Behavioral Addictions with Matthew Howard, PhD

New Frontiers in the Addictions: Recent Developments in the Treatment of Behavioral Addictions

Despite the notable prevalence of substance abuse and associated conditions, practitioners sometimes have difficulty identifying with this group of clients, potentially affecting treatment.  Yet, recent discoveries on the biomedical bases of substance dependence may reframe practitioners’ approaches to these disorders.  Matthew Howard explores recent findings related to the neurobiology of addiction and examines how these processes may be involved in areas as diverse as binge eating, exercise dependence, pathological gambling, sexual compulsivity, and TV watching.  His talk will examine the prevalence, clinical presentation, assessment, and treatment of these behavioral addictions and their co-occurrence with substance use disorders.

Matthew Owen Howard, Ph.D., Frank Daniels Professor of Human Services Policy Information in the School of Social Work at UNC-Chapel Hill, has forged a path-breaking career advancing the understanding of substance abuse and addiction.  Prior to his academic career, he worked in mental health and substance abuse.  Dr. Howard has since published more than 200 articles, book reviews, and governmental reports and received three grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.  He currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of Social Work Research , was formerly editor of the Journal of Social Service Research, and serves on the editorial boards of many other journals.  At UNC, he mentors MSW and doctoral students and teaches a wide variety of courses.  Dr. Howard has won numerous awards for his excellence in teaching, scholarship, and his professional contributions.

Handouts | Reading List | Slides