Workshop: Overcoming and Addressing Stigma in Substance Use Disorders (OASIS): A Neuroscience-Based Educational Event for Communities and Clinicians-Overcoming and Addressing Stigma in Substance Use Disorders (OASIS): A Neuroscience-Based Educational Event for Communities and Clinicians

Overcoming and Addressing Stigma in Substance Use Disorders (OASIS): A Neuroscience-Based Educational Event for Communities and Clinicians

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Video Summary

The workshop, led by Alexis Ritbow and colleagues, focused on benzodiazepines, a subject of great interest and importance. The discussion covered various aspects of benzodiazepine use, particularly chronic use and the difficulties of withdrawal. The presenters shared experiences and strategies for managing benzodiazepine dependence, underscoring the significance of understanding the pharmacology of benzodiazepines, their potential for tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, and protracted withdrawal syndrome. <br /><br />Alexis Ritbow emphasized the importance of informed consent and collaboration when managing benzodiazepine use, advising patience and flexibility in tapering strategies. She highlighted the need for clinicians to be compassionate and empathetic, and to personalize treatment strategies to improve patient outcome. The session explored various tapering techniques, like the "cut and hold" and "microtaper" methods, and encouraged the use of non-GABAergic agents to assist with withdrawal symptoms.<br /><br />Dr. Daniela Rokossovic shared insights from her outpatient practice, stressing the complexity and emotional burden associated with benzodiazepine tapering. She advised thorough preparation and continuous re-evaluation of patients, as well as utilizing psychotherapy alongside medication management.<br /><br />Dr. Chris Blazes and Dr. Alana Balasanova discussed inpatient strategies, including the use of phenobarbital as an alternative to benzodiazepines for withdrawal management, backed by data demonstrating its efficacy and safety. They also shared their experiences in implementing phenobarbital protocols in a monitored hospital setting.<br /><br />The session concluded with a Q&A, where attendees asked about the practicalities of phenobarbital use, addressing scenarios involving multiple substance dependencies, and discussing the need for more research into long-term outcomes of benzodiazepine withdrawal treatments.

Keywords

benzodiazepines

withdrawal

dependence

tapering strategies

pharmacology

tolerance

informed consent

phenobarbital

empathy

psychotherapy

microtaper

patient outcomes

substance dependencies

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