RECOVERable: Mental Health and Addiction Experts Answer Your Questions

Can a weight-loss medication actually cure your deepest cravings? Discover how GLP-1 drugs are revolutionizing the landscape of addiction recovery.
Find mental health and addiction treatment near you: https://recovery.com/
In this episode of Recoverable, host Terry Maguire sits down with Dr. Steven Klein, an expert medical professional specializing in addiction medicine who also brings his own powerful lived experience of nine years in long-term recovery. Together, they explore the fascinating science of drug repurposing—shifting medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide (widely known under brand names like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound) from type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management over to the frontlines of substance use disorder treatment. Dr. Klein breaks down how these powerful gut-brain peptides quiet persistent "food noise" and "drug noise" by directly targeting the mesolimbic dopamine system, which controls the brain’s fundamental reward circuitry.
Whether discussing alcohol use disorder, opioid use disorder, nicotine dependence, or behavioral addictions like compulsive gambling, this deep-dive addresses the critical neurobiology behind how GLP-1 for addiction functions as a substance-agnostic tool. You’ll learn about recent groundbreaking clinical data showing a 50% drop in substance-related mortality, the clinical reality of off-label prescribing, common GI side effects, and what happens to internal cravings once you stop taking the medication. Dr. Klein shares his profound "record needle" analogy, showing how these treatments temporarily quiet internal noise so individuals can learn a completely new behavioral song. If you or a loved one are exploring cutting-edge medical tools to support sustainable recovery, reduce relapse, and reclaim your agency, this episode provides essential context, breaking down the artificial boundaries between physical metabolic health and mental health.
Watch the full conversation to unlock the future of highly personalized behavioral care. Don't forget to like this video, subscribe to the channel, and share your thoughts or personal experiences in the comments section below!
Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 01:14 – How GLP-1s Transformed My Relationship with Food 06:27 – How Weight Loss Drugs Ended Up on the Addiction Radar 09:05 – How GLP-1s Treat the Core Circuitry of Addiction 11:14 – What Are the Side Effects of GLP-1 Medications? 15:18 – How Do GLP-1 Drugs Actually Work for Addiction? 18:00 – Does Brain Rewiring Continue After Stopping GLP-1s? 23:49 – Are GLP-1s FDA-Approved for Addiction Treatment? 26:53 – Do GLP-1s Cause Anhedonia or Suicidal Thoughts? 42:31 – Can You Take GLP-1s for Addiction Without Losing Weight?
Questions the Video Answers:
How do GLP-1 drugs work for addiction treatment?
Can Ozempic or Wegovy help reduce alcohol cravings?
What is the success rate of GLP-1 medications for substance use disorders?
How do diabetes and weight-loss drugs quiet food noise in the brain?
Are GLP-1 medications FDA-approved to treat alcohol or opioid addiction?
What are the common side effects of using GLP-1s for addiction recovery?
Do cravings return after you stop taking semaglutide or tirzepatide?
Can you take GLP-1 medications for addiction if you don't want to lose weight?
How do GLP-1 agonists impact the brain's dopamine reward system?
Is it safe to combine GLP-1s with other addiction medications like buprenorphine?
Will health insurance cover Ozempic or Zepbound if prescribed off-label for addiction?
Can GLP-1 medications help treat behavioral addictions like gambling or sex addiction?
What did the British Medical Journal study find regarding GLP-1s and substance mortality?
Does taking weight-loss drugs cause anhedonia or a general loss of joy?
How long will it take for the FDA to approve GLP-1s for addiction?
#GLP1ForAddiction #OzempicForAddiction #AddictionRecovery

Is willpower alone enough to beat opioid addiction, or are we fighting a medical disease with the wrong tools? In this episode of the Recoverable podcast, we shift the paradigm from shame to evidence-based science.

Find mental health and addiction treatment near you: https://recovery.com/

Host Terry McGuire sits down with Dr. Steven Klein, MD, PhD, a triple-boarded physician in pediatrics, genetics, and addiction medicine who serves as full-time faculty at Caron Treatment Centers. Dr. Klein brings a deeply authentic perspective to the table as a professional in long-term recovery himself, diving into the raw mechanics of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD). We break down the crucial differences between traditional Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) and OUD-specific options like Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone), oral naltrexone, and the game-changing shift toward monthly long-acting injectables.

Dr. Klein directly confronts the intense societal stigma and the ongoing debate within 12-step recovery groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) over whether using addiction medication means you are truly "sober". He shares the striking clinical data regarding the low number needed to treat (NNT) for buprenorphine compared to other lifelines in modern medicine. Beyond the blocking of withdrawal symptoms and cravings, we uncover the profound psychological "why" behind substance abuse—looking closely at trauma, identity, and the heavy sense of disconnection that fuels severe opioid use disorder. If you or a loved one are trying to navigate rehab options, outpatient detox programs, or sober living rules, this conversation offers data-backed hope. Subscribe for Part 2 next week, and leave a comment below with your thoughts!

Chapters:
00:00 – Changing the Paradigm of Addiction Recovery
01:11 – Dr. Stephen Klein’s Personal Recovery Journey
03:36 – What is the Difference Between MAT and MOUD?
05:12 – The Opioid Class: From Prescription Pills to Kratom
07:05 – Is Abstinence Always the Goal of MOUD Treatment?
09:28 – How Do We Measure Success in Addiction Recovery?
11:34 – How Suboxone and Naltrexone Block Cravings
14:56 – Navigating Stigma: "Replacing One Drug with Another"
21:16 – How Monthly Injectables Change Compliance and Self-Stigma
23:55 – The True Medical Risks of Untreated Opioid Withdrawal

Questions the Video Answers:

What is the difference between MAT and MOUD in addiction treatment?

How does Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) work for opioid addiction?

Can you use naltrexone for both opioid and alcohol use disorder?

Why do 12-step programs like AA and NA stigmatize Suboxone users?

How do monthly injectable addiction medications like Vivitrol reduce self-stigma?

What is the Sinclair Method for treating alcohol use disorder?

Is a person on MOUD considered truly sober and in recovery?

What are the side effects of buprenorphine vs untreated opioid withdrawal?

Does health insurance or Medicaid cover long-acting injectable opioid treatments?

Why is kratom considered an emerging and dangerous opioid alkaloid?

How do trauma and deep emotional disconnection cause substance abuse?

How can family members support a loved one starting buprenorphine?

#OpioidAddiction #SuboxoneRecovery #AddictionMedicine

What is brainspotting therapy and how does it actually work? Dr. Jenny Hughes, licensed clinical psychologist and trauma expert, explains this revolutionary approach to healing trauma — including how it differs from EMDR, why where you look affects how you feel, and what happens during a real brainspotting session.

In this interview, Dr. Hughes breaks down the science behind brainspotting: how it accesses the subcortical parts of your brain where trauma is stored, why you don't need to talk through your trauma for it to work, and the accidental discovery by David Grand that changed trauma therapy forever.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 — Intro: What Is Brainspotting?
1:33 — Myth or Fact Lightning Round
5:11 — The Accidental Discovery (David Grand & the Skater)
8:15 — EMDR vs. Brainspotting: Quick Overview
8:49 — How Brainspotting Actually Works
10:08 — The "Inside Window" & Finding Your Brain Spot
10:52 — Focused Mindfulness & the Subcortical Brain
12:26 — The Pointer, Variations & Therapist Training
13:33 — Why Therapists Experience Brainspotting First
15:21 — EMDR vs. Brainspotting: The Key Differences
16:50 — What Changes After Brainspotting Therapy
18:15 — Which Therapy Is Right for You?

🔗 ABOUT DR. JENNY HUGHES
Dr. Jenny Hughes is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in trauma, anxiety, and evidence-based therapies including Brainspotting and EMDR.

🎙️ ABOUT RECOVERABLE
RECOVERable answers the internet's most-asked questions about mental health, anxiety, depression, trauma, and addiction recovery — through expert interviews you can actually understand.

Find the right treatment for you at Recovery.com
https://www.recovery.com

EMDR therapy is one of the most effective treatments for trauma, anxiety, and PTSD — and most people have never heard of it.

In this episode of RECOVERable, licensed clinical psychologist and trauma expert Dr. Jenny Hughes breaks down exactly what EMDR therapy is, how it works, and whether it's right for you.

Dr. Hughes covers:
✔ What EMDR therapy actually is — and what it isn't
✔ How trauma gets "stuck" in your brain (and how EMDR unsticks it)
✔ The difference between EMDR and traditional talk therapy
✔ All 8 phases of an EMDR session, explained step-by-step
✔ Whether EMDR works for anxiety, depression & complex PTSD
✔ Common myths about EMDR — and what the science says
✔ Why you should NEVER try to do EMDR on your own
✔ How to find a certified EMDR therapist

If you've been struggling with trauma, anxiety, or depression — and feel stuck — this conversation gives you a clear, practical understanding of one of the most powerful healing tools available.

——————————————————————
🕒 CHAPTERS
0:00 — Introduction: What Is EMDR Therapy?
1:12 — How Trauma Affects Your Brain
3:02 — Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Therapy
3:37 — EMDR Myth vs. Fact ⚡ Lightning Round
9:47 — What EMDR Therapy Actually Is
12:05 — How to Find the Right EMDR Therapist
13:41 — EMDR vs. Brain Spotting: What's the Difference?
14:37 — What Can EMDR Treat?
15:58 — The Science & Research Behind EMDR
18:13 — What a Client Experiences During EMDR
22:33 — EMDR Session Walkthrough: All 8 Phases
36:35 — Do You Have to Relive Your Trauma?
39:33 — EMDR vs. Talk Therapy
41:09 — What If You Don't Know What to Target?
43:17 — Risks of EMDR Therapy
44:25 — Can You Do EMDR on Yourself?
45:59 — Does EMDR Work for Anxiety & Depression?
50:01 — In-Person vs. Virtual EMDR
51:20 — Where to Find Help & What's Next
——————————————————————

RECOVERable is a production of Recovery.com — the best place to find mental health and addiction treatment.

Find the right treatment for you at Recovery.com
https://recovery.com

Alcohol use disorder vs. gray area drinking — what's the difference, and how do you know when your drinking has become a problem?

In this episode, licensed clinical social worker and national mental health expert Kelley Kitley breaks down the real signs of alcohol use disorder (AUD), explains what "gray area drinking" actually means, and answers the question so many people are afraid to ask: am I an alcoholic?

Kelley draws on both her clinical expertise and her own personal recovery journey to help you understand:

✔ The DSM criteria for alcohol use disorder
✔ What gray area drinking looks like — and why it's so easy to miss
✔ Why drinking every night is NOT normal, and what it does to your body
✔ How to talk to a loved one about their drinking without pushing them away
✔ The difference between supporting someone and enabling them
✔ Treatment options: therapy, intensive outpatient programs (IOP), 30-day inpatient, and medical detox
✔ What medications like Naltrexone do for alcohol cravings
✔ Why relapse doesn't mean failure — and when recovery finally "clicks"

Whether you're questioning your own drinking, worried about someone you love, or just trying to understand alcohol addiction recovery, this conversation is for you.

0:00 — Introduction
1:26 — What Is Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)?
3:05 — Gray Area Drinking: Are You in the Gray Zone?
4:11 — Is It Normal to Drink Every Night?
5:55 — How Alcohol Destroys Your Sleep
7:30 — "I Don't Have an Off Switch" — Kelley's Personal Story
9:44 — Why Trying to Moderate Drinking Rarely Works
11:24 — What Happens When You Quit Drinking
13:23 — How Alcohol Affects Your Kids & Genetic Risk
15:56 — The Moment Kelley Decided to Get Sober
18:29 — How to Talk to a Loved One About Their Drinking
21:56 — Setting Boundaries vs. Enabling
25:15 — How to Encourage Someone to Seek Treatment
30:03 — Treatment Options: Therapy, IOP & Inpatient Rehab
34:14 — What Medical Detox Actually Involves
37:49 — Why Relapse Is Not a Failure
41:15 — Naltrexone & Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder
43:32 — Where to Find Help & Resources

Kelley Kitley is a licensed clinical social worker, national mental health expert, and person in long-term recovery. She specializes in breaking cycles of trauma and addiction using a holistic approach.

#AlcoholUseDisorder #GrayAreaDrinking #AddictionRecovery

Find the right treatment for you at Recovery.com
https://www.recovery.com