Neurobiology of Addiction: Key Concepts and Models - 2023
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- Non-Member - $39
- Regular Member - $29
- Retired - $29
- Early Career Physician - $29
- Resident - $19
- Student - $19
- Associate - $19
- ASAM Staff - Free!
- International Member - $29
- Emeritus Member - $29
- Provisional Member - $29
- Fellow Member - $29
- Honorary Member - $29
- CRT Member - $29
Neurobiology of Addiction: Key Concepts and Models
Recorded: Thursday, July 27, 2023 - Friday, July 28, 2023
On-Demand Session
Overview
This 45-minute, on-demand session from the ASAM 2023 Review Course describes the key neurotransmitters, brain pathways, and brain structures involved in drug use and addiction.
Understanding neurobiology is a crucial part of understanding addiction. This session will describe the key neurotransmitters, brain pathways, and brain structures involved in drug use and addiction. The presenter will also explore models for understanding neurobiology and the impact of neurobiology on treatment modalities. After this session, learners will be able to identify key neurotransmitters, brain pathways, and brain structures impacted by the use of drugs, addiction, and addiction treatment.
The target audience for this introductory and intermediate-level activity includes: Physicians preparing for the ABPM or AOA Board Certification Examination in addiction medicine, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, other clinicians, researchers, residents, fellows, students, and counselors.
This activity addresses the following ACGME Competencies: Patient Care, Medical Knowledge, and Practice-Based Learning.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion, learners will be able to:
- Demonstrate practical knowledge on the neurobiology of addiction and articulate its activity in terms useful in a clinical setting.
- Describe the effects of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs in both tolerant and non-tolerant individuals.
- Describe the process for diagnosing addiction and differentiating the symptoms of addiction from those of other medical or psychiatric disorders.
- Explain the various pharmacologic and psychosocial treatments for addictive disorders and describe the factors that should be considered in selecting a treatment modality to match the needs of a specific patient.
- Describe the precipitants of relapse and current evidence-based practices to prevent and manage relapse.
Registration Rates
| Rate Description | Rate |
| ASAM Member | $29 |
| Non-Member | $39 |
| Associate Member | $19 |
| Resident Member* | $19 |
| Student Member* | $19 |
*Residents, Fellows-in-training, Interns, and Students must join ASAM to receive a discounted registration rate. Click here to become an ASAM member. National and Chapter membership dues apply. There is no charge for Students to become a Member, but verification of student status is required.
Membership Question? Call ASAM at 1.301.656.3920, email us, or view the ASAM website for more information.
Refunds & Cancellations
All ASAM e-Learning Center refund requests must be made in writing to education@asam.org within 90 days of purchase. Those requesting refunds for courses that are in progress will receive partial refunds or e-Learning Center credit. Automatic full refunds will be made for any course with a live-course component that has been cancelled.
Registration Deadline: 07/31/2026
Registrant Access Closed: 07/31/2026
Course Instructions
- Click on the Contents tab to watch the on-demand recording.
- Click Complete Post Test to answer multiple choice questions. Participants will have 10 attempts to pass and must answer 2 out of 3 questions correctly.
- Click Complete Evaluation to provide valuable activity feedback. Scroll down on all questions as there may be answer options that expand past the size of the window.
- Click the button Claim Medical Credits in the box titled Claim Credits & Certificate. Choose the type of credit and click submit. Click the button View/Print Certificate to save or print your certificate. You can view/print your certificate at any time by visiting the ASAM eLearning Center, clicking Dashboard, and clicking Transcript/Achievements.
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Petros Levounis
MD, MA, DFASAM
Petros Levounis, MD, MA, DFASAM serves as professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Associate Dean for Professional Development at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. Dr. Levounis came to Rutgers from Columbia University where he served as director of the Addiction Institute of New York from 2002 to 2013.
Dr. Levounis is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Stanford University where he studied chemistry and biophysics before receiving his medical education at Stanford University School of Medicine and the Medical College of Pennsylvania. During medical school, he researched the effects of social class on patient-physician relationships in Oxford, England, and received an MA degree in sociology from Stanford. In 1994, he moved to New York City to train in psychiatry at the New York State Psychiatric Institute of Columbia University. He graduated from Columbia earning the National Institute of Mental Health Outstanding Resident Award and went on to complete his fellowship in addiction psychiatry at New York University.
Dr. Levounis has written numerous articles, monographs, and book chapters; has lectured extensively on addiction topics throughout the United States and abroad; and has been interviewed by CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN, FOX, The Martha Stewart Radio Show, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, among others.
Dr. Levounis has served on the boards of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) and the American Board of Addiction Medicine, and from 2005 to 2009 chaired the national Committee on Addiction Treatment of the American Psychiatric Association (APA). Dr. Levounis is a Betty Ford Scholar, a recipient of the Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists’ Distinguished Service Award and the ASAM Educator of the Year Award, and a distinguished fellow of the APA and ASAM. In 2017, he was elected as an honorary member of the World Psychiatric Association.
Dr. Levounis has published thirteen books including the self-help paperback “Sober Siblings: How to Help Your Alcoholic Brother or Sister—and Not Lose Yourself,” the textbook of “Substance Dependence and Co-Occurring Psychiatric Disorders,” “Motivational Interviewing for Clinical Practice,” “The Behavioral Addictions,” “Becoming Mindful,” “Pocket Guide to LGBTQ Mental Health,” and “Office-Based Buprenorphine Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder,” now in its second edition. Dr. Levounis is currently working on the first textbook of Technological Addictions. His books have been translated into French, German, Hungarian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish. Dr. Levounis is married to actor Lukas Hassel and lives in New York City.
No Relevant Financial Disclosures
CME, CE, CEU and Other Credit Types
ACCME Accreditation Statement
The American Society of Addiction Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
AMA Credit Designation Statement
The American Society of Addiction Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
California Association for Drug/Alcohol Educators (CAADE)
This educational program is approved by CAADE: #CP40 999 1225
California Association of DUI Treatment Centers (CADTP)
This educational program is approved by CADTP: #205
California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP)
This educational program is approved by CCAPP: #OS-20-330-1224
Continuing Education Credits (CEUs)
Non-physician participants will receive a certificate of attendance upon completion of the activity and an online evaluation confirming their participation. Participants should submit his/her certificate of attendance to their professional organization/institute.
Maintenance of Certification (MOC) or Continuing Certification Programs (CCP)
This activity meets the requirements for MOC/CCP for the following primary physician boards and for state licensing CME requirements. MOC Credit is only reported for ABA, ABP, ABIM, and ABS. Learn more.
- American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)
- American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM)
- American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA)
- American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM)
- American Board of Pediatrics (ABP)
- American Board of Surgery (ABS)
- American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN)
- American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM)
- Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)
Disclosure Information
In accordance with disclosure policies of ASAM and the ACCME, the effort is made to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all CME activities. These policies include mitigating all possible relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies for the Planning Committees and Presenters. All activity Planning Committee member and Presenters have disclosed relevant financial relationship information. The ASAM CME Committee has reviewed these disclosures and determined that the relationships are not inappropriate in the context of their respective presentations and are not inconsistent with the educational goals and integrity of the activity. View all faculty disclosure information here.
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