May 17, 2022 | 1 min read

Word Choice Related to Substance Use Disorders

By Beth McGinty, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Words matter; calling patients with a substance use disorder an “addict” defines them by their addiction. We need to ensure that our patients feel comfortable and supported so that they will engage in treatment.  

February 12, 2024 | 2 min read

Recognizing and treating substance use disorders in healthcare professionals 

By Gregory Hobelmann, MD, MPH, President of Ashley Addiction Treatment

Healthcare professionals are at least just as vulnerable to substance use disorders as the general public. It never occurred to me that I may be among those numbers, but I am. 

February 21, 2019 | 1 min read

Substance Use Disorders in Later Life

By Mike Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Substance use disorders in older adults often go undiagnosed because screening is frequently overlooked. Key to supporting patients to make a change is developing rapport and trust.

August 31, 2022 | 2 min read

Reducing overdose risk for minority patients 

By Brendan Saloner, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Omeid Heidari, PhD, NP, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When caring for patients with opioid and other substance use disorders, focus on using tools such as evidence-based medications, naloxone, and fentanyl test strips. 

December 11, 2019 | <1 min read

Medication for Opioid Use Disorder

By Mike Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Building a therapeutic relationship with people with substance use disorders is critical when supporting them on their journey to health.

August 26, 2021 | 1 min read

Destigmatizing Addiction: The Power of Words

By Namrata Walia, MD, Baylor College of Medicine

Please use the term 'person with substance use disorder’ instead of ‘addict’!

April 14, 2022 | 3 min read

Afraid to Tell The Truth

By Kirsten Elin Smith, PhD, National Institute on Drug Abuse

When I shared with my clinician that I had previously been a heroin user, she made me feel ashamed. This taught me the importance of listening to patients with nonjudgmental curiosity. 

October 10, 2024 | 1 min read

Trust and truth

Nonjudgmental communication can help us understand the true nature of a patient’s condition and motivations. Connecting more deeply with a patient over time allowed us to learn more of the story. 

May 16, 2024 | 2 min read

Two coats in one small room: caring for another clinician 

Caring for another clinician is complicated and requires special thoughtfulness; false assumptions about what the “clinician-patient” understands may result in suboptimal care.    

February 9, 2021 | 3 min read

How to Support Patients With Chronic Pain and Substance Use Disorder

By Juliette Perzhinsky, MD, MSc, Central Michigan University

All patients must be treated with empathy. Those suffering with chronic pain and addiction may be especially deserving of compassion.

December 8, 2023 | 1 min read

Supporting those with AUD through the holidays

By Megan Gerber, MD, MPH, Albany Medical College

Find a way to celebrate this holiday season that includes and validates those who may be in recovery. 

April 17, 2024 | 2 min read

Kratom—the opioid-like herbal drug your patients may be using  

By Megan Buresh, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Kratom use is on the rise. It is important to ask patients about use in a nonjudgmental manner. 

January 29, 2025 | 2 min read

Addiction in older adults 

By Bethea (Annie) Kleykamp, PhD, MA, University of Maryland

Deaths in the U.S. due to tobacco and opioid-related overdose are more common among older adults from historically marginalized groups. Treatments tailored to their unique needs can help reverse this trend.

November 14, 2022 | 2 min read

The Benefits of Overdose Prevention Centers (OPCs)

By Bennett Allen, PhD, New York University, Noa Krawczyk, PhD, New York University

Supervised injection facilities prevent death and do not encourage drug use. Sharing this information can keep our patients safer. 

October 13, 2021 | 2 min read

Social Media During The Pandemic

By Carol Vidal, MD, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

While social media is contributing to increased rates of depression during the pandemic, it also keeps us socially connected during challenging times.

September 27, 2023 | 1 min read

Guardrails And Ambulances 

By Mike Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Over 100,000 Americans die every year from overdoses, and most are preventable. Discuss with patients and loved ones the dangers of having old prescription or counterfeit pills, as well as the importance of keeping naloxone on hand.

September 28, 2021 | 1 min read

Considerations When Talking With Patients About Cannabis

By Mike Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

The medical literature on cannabis use is not clear, making it difficult to know what to tell patients. Share both positives and negatives about using marijuana, and help your patient make the best care plan for them.

July 18, 2022 | 2 min read

How to have effective discussions about alcohol 

By Beth McGinty, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Mike Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Talking with patients about the risks of heavy alcohol consumption and the benefits of change can have a positive impact on their health. 

August 21, 2018 | 1 min read

Talking With Young Adult Patients About Alcohol

By Mike Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Clinicians need to be vigilant to discuss alcohol use with patients and remember that the legal drug, alcohol, causes more morbidity and mortality than opioids.

June 16, 2021 | 1 min read

Why we Must Talk About E-cigarettes with Teen Patients

By Mike Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Proactively counseling adolescents about the risks of e-cigarette use is essential. The message should acknowledge both the health implications and the pressures that they may feel from their peers.

December 10, 2024 | 1 min read

A breath of fresh air

By Mike Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Healthcare professionals can prioritize ongoing conversations about the risks of smoking and vaping with young patients, tailoring their approach to address specific concerns and misconceptions.

February 16, 2024 | 1 min read

Patients and politics

By Mike Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Patient-initiated political statements may make healthcare professionals feel uncomfortable. Thoughtful strategies, like redirection, can keep the focus on patient care.

January 9, 2023 | 2 min read

Questions Raised by “There, There” 

By Mike Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Reflecting on our own “there” (the place where we grew up) can trigger conversation that helps us to understand our patients’ “there.” This can strengthen the patient-clinician relationship.

April 6, 2020 | 1 min read

Addiction Recovery During the Pandemic

By Mike Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

We are all stressed by the great uncertainty related to COVID-19, but for our patients with addiction, it is much greater. Check in with your patients and support them in finding healthy ways to cope.

June 29, 2022 | 3 min read

Being PerfecT in Healthcare 

By Mike Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Moral questions often arise in healthcare. Contemplating how our efforts might translate into the most good deserves our thoughtful consideration. 

September 13, 2022 | 2 min read

Psychedelics and Health

By Mary Yaden, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Psychedelic therapies have long been feared and avoided. We must acknowledge that there are clinical indications where these treatments are profoundly beneficial.   

March 2, 2020 | 3 min read

Universal trauma-informed care (archives, 2020)

By Sadie Elisseou, MD, Boston VA Health Care System

Understanding perpetrators of violence as potential trauma survivors can inspire empathy in clinicians and contribute to a universal, trauma-informed approach to patient care.

May 19, 2022 | 2 min read

Recognizing Relapse

By Susan Lehmann, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

The earlier that the return of psychiatric symptoms is detected, the more quickly a patient’s mental well-being can be restored. 

February 22, 2018 | 3 min read

Family History and Addiction Risk

By Margaret Chisolm, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

For some patients the risk of becoming addicted to prescription opioids is extraordinarily high and may outweigh any pain control benefit.

April 13, 2023 | 5 min read

Navigating Conversations About Psychedelics With Patients

By Natalie Gukasyan, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

There’s been growing interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. This requires that healthcare professionals be well informed and prepared to discuss this experimental therapy.

October 26, 2021 | 3 min read

What is The Scope of a Clinician’s Work?

By Margaret Chisolm, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

We must help our patients achieve a state where body, mind, and spirit are working as a whole. We can help them do more than survive. Let’s help them thrive!

May 26, 2022 | 3 min read

Who Was Trayvon Martin?!

By Victor Ekuta, visiting medical student, Penn Medicine

We must pay attention to current events that may be significant to our patients. Staying curious may help us to connect and build rapport with those we serve.   

January 30, 2025 | 3 min read

If bias is unconscious, what can I do about it? 

By Som Saha, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

We all have biases that are mostly unresectable. By practicing mindfulness, being self-aware, and building connections with patients, we can reduce the harm they might otherwise cause. 

July 2, 2024 | 4 min read

Seeing

By Kamna Balhara, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When patients present frequently to the ED, clinicians must make an effort to validate them as individuals. It's also important to be aware of and work to change the underlying social determinants that may drive their visits.

May 22, 2025 | 3 min read

Rolling the dice

What may start as casual gambling can quickly escalate into a dangerous addiction with severe mental health consequences, particularly for young men. Healthcare professionals can recognize the signs of gambling-related distress, integrate screening into routine care, and offer support and resources. 

May 16, 2019 | 5 min read

Starry, Starry Night

By Juliette Perzhinsky, MD, MSc, Central Michigan University

There are times that as clinicians we become patients ourselves, needing compassionate care for injuries entirely unrelated to our chief complaint.

November 20, 2018 | 2 min read

The Healing Power of Words

By Helen Bradshaw, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

What we say to patients has the power to promote healing.

November 21, 2018 | 1 min read

Asking Difficult Questions

By Julia Ross, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Asking probing questions is difficult, but can make a difference in understanding your patient.