The Physiology of Addiction
Tuesday, February 21, 2012; 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
This program will explore the differences in neurochemistry between the addicted brain and the normal brain, the progression of physiological changes that occur in chemically dependent individuals, the mechanisms of physiologic tolerance and withdrawal, and the effects of treatment on the addicted brain.
Handouts and other goodies:
Handouts:
Related reading suggestions:
- “The Addicted Brain” by Eric Nestler and R. Malenka. (free copy here.)
- “The Addicted Human Brain: Insights From Imaging Studies” by N. Volkow, J. Fowler, and G. Wang.
Slidecast:
Video
Physiology of Addiction from Dawn Farm on Vimeo.
About the presenter:
Carl Christensen, MD PhD, MRO
Dr. Christensen is an Associate Professor in the Departments of OB Gyn and Psychiatry at WSU School of Medicine. He obtained his MD and PhD in Biochemistry at Wayne State University School of Medicine and did his residency in OB Gyn at Hutzel Hospital. He then completed a Fellowship in Gyn Oncology at Duke University Medical Center. He later became certified in Addiction Medicine and is also certified as a Medical Review Officer.
He is currently the Medical Director for the Student Health Monitoring Program at the WSU School of Medicine, which is designed after the Michigan Health Professional Recovery Program (HPRP). He is also currently the Vice Chairman of the Michigan Health Professional Recovery Committee, which oversees the HPRP.
In addition to treating pain and chemical dependency in his private practice at Pain Recovery Solutions in Ann Arbor, Dr Christensen specializes in treatment of chronic pain, especially pelvic pain, and the treatment of addiction in pregnant patients.
He is the current Medical Director of the James Wardell Women’s Recovery Center, an outpatient program dedicated to caring for pregnant, chemically dependent women, as well as the Medical Director at the Substance Abuse Research Division in the Department of Psychiatry at WSU. He is the current President of the Michigan Society of Addiction Medicine. He is the Associate Residency Program Director for the OB Gyn residency at Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center and has received numerous teaching awards.
He has been named one of the “Top Docs” in Addiction Medicine in Hour Magazine for 2006, 2007 and 2008. He has also served as a past Medical Director for Dawn Farm.
He lives in Superior Township with his wife Cathy, a (future) Nurse Practitioner, and their 3 dogs and multiple rescue cats.
