In this episode, Elizabeth Kelley talks with her guest, Dr. Carol Weiss. The two discuss the terminology of substance use disorders, the co-occurrence with mental health issues, and the effects on decision-making within the criminal justice system.
In this episode, they discuss:
The distinction between substance use disorder and substance abuse disorder, and the implications of stigmatizing terms.
The high co-occurrence rate of substance use disorder with other mental health disorders, and theories explaining this correlation.
Effective treatment modalities for substance use disorder, including the importance of agonist therapies.
The role of criminal defense lawyers in presenting substance use disorder as a mitigating factor in court.
The stigma surrounding medication-assisted treatments and the misconceptions held by the criminal justice system.
Important qualities for criminal defense lawyers to look for when retaining an addiction expert.
The long-term effects of substance abuse on brain health and cognitive functions.
Dr. Carol J. Weiss MD is a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry in Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, New York-Presbyterian Hospital. She is Board Certified in General Psychiatry, Addiction Psychiatry, and Addiction Medicine.
She has served in a forensic capacity as an expert witness, substance use evaluator, or neutral monitor, primarily in matrimonial matters, for over 30 years.
She is the Associate Medical Director of the Weill Cornell Center for Trauma and Addiction. She has worked both in private practice and with underserved populations such as people with HIV/AIDS, adolescents with addiction, and veterans.
She is the author of "Protocol Design and Implementation for Monitoring Parental Substance Use in Child Custody Litigation" in Family Court Review (July 2021) and " Representing People with Substance Use Disorders", in "Representing People with Mental Disabilities: A Practical Guide for Criminal Defence Lawyers", 2nd Edition, Elizabeth Kelley (ed), American Bar Association, (July 2024).
