Addiction Psychiatry

Chairs, Sean Lynch, M.D. and Amy Swift, M.D.
Event Managers, Angelo Chaia, M.D. & Kathryn Stevens, M.D.

Committee Charge

1. To encourage participation of NYCPS psychiatrists interested in the treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs).
2. To be available to the Officers, Executive Council, and other Committees and Task Forces of NYCPS for consultation when matters concerning SUDs in arise, including policy and legislative matters.
3. To encourage ongoing education within NYCPS on topics related to addiction psychiatry, including the evaluation, diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment for SUDs.
4. To advocate for policies and programs that expand the availability of evidence-based SUD treatments and that reduce stigma faced by people with SUDs.
5. To serve a liaison function between NYCPS and other addiction-focused organizations in New York City (e.g. Area 2 of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry).

*NYCPS Members interested in joining this Committee, please contact us at [email protected].

Recent Events

Addiction Psychiatry Discussion Panel

The Addiction Committee hosted its first in-person event of 2025 at Silver Hill New York, with four esteemed panelists sharing their insights on a variety of topics within the field of addiction, as well as their path through Addiction Fellowship and subsequent careers. Panelists included Dr Elie Aoun from Columbia University, Dr. Jeremy Kidd from Columbia University, Dr. Carol Weiss, from Weill Cornell Medicine, and Dr. Pantea Farahmand from NYU Langone.

Bridging Science and Recovery: Neuromodulation in Addiction

The Addiction Committee of NYCPS hosted an event featuring Dr. Diana Martinez, a distinguished psychiatric researcher specializing in Addiction at Columbia University. Dr. Martinez shared her expertise on the use of neuromodulation in the treatment of addiction, incorporating cutting-edge research with practical, real-world applications. 

Previous Events

Addiction Psychiatry Career Panel

The NYCPS Addiction Committee hosted an in-person career panel to discuss the many exciting career opportunities within addiction psychiatry. Panelists included experts within the field, such as Dr. John Mariani, Dr. Jose Vito, and Dr. Adina Smith. Topics included general addiction psychiatry, academics/research, inpatient detox/rehab, child-adolescent addiction, and more. 

Psychedelics in Psychiatry

The Addiction Committee kicked off its first in-person event since the pandemic by hosting a discussion on the role of Psychedelics in Psychiatry. Topics included psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, as well as the role of psychedelics in the treatment of substance use disorders. The event involved presentations by experts in the field from the NYU Psychedelic Center as well as a Q&A session.

Addiction in the World of COVID-19

The NYCPS Addiction Psychiatry, Residents', and Women's Committees held a joint virtual event entitled, Addiction in the World of COVID-19. The event was moderated by Drs. Mary Rockas, Alan Rodriguez Penney, and Jose Vito. Watch the full video below. Topics and speakers included the following:

Addiction and Intersectionality with Race: Crystal Fuller Lewis, PhD
Addiction and the LGBTQ+ Community: Jeremy Kidd, M.D., MPH
Addiction and Pregnancy: Shabnam Shakibaie Smith, M.D.
Addiction and Current Treatments: Jonathan Avery, M.D.
Addiction and Drug Policy/Legislation: Biz Berthy
Q & A Session

Medical Marijuana: Evidence base and the promises of Cannabidiol (CBD)
March 26, 2019

This seminar, held at Lenox Hill Hospital, addressed evidence for and against medical marijuana, including the question of cannabidiol (CBD). The regulations and logistics governing prescription of medical marijuana in New York State were reviewed. Speaker, Diana Martinez, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center presented. Her research career has focused on the neurochemistry of addiction and the pharmacology substances of abuse. Recent work has included the cannabinoid system, including its potential for therapeutic use. 

Fentanyl - A New Chapter in the Opioid Epidemic
September 25, 2018

Fentanyl, an opioid 50 times more potent than heroin, is increasingly implicated in opioid overdose deaths. More often than ever before, fentanyl is being added to heroin and other drugs such as cocaine. This represents a new chapter in the opioid epidemic. In this presentation, Sandra Comer, PhD reviewed the neurobiology of fentanyl and described the clinical and policy implications of fentanyl's increasing presence in the drug supply.