What if addiction isn’t about drugs, but about pain? Beneath compulsive behaviors often lie histories of trauma, anxiety, and unmet emotional needs, hidden behind layers of stigma and misunderstanding. In medicine, addiction is still often mischaracterized as a moral failing rather than a treatable illness with deep psychological roots. In this episode, we explore the personal and professional evolution of Dr. Casey Grover, an addiction medicine physician who reframed both his own struggles and the way he cares for patients. Finally, we uncover how shifting mindset and language can transform both clinical outcomes and clinician well-being.

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Guest bio: Dr. Casey Grover is a board-certified physician in Addiction Medicine and Emergency Medicine at Montage Health, where he also serves as Chief of Staff. He is the Physician Champion for the Monterey County Prescribe Safe Initiative, a program focused on reducing opioid misuse through education, safe prescribing, and improved treatment access. In addition to his clinical and leadership roles, Dr. Grover hosts the podcast Addiction Medicine Made Easy, where he breaks down complex topics to make addiction care more approachable for both providers and the public.

We Discuss:

What is Addiction?
When Food Becomes a Coping Mechanism
The Stigma of Addiction
The Neurology of Addiction
Divided Views on Sobriety
Why Some People Recover and Others Relapse
The Reason Some Brains Get Hooked
Addiction vs. Dependence — and Why Stigma Makes It Worse
Building Trust with Patients
From Frustration to Compassion: Reframing Patient Encounters
Trauma, PTSD, and Personal Reckoning
The Practice of Addiction Medicine

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