Neurobiology of Addiction in 2023 and Implications for Treatment

Petros Levounis, MD, MA

INTRODUCTION
Petros Levounis, MD, MA, serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Associate Dean at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, as well as Chief of Service at University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey. 

Dr. Levounis is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Stanford University where he studied sociology, chemistry, and biophysics, and received his medical education at Stanford and the Medical College of Pennsylvania. He completed his residency in psychiatry at Columbia and his fellowship in addiction psychiatry at NYU. Dr. Levounis then served as director of the Addiction Institute of New York before coming to Rutgers. He is a Betty Ford Scholar, a recipient of a U.S. State Department Speaker and Specialist Award, an honorary member of the World Psychiatric Association, and as of May 2023, the president of the American Psychiatric Association.

Dr. Levounis has published 14 books including the textbook of “Substance Dependence and Co-Occurring Psychiatric Disorders,” the self-help paperback “Sober Siblings: How to Help Your Alcoholic Brother or Sister—and Not Lose Yourself,” and the first book on the “Technological Addictions.” His books have been translated into French, German, Hungarian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Dr. Levounis is married to actor Lukas Hassel and lives in New York City.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to:

• Explain the basic elements of drive and cognition in the neurobiology of addiction.
• Describe the role of the insula in the stop-go model of addiction.
• Discuss clinical implications of the neurobiology of addiction in treating substance use disorders and the behavioral addictions.

ATTENDANCE / CREDIT
Text the session code (provided only at the session) to 507-200-3010 within 48 hours of the live presentation to record attendance. All learners are encouraged to text attendance regardless of credit needs. This number is only used for receiving text messages related to tracking attendance. Additional tasks to obtain credit may be required based on the specific activity requirements and will be announced accordingly. Swiping your badge will not provide credit; that process is only applicable to meet GME requirements for Residents & Fellows.

TRANSCRIPT
Any credit or attendance awarded from this session will appear on your Transcript.

For disclosure information regarding Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development accreditation review committee member(s) and staff, please go here to review disclosures.