Opioid Addiction as an Attachment Disorder: Part II

A large body of evidence supports the brain opioid theory of social attachment (BOTSA), which posits a key substrate of attachment behavior is governed by the endogenous opioid system. When viewed in the context of sociohistorical changes in the United States, the theory provides a partial explanation for the current opioid epidemic and contains important implications for treatment.

This standalone training recapitulates Part I and extends the hypothetical implications of BOTSA by addressing several common and important topics not covered in the previous training, such as:

• The role of genetics/epigenetics and trauma/early-life stress in increased vulnerability to substance use disorders.
• The benefits and risks of medication-assisted treatments (i.e., opioid agonists, partial agonists and antagonists).
• Chronic pain viewed through a disease and biopsychosocial model, along with considerations for pain management.
• Social epidemiology and the historical shift away from social factors in research and treatment of substance use disorders.

Presenter Disclaimer

Michael Roeske, PsyD, has a working relationship with Newport Healthcare. As such, he has both a financial and intellectual interest in the webinar content. The purpose of this presentation is to provide a balanced view on the cannabis and psychosis debate.