Join us for an eye-opening conversation with Dr. Mark Hrymoc, an addiction psychiatrist with six years of experience in ketamine therapy. In this episode, Dr. Hrymoc challenges common misconceptions about addiction and psychiatric treatment, explaining how addiction affects willpower rather than representing a failure of it. We explore the fascinating evolution of ketamine from anesthetic and club drug to a breakthrough treatment for treatment-resistant depression, and why it works faster than conventional antidepressants while uniquely reducing suicidal thinking. Dr. Hrymoc emphasizes the importance of comprehensive psychiatric evaluation over "gas-and-go" ketamine administration and advocates for treating substance use and underlying mental health issues simultaneously rather than sequentially. This conversation dives deep into the intersection of addiction medicine and innovative psychiatric treatments, while highlighting the critical need to reduce shame and stigma to encourage people to seek professional help. Whether you're struggling with addiction, supporting someone who is, or simply interested in cutting-edge mental health treatments, this episode offers valuable insights into the future of addiction recovery.

About the Guest:

Dr. Hrymoc has extensive expertise in the psychopharmacology of addiction and other mental health disorders. He is double Board-certified in General Psychiatry and Addiction Psychiatry and was previously board-certified in Addiction Medicine. Dr. Hrymoc previously held the position of Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UCLA, where he supervised training psychiatrists at their Addiction Psychiatry Clinic. He completed his subspecialist training in Addiction Psychiatry at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and currently serves as a consulting physician to several prestigious drug and alcohol treatment centers in the area. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Hrymoc continues to be active in the local addiction treatment community. Dr. Hrymoc has served as the representative of the states of California, Alaska, and Hawaii to the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry and was a member of the education committee of the California Society of Addiction Medicine. Dr. Hrymoc co-authored a chapter in Principles of Addiction Medicine, the main textbook of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and has been published in several academic journals.

Links:

https://www.mentalhealthctr.com/mark-hrymoc-md/

https://www.mentalhealthctr.com

Support the show

Thank you for listening to this episode of Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast.

To learn more about the podcast visit www.andrewjschreier.com

To inquire being a guest on the podcast or sponsorship opportunities you can e-mail talkingaddictionandrecovery@gmail.com

Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast is the follow-up to the book "Addiction & Recovery" by author and clinician Andrew J. Schreier. This podcast explores discussions regarding important issues related to addiction and recovery. Information you learn here is not typical of what you will find in academic textbooks and resources; and comes from the experiences of a clinical supervisor, clinical substance abuse counselor, and licensed professional counselor and the work with individuals and others involved in this field. Listen as guests join the show and cover a wide range of topics looking to educate individuals, families, communities, organizations, institutions, mental health professionals, educators, and anyone else impacted by addiction and recovery. Content is not intended to be treatment and is not affiliated with any specific group.

This episode of Talking Addiction & Recovery features a timely and impactful conversation with Amanda Quintana from the Colorado Lottery, recorded as part of the Gift Responsibly holiday campaign. Together, we dive into the evolving world of responsible gambling, youth gambling awareness, and the collaborative efforts needed across sectors to reduce harm. Amanda shares her background in responsible gambling and problem gambling services—including her work with the Colorado Lottery —and offers an inside look at how the lottery is engaging in harm reduction, player health, and public education. Whether you work in prevention, public health, gambling services, or simply want to better understand the risks and responsibilities surrounding modern gambling, this episode offers a thoughtful and refreshing perspective. Listen, learn, and join the movement to Gift Responsibly.

About the Guest:

Amanda Quintana is the Player Health Manager for the Colorado Lottery, where she leads the Responsible Gambling program and serves as subject matter expert on gambling harm prevention. She previously worked in the nonprofit sector managing a helpline and treatment provider network, as well as serving as Program Manager at the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG). Amanda currently sits on the NCPG Board of Directors. With a background in community-based addiction services and a Master’s in Population Health Management from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Amanda integrates her frontline experience with a public health approach to advance safer gambling practices.

Links:

Toolkit: https://www.ncpgambling.org/responsible-gambling/gift-responsibly-campaign/

CO Lott "Know your limits" page: https://www.coloradolottery.com/en/about/know-your-limits/

GR Pledge: https://www.coloradolottery.com/en/contests/91:RHBSv-H8kVg9VRo0Ece0cB_czIh-FpWj-u6a-EO5Ofs/

Social Media:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/a-quintana/

Support the show

Thank you for listening to this episode of Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast.

To learn more about the podcast visit www.andrewjschreier.com

To inquire being a guest on the podcast or sponsorship opportunities you can e-mail talkingaddictionandrecovery@gmail.com

Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast is the follow-up to the book "Addiction & Recovery" by author and clinician Andrew J. Schreier. This podcast explores discussions regarding important issues related to addiction and recovery. Information you learn here is not typical of what you will find in academic textbooks and resources; and comes from the experiences of a clinical supervisor, clinical substance abuse counselor, and licensed professional counselor and the work with individuals and others involved in this field. Listen as guests join the show and cover a wide range of topics looking to educate individuals, families, communities, organizations, institutions, mental health professionals, educators, and anyone else impacted by addiction and recovery. Content is not intended to be treatment and is not affiliated with any specific group.

At this year’s National Conference on Gambling Addiction & Responsible Gambling, I was fortunate enough to meet Adam Lyons, host of The Modern Meeting Podcast. We sit down for a casual conversation around gambling-related topics that include changing the narrative that help is not out there, reducing the stigma related to having a problem with gambling and what can be turning points for those being more comfortable sharing their story, and what led to creating his podcast and how it’s changed over the years. With lived experience and a mission to help those impacted by gambling, Adam’s story and purpose allows for exploration and discovery of how we can continue to thrive in this profession.

About the Guest:

Adam Lyons is a compulsive gambler in recovery and creator and host of The Modern Meeting podcast. For 20 years Adam's addiction controlled every part of his life -- leading to job loss, relocation, financial collapse, and even illegal acts to fuel his gambling. Over those two decades, he cycled through more than 25 jobs and 15 addresses in six different cities, always looking for the fresh start that never came to fruition.

On February 8, 2022, he finally sought help through Gamblers Anonymous and he hasn't placed a bet since. After two years in recovery, Adam wanted to share everything that he had learned in these rooms, so he created The Modern Meeting Podcast out of a belief that as gambling continues to evolve and expand, the recovery conversation should evolve with it. The Modern Meeting is about consistently reaching for community, honesty, and support -- especially in recovery, where disconnection fuels addiction. The podcast exist to bridge that gap and offer a space where people can share their stories and know they're not alone and what they've lived.

Links:

Join us for The Modern Meeting Meeting every Monday night at 8pm EST on Zoom. It's a safe space to share, connect, and grow together. For more details email at: modernmeetingpod@gmail.com

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1jMSSKkadnvzbvZl33dzZc

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-modern-meeting/id1779060982

You can also watch full episodes, interviews, and bonus content on The Modern Meeting YouTube Channel : https://www.youtube.com/@ModernMeeting

Support the show

Thank you for listening to this episode of Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast.

To learn more about the podcast visit www.andrewjschreier.com

To inquire being a guest on the podcast or sponsorship opportunities you can e-mail talkingaddictionandrecovery@gmail.com

Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast is the follow-up to the book "Addiction & Recovery" by author and clinician Andrew J. Schreier. This podcast explores discussions regarding important issues related to addiction and recovery. Information you learn here is not typical of what you will find in academic textbooks and resources; and comes from the experiences of a clinical supervisor, clinical substance abuse counselor, and licensed professional counselor and the work with individuals and others involved in this field. Listen as guests join the show and cover a wide range of topics looking to educate individuals, families, communities, organizations, institutions, mental health professionals, educators, and anyone else impacted by addiction and recovery. Content is not intended to be treatment and is not affiliated with any specific group.