Abstract:
This workshop will serve to provide an up-to-date all-around coverage of Kratom, a botanical with a rapidly increasing prevalence among our patient population. A tremendous gap of knowledge exists at the intersection of “therapeutic” use and the risks associated with such - including that of overdose and addiction development. It is imperative to understand the current state of the literature concerning the use of Kratom as a harm reduction tool, as well as the toxicities associated with the currently available Kratom products in the United States. This workshop will provide clinicians with the knowledge required to engage in informed discussions with patients who are users, and to be able to implement evidence-based treatment approaches for patients who develop an addiction to Kratom.
Audience Take Away Notes:
- Gain a deeper understanding of the differences between traditional use and Western use of Kratom
- Review pharmacology and update on the best practices in managing patients who develop Kratom addiction
- Discuss challenges and approaches to managing such comorbidity
Biography:
Dr. Stanciu is an Assistant Professor at Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine and the Director of Addiction Services at New Hampshire Hospital. In 2017, he was named the Ruth Fox, ASAM, scholar and Governors Institute on Substance Abuse scholar. In this past year Dr. Stanciu was appointed by New Hampshire’s governor to the New Hampshire Board of Medicine, Medical Review Subcommittee as well as by the New Hampshire DHHS’s commissioner to the New Hampshire Therapeutic Cannabis Medical Oversight Board. He also earned the prestigious ASAM as well as APA Fellow credentials.
Throughout his career, Dr. Stanciu played an active role in academia having published a multitude of papers on themes related to addictive disorders, particularly Kratom. He is on the editorial boards of three journals and has received multiple awards for excellence in research and clinical care. His research was presented at numerous conferences, through live webinars, and cited in literature.
Dr. Stanciu is actively involved with several organizations such as APA, ASAM, and AAAP and has contributed to their newsletters, currently serving as the Early Career Editor for the latter.
Furthermore, Dr. Stanciu’ s devotion to the field and commitment to downstream knowledge dissemination is exemplified through his most recently published book titled “Deciphering the Addicted Brain: A Guide to understanding and Helping a Loved One Towards Recovery”.
