There are a whole range of drugs of concern that one can become dependent upon or become addicted to and this list can seem daunting. The list of drugs that a ‘use disorder’ can be appended to under the DSM 5 criteria is similarly long. Dr Ferghal Armstrong though provides us with a useful mnemonic to remember these drugs ‘COCA SHITS’.

Taking an accurate substance use history is of great importance in the management of addiction. There are a number of strategies that one could use but the most important part of history taking is that of demeanour and empathy.

The concept of fasting is not new to many especially if we look at the various cultures and religions around the world e.g., Muslims fast during Ramadan, or the various fasts practiced by Hindus and Buddhists. Even Greek philosophers such as Hippocrates and Aristotle have prescribed fasting for various ailments. This week, we look at how and why intermittent fasting works.

Methadone has a number of benefits that extend from not only the person taking it but also society as a whole. Methadone decreases criminality with the overall reduction in convictions and cautions estimated to be at 10% for each six months enrolled in methadone maintenance therapy with patients in continuous treatment receiving the best outcomes.

The Keto Diet. Can we generate a super fuel in our bodies by eating differently? This week we look at the popular keto diet from a medical perspective.

Methadone in Opioid Agonist Therapy

Many people tend to subscribe to the famous “Low Carb High Fat” diet and others swear by it but a pertinent question to ask is whether these individuals do it well or if they are successful? Can the diet really improve diabetes control?

Cracking Addiction covers opioid replacement therapy (ORT) and the philosophy and evidence behind this highly effective treatment for patients with opioid use disorder.

Dr Ferghal and I explore the famous DASH diet. This diet was developed in the 90s looking at the effects of a diet high in Calcium, Potassium and Magnesium and low Sodium levels on blood pressure. This ultimately translates to eating an abundance of fruits and vegetables with small amounts saturated and dietary fat.

The difference between dependence and addiction, the intricacies of addiction and providing a definition of opioid use disorder

“A diet as good as the famous statins?” This week, Dr Ferghal and I explore the ‘Portfolio Diet’; known for its effectiveness in lowering LDL i.e. ‘bad cholesterol’. This diet is said to be as effective as Lovastatin, which is a cholesterol lowering medication!

Legacy patients on high dose opioids or on combination hypno-sedatives including the combination of opioids and benzodiazepines are at an elevated risk of death. The OPQRST mnemonic can be used to conceptualise the strategies that help to mitigate legacy patients’ risk of death and to trend them towards a position of safer prescribing.

The impact that COVID has had on elderly vulnerable patients and the important role that vaccination has in preventing serious illness

The Mediterranean diet is proven to reduce all cause mortality. It reduces the mortality associated with heart disease, metabolic syndrome, Diabetes, Cancer and improves longevity and quality of life.

An introduction to opioids, how they work what receptors they act upon and some of the harms associated with opioids

Dr Saveena talks about the tools to use when choosing a diet and what a weight loss plateau is. Over the upcoming episodes, we will be reviewing the various diets that are out there from a medical perspective. This episode is to introduce how beneficial diets can be to our lives when chosen correctly.

Alcohol use disorder is a common, well known but at the same time large and mystifying field. It can sometimes appear confusing how to manage patient with alcohol use disorder given it’s chronic relapsing and remitting nature.

Exercise not only improves our well-being as we get older, but it can also potentially reduce our biological age by 8.8 years!

Managing alcohol use disorder requires several interventions to ensure success. One of the most effective tools that best predicts against relapse prevention are behavioural interventions.

The question is often asked, why do I need to come off benzodiazepines. Well firstly they are harmful, and secondly, they impair engagement with psychosocial interventions. The harms of benzodiazepine use include respiratory depression, accidental overdose and unfortunately in extreme cases death.