H14 - A Novel Application of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Substance Use Disorders in a Residential Setting

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM MDT

Location: Bluebird 3C

Introduce repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), its uses as an intervention for SUDs, and discuss 2 clinical trials where we applied rTMS as an intervention in an in-patient substance use treatment setting. We recruited participants to be controls or to receive rTMS as an add-on intervention to their treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD; N=25) or opioid use disorder (OUD; N=19). After the 1-week treatment, we assessed substance use behavior for 3-months post-treatment discharge. rTMS reduced craving and relapsed less frequently than the control group suggesting rTMS as an add-on treatment is a viable intervention needing larger future studies.

Learning Objectives:

Discuss repetitve transcranial mangentic stimulation as a potential add-on treatment for substance use disorders
Identify whether different types of repeptive transcranial magnetic stimulation my be more effective than others across substance use disorders
Formulate future steps for developing repeptive transcrianal magnetic stimulation as a viable intervention

Disclosure(s):

Vaughn Steele, Ph.D: No financial relationships to disclose

Erin Alex, LCSW: No financial relationships to disclose

Jonathan Craig Allen, MD, FASAM: No financial relationships to disclose

Breakout Presenter(s)

Vaughn Steele, Ph.D

Assistant Professor
Yale University
Hartford, Connecticut

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
Erin Alex, LCSW

Clinical Director
Hartford HealthCare-Rushford
Middletown, Connecticut

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

Slides
Jonathan Craig Allen, MD, FASAM

Medical Director, Rushford Center. Vice President of Addiction Services, Hartford Healthcare
Hartford Healthcare
Meriden, Connecticut

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose