.

This talk will provide an overview of the neuropharmacological basis for addiction. I will review diagnoses that are frequently co-morbid with SUD. Finally, I will address, both mono-diagnosis pharmacological approaches to substance use disorders, as well as considerations for poly-substance use, and major mental and physical comorbidities.

After attending this intermediate-level program, participants will be able to:

• List three medications commonly used to treat SUD.
• Discuss common side effects of MOUD (Medications for Opioid Use Disorder) medications.
• Identify three drugs that are under investigation to assess their value in treating SUD.

This program meets APA’s continuing education STANDARD 1.1: Program content focuses on application of psychological assessment and/or intervention methods that have overall consistent and credible empirical support in the contemporary peer reviewed scientific literature beyond those publications and other types of communications devoted primarily to the promotion of the approach.

This program meets APA’s continuing education GOAL 2: Program will enable psychologists to keep pace with the most current scientific evidence regarding assessment, prevention, intervention, and/or education, as well as important relevant legal, statutory, leadership, or regulatory issues.

Amy Wachholtz, PhD, MDiv, MSCP, ABPP, FACHP

Amy Wachholtz, PhD, MDiv, MSCP, ABPP, FACHP is an Associate Professor of Psychology and Program Director of Clinical Health Psychology at the University of Colorado Denver. She is developing the Masters of Science in Clinical Psychopharmacology program for University of Colorado Denver. She is an Associate Professor in the Hematology Department at the CU Medical Center (Hematology Oncology Division), an affiliate faculty with the Addiction Treatment and Research Service in the Psychiatry Department of University of Colorado Medical School, adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and a licensed clinical health psychologist. Dr. Wachholtz graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from Boston University and a specialized graduate degree in Bioethics from a joint Harvard University and Boston University program. She continued her education to earn her MA and PhD in Clinical Psychology from Bowling Green State University where she had a dual specialization in Behavioral Medicine and Psychology of Religion. She completed her internship through fellowship training at Duke University Medical Center where she focused on medical psychology and pain management. She completed a post-doctoral Master’s degree in Psychopharmacology in 2014. Her research and clinical interests focus on 1) the complexities of treating of co-morbid pain and opioid addiction in both acute pain and chronic pain situations and 2) the bio-psycho-social model for chronic pain disorders and palliative care. Her research encompasses bench to bedside methodology from psycho-physiological basic research to testing patient treatments and has resulted in over 100 publications and presentations. She enjoys teaching trainees of all levels in classroom, laboratory, and clinical settings.

DiVito, A. J., & Leger, R. F. (2020). Psychedelics as an emerging novel intervention in the treatment of substance use disorder: a review. Molecular Biology Reports, 47(12), 9791–9799. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-020-06009-x

Wachholtz, A., Foster, S. L., & Cheatle, M. D. (2015). Psychophysiology of pain and opioid use: Implications for managing pain in patients with an opioid use disorder. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 146, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.10.023

Weinstein, Z., Cheng, D. M., Quinn, E., Hui, D. S., Kim, H. W., Gryczynski, G., & Samet, J. H. (2017). Psychoactive medications and disengagement from office based opioid treatment (obot) with buprenorphine. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 170, 9–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.10.039

Target Audience: Psychologists or psychology trainees who have an interest in psychopharmacology for addiction. Master’s level clinicians who work closely with patients who have be prescribed psychotropics related to addiction.

Psychologists. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 1.0 continuing education credits. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in its continuing education activities. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is also committed to conducting all activities in conformity with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles for Psychologists. Participants are asked to be aware of the need for privacy and confidentiality throughout the program. If program content becomes stressful, participants are encouraged to process these feelings during discussion periods. 

Non Psychologists. Most licensing boards accept Continuing Education Credits sponsored by the American Psychological Association but non-psychologists are recommended to consult with their specific state-licensing board to ensure that APA-sponsored CE is acceptable.

*Participants must attend 100% of the program in order to obtain a Certificate of Attendance.

If participants have special needs, we will attempt to accommodate them. Please address questions, concerns and any complaints to [email protected]. There is no commercial support for this program nor are there any relationships between the CE Sponsor, presenting organization, presenter, program content, research, grants, or other funding that could reasonably be construed as conflicts of interest.