Episode 14: Dr. Sarah Church – How to re-evaluate your relationship with alcohol

At Wholeview, our medical providers use pharmacogenetic testing to help personalize medication plans for patients with mental health conditions. This process begins with a simple cheek swab collected at home, which is then analyzed in a lab to identify genetic variations that affect how patients metabolize and respond to medications. The resulting report categorizes medications into groups based on their likely effectiveness and risk of side effects. Pharmacogenetic testing can speed up the process of finding the right psychiatric medication, which is especially valuable for patients with both substance use and mental health disorders. By reducing the trial-and-error period, patients may experience quicker symptom stabilization and improved adherence to treatment. However, genetic testing is used as a supplementary tool alongside thorough clinical evaluations and is not a standalone solution. At Wholeview, we integrate this testing into a broader care approach, including therapy and behavioral interventions, and ensure patients are fully informed about its benefits and limitations before proceeding. Read More

What Are Opioids? Opioids are a class of drugs that relieve pain but also carry a high risk of addiction. They include prescription painkillers like oxycodone and hydrocodone, as well as illegal drugs like heroin and synthetic opioids like fentanyl. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) defines them this… Read More

What Is Alcohol Addiction? Alcohol addiction, sometimes called alcohol use disorder (AUD), is a chronic, relapsing brain disease that causes people to consume alcohol despite its negative consequences. According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol addiction includes: Compulsive drinking Dependence Withdrawal symptoms when alcohol use… Read More