Best Ahana Wokhlu Podcasts (2024)

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Episode 28: The Intersection of Methamphetamine Use and HIV - Dr. Timothy Hall, UCLA 36:30

1y ago36:30

36:30

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Timothy Hall about the intersection of methamphetamine use and HIV in the LGBTQ+ community, particularly in men who have sex with men. Dr. Hall explains how methamphetamine use can influence HIV transmission as well as health outcomes for those who are HIV positive and how new HIV medications that can be taken ever…

1
Episode 27: Infectious Complications of Injection Drug Use - Dr. David Goodman-Meza, UCLA 50:01

1y ago50:01

50:01

In this episode, I talk with Dr. David Goodman-Meza about the infectious disease complications associated with intravenous drug use. We discuss some of the most common infections seen in people who inject drugs (PWID), including Hepatitis C, HIV, skin and soft tissue infections, infective endocarditis, vertebral osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, and…

1
Episode 26: Collegiate Recovery Programs- Kristina Canfield, ARHE Executive Director 30:24

1y ago30:24

30:24

In this episode, I speak with Kristina Canfield, M.ED. about collegiate recovery programs. Kristina is the Executive Director for the Association of Recovery in Higher Education (ARHE), the sole organization exclusively representing collegiate recovery programs and communities. Kristina explains how collegiate recovery programs came about, their be…

1
Episode 25: Motivational Interviewing - Dr. Kenneth Saffier, Bi-Bett 30:00

1+ y ago30:00

30:00

Welcome back. In this episode, I speak with Dr. Kenneth Saffier, family physician and addiction medicine specialist. Dr. Saffier serves as the Medical Director for Bi-Bett, a substance use disorder treatment center serving Alameda, Solano, and Contra Costa counties in California. He is also the past president of the Medical Education and Research F…

1
Episode 24: Harm Reduction - Dr. Daniel Ciccarone, UCSF 43:32

1+ y ago43:32

43:32

Seatbelts for when you speed down a slick highway, cholesterol medication when you have a difficult time controlling your diet — these are tools we use to protect ourselves from our imperfect behaviors. Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies designed to reduce the negative consequences of risk behaviors, centered around accepting people wh…

1
Episode 23: Psychedelics as Addiction Treatment - Dr. Snehal Bhatt, University of New Mexico 34:48

1+ y ago34:48

34:48

In this episode, I talk to Dr. Snehal Bhatt about the use of psychedelics in the treatment of substance use disorders. Dr. Bhatt was one of the principal investigators for an exciting study demonstrating the ability of psilocybin to reduce heavy drinking in patients with alcohol use disorder. He reviews the history of psychedelic use in medicine, d…

1
Episode 22: From Prison to PhD - Dr. Noel Vest, Stanford University 43:41

2y ago43:41

43:41

Hello everyone! Sorry for the delay, and thank you for coming back. In this episode, I talk to Dr. Noel Vest about his journey through addiction, incarceration, and, ultimately, recovery. Dr. Vest discusses the early influences on his drug use, his first experiences with drugs and alcohol, and how his addiction landed him in prison. He goes on to d…

1
Episode 21: Addiction in the LGBTQIA+ Community - Dr. Brian Hurley, LA County DPH 24:32

2y ago24:32

24:32

In this episode, I discuss addiction in the LGBTQIA+ community with Dr. Brian Hurley, Medical Director of the Division of Substance Abuse Prevention and Control for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and President-Elect of the American Society of Addiction Medicine Board of Directors. Dr. Hurley reviews the data we have on the preva…

1
Episode 20: Addiction in Healthcare Professionals - Dr. Michael Sprintz, Sprintz Center for Pain and Recovery 59:15

2y ago59:15

59:15

Medical professionals bear an enormous responsibility taking care of patients and are often held to a higher standard than other members of society. However, they are human and are therefore also susceptible to the development of addiction, especially given the stresses they are placed under. In this episode, I speak with Dr. Michael Sprintz about …

1
Episode 19: Addiction in the Military - Colonel Christopher Perry, M.D., Madigan Army Medical Center 24:32

2y ago24:32

24:32

In this episode, Colonel Christopher Perry, M.D. discusses the prevalence of substance use disorders in military personnel, which substances are most commonly misused, and how addiction is managed in those actively serving. He reviews the importance of screening for and treating use disorders, especially given the high rates of suicide in this popu…

1
Episode 18: Chronic Pain Management and Opioid Use - Dr. Gregory Rudolf, Swedish Health Services 1:11:35

2y ago1:11:35

1:11:35

An estimated 50 million adults suffer from chronic pain in the U.S., which can interfere with their ability to work, take part in normal activities, or enjoy life. The treatment of chronic pain is complex, even more so if a person struggles with a coexisting substance use disorder. In this episode, I speak with Dr. Gregory Rudolf about the various …

1
Episode 17: Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome - Dr. Jadene Wong, Stanford University 26:43

2y ago26:43

26:43

In this episode, Dr. Jadene Wong discusses Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, also commonly referred to as Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS), which describes the withdrawal symptoms an infant experiences after exposure to opioids in the uterus. Dr. Wong reviews which factors increase the risk for developing withdrawal, how to diagnose NOWS, and…

1
Episode 16: Addiction in Rural America - Dr. Ryan Jackman, St. Mary's Integrated Addiction Medicine Clinic 19:57

2y ago19:57

19:57

In this episode, Dr. Ryan Jackman gives us an overview of addiction in Rural America. He compares the rates of substance use and overdose deaths between urban and rural areas and reviews what factors might contribute to the development of use disorders in rural communities. Dr. Jackman also discusses the unique challenges rural areas face in obtain…

1
Episode 15: The Role of Race in Addiction - Dr. Helena Hansen, UCLA 41:16

2+ y ago41:16

41:16

In this episode, Dr. Helena Hansen talks about how she became involved in researching the role of race in addiction and drug policy. She discusses the impact of unequal drug criminalization and mass incarceration on communities of color and how media portrayal and treatment of use disorders have differed between racial groups. She also explains the…

1
Episode 14: Substance Use in the Elderly - Dr. Michael Fingerhood, Johns Hopkins University 15:22

2+ y ago15:22

15:22

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Michael Fingerhood, Associate Professor of Medicine and Public Health at Johns Hopkins University and Chief of the Division of Addiction Medicine at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. Dr. Fingerhood explains why older individuals may develop a use disorder and how it can go unrecognized due to preconceived imp…

1
Episode 13: Substance Use and Addiction in Pregnancy - Dr. Mishka Terplan, Friends Research Institute 31:26

2+ y ago31:26

31:26

In this episode, Dr. Mishka Terplan gives an in-depth review of the most commonly used substances during pregnancy and their effects on the expectant mother and fetus. He explains how to screen for addiction during prenatal visits and stresses the importance of treating addiction as a disease, with medication if needed, to improve health outcomes f…

1
Episode 12: Substance Use in Adolescents - Dr. Veronika Mesheriakova, UCSF 24:27

2+ y ago24:27

24:27

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Veronika Mesheriakova, Assistant Professor in the division of Adolescent & Young Adult Medicine at UCSF and the medical director of the UCSF Youth Outpatient Substance Use Program. Dr. Mesheriakova has vast knowledge of and experience in the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders in adolescents. She le…

1
Episode 11: Drug Facts - Sedative-Hypnotics and Anxiolytics - Dr. Christopher Blazes, OHSU 13:11

2+ y ago13:11

13:11

In the final installment of my drug facts series, I discuss sedative-hypnotic and anxiolytic drugs with Dr. Christopher Blazes, Director of the Addiction Psychiatry fellowship at Oregon Health and Science University. Dr. Blazes is triple board-certified in psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, and emergency medicine and has published and lectured exten…

1
Episode 10: Drug Facts - Cannabis - Dr. Itai Danovitch, Cedars-Sinai 30:54

2+ y ago30:54

30:54

For the sixth part of my drug facts series, I speak with Dr. Itai Danovitch, Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at Cedars-Sinai. Dr. Danovitch provides an in-depth summary of the physiology of cannabis and reviews both its beneficial and harmful effects (including use disorder), and how these effects di…

1
Episode 9: Drug Facts - Nicotine and Tobacco - Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, Stanford University 26:59

2+ y ago26:59

26:59

In the fifth installment of my drug facts series, I speak with Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, Professor of Pediatrics in adolescent medicine at Stanford University and the founder of the Tobacco Prevention Toolkit, an online curricular aimed at reducing and preventing youth tobacco use. Dr. Halpern-Felsher discusses the unique harm nicotine poses to t…

1
Episode 8: Drug Facts - Cocaine - Dr. Kyle Kampman, Perelman School of Medicine 20:32

2+ y ago20:32

20:32

In the fourth part of my drug facts series, we cover cocaine with Dr. Kyle Kampman, addiction specialist and professor of psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Kampman gives us a fascinating look back at the history of cocaine, reviews the ways in which cocaine is commonly misused, and explains intoxic…

1
Episode 7: A Tale of Two Epidemics - Dr. Adam Leventhal, USC 13:18

2+ y ago13:18

13:18

In this bonus episode, I speak with Dr. Adam Leventhal on the convergence of two public health crises - addiction and the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Leventhal reviews the challenges faced by those who struggle with substance use disorders during these difficult times and explains how an all-hands-on-deck approach is needed to solve the addiction crisis…

1
Episode 6: Drug Facts - Methamphetamine - Dr. Jonathan Buchholz, University of Washington and VA Puget Sound 20:08

2+ y ago20:08

20:08

In the third installment of my drug facts series, I talk about methamphetamine use with Dr. Jonathan Buchholz, Program Director of the Addictions Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of Washington and Medical Director of Inpatient Psychiatry at the VA Puget Sound. Dr. Buchholz discusses the epidemiology and physiology of methamphetamine use diso…

1
Episode 5: Drug Facts - Alcohol - Dr. Marc Schuckit, UC San Diego 35:47

2+ y ago35:47

35:47

In part two of my drug facts series, I speak with Dr. Marc Schuckit, distinguished professor of psychiatry at UC San Diego School of Medicine. Dr. Schuckit has spent decades researching the genetic and environmental influences in alcohol use disorder. In this episode, he gives us an overview of the risk factors for developing an alcohol addiction, …

1
Episode 4: Drug Facts - Opioids - Dr. Julio Meza, UCLA 22:01

2+ y ago22:01

22:01

In the first part of my Drug Facts series, we will discuss opioids with Dr. Julio Meza, Program Director of the Addiction Medicine Fellowship and Assistant Clinical Professor of Family Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Meza will give us an overview of where opioids come from, how they affect the brain and body, and how they rank in terms of potency and addicti…

1
Episode 3: Interview with David Poses - Author, The Weight of Air 37:10

3y ago37:10

37:10

In this episode, author David Poses breaks down the addict stereotype by talking about his struggle with depression and how his search for a cure was accompanied by feelings of guilt and shame. Although heroin relieved his symptoms, the stigma associated with his addiction only hindered his journey to recovery. As a writer, speaker, expert and acti…

1
Episode 2: Destigmatizing Addiction - Dr. Elisabeth Poorman, University of Washington 22:08

3y ago22:08

22:08

In this episode, we will talk to Dr. Elisabeth Poorman, an internal medicine doctor and addiction medicine specialist from the University of Washington in Seattle. Dr. Poorman is an accomplished writer and healthcare advocate. She will talk about what stigma is, how it affects the addiction community, and what healthcare providers and society as a …

1
Episode 1: The Science Behind Addiction - Dr. Ilan Remler, Kaiser Permanente 21:40

3y ago21:40

21:40

In this initial episode, we will talk to Dr. Ilan Remler, Program Director of the Addiction Medicine fellowship at Kaiser Permanente for Northern California. Dr. Remler will define addiction, differentiate it from substance use, and explain how addiction changes the brain. He will also give an overview of current treatment strategies for substance …

1
Episode 0: Introduction 1:14

3y ago1:14

1:14

Welcome to my podcast! Addiction is a widespread problem, and it is the basis for many of the leading causes of preventable death in the United States. The purpose of this series is to debunk common misconceptions about substance use disorders and to understand the science behind them. We will learn which treatments are effective, why reducing st…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Ahana Wokhlu Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
Trapped: Understanding Addiction

Ahana Wokhlu

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Episode 28: The Intersection of Methamphetamine Use and HIV - Dr. Timothy Hall, UCLA 36:30

1
Episode 27: Infectious Complications of Injection Drug Use - Dr. David Goodman-Meza, UCLA 50:01

1
Episode 26: Collegiate Recovery Programs- Kristina Canfield, ARHE Executive Director 30:24

1
Episode 25: Motivational Interviewing - Dr. Kenneth Saffier, Bi-Bett 30:00

1
Episode 24: Harm Reduction - Dr. Daniel Ciccarone, UCSF 43:32

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Episode 23: Psychedelics as Addiction Treatment - Dr. Snehal Bhatt, University of New Mexico 34:48

1
Episode 22: From Prison to PhD - Dr. Noel Vest, Stanford University 43:41

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Episode 21: Addiction in the LGBTQIA+ Community - Dr. Brian Hurley, LA County DPH 24:32

1
Episode 20: Addiction in Healthcare Professionals - Dr. Michael Sprintz, Sprintz Center for Pain and Recovery 59:15

1
Episode 19: Addiction in the Military - Colonel Christopher Perry, M.D., Madigan Army Medical Center 24:32

1
Episode 18: Chronic Pain Management and Opioid Use - Dr. Gregory Rudolf, Swedish Health Services 1:11:35

1
Episode 17: Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome - Dr. Jadene Wong, Stanford University 26:43

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Episode 16: Addiction in Rural America - Dr. Ryan Jackman, St. Mary's Integrated Addiction Medicine Clinic 19:57

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Episode 15: The Role of Race in Addiction - Dr. Helena Hansen, UCLA 41:16

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Episode 14: Substance Use in the Elderly - Dr. Michael Fingerhood, Johns Hopkins University 15:22

1
Episode 13: Substance Use and Addiction in Pregnancy - Dr. Mishka Terplan, Friends Research Institute 31:26

1
Episode 12: Substance Use in Adolescents - Dr. Veronika Mesheriakova, UCSF 24:27

1
Episode 11: Drug Facts - Sedative-Hypnotics and Anxiolytics - Dr. Christopher Blazes, OHSU 13:11

1
Episode 10: Drug Facts - Cannabis - Dr. Itai Danovitch, Cedars-Sinai 30:54

1
Episode 9: Drug Facts - Nicotine and Tobacco - Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, Stanford University 26:59

1
Episode 8: Drug Facts - Cocaine - Dr. Kyle Kampman, Perelman School of Medicine 20:32

1
Episode 7: A Tale of Two Epidemics - Dr. Adam Leventhal, USC 13:18

1
Episode 6: Drug Facts - Methamphetamine - Dr. Jonathan Buchholz, University of Washington and VA Puget Sound 20:08

1
Episode 5: Drug Facts - Alcohol - Dr. Marc Schuckit, UC San Diego 35:47

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Episode 4: Drug Facts - Opioids - Dr. Julio Meza, UCLA 22:01

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Episode 3: Interview with David Poses - Author, The Weight of Air 37:10

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Episode 2: Destigmatizing Addiction - Dr. Elisabeth Poorman, University of Washington 22:08

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Episode 1: The Science Behind Addiction - Dr. Ilan Remler, Kaiser Permanente 21:40

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Episode 0: Introduction 1:14

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