Addiction Psychiatry

Board-certified addiction psychiatry for substance use and co-occurring conditions — Midtown Manhattan and telepsychiatry in NY, CT, and CA.

At least 65% of Dr. Lazarevic's caseload involves addiction — either as the primary concern or alongside depression, anxiety, trauma, or other psychiatric conditions. This is one of the few outpatient practices in New York with both the clinical volume and the board-level specialization to treat it with genuine depth.

Why Specialized Training Matters

General psychiatrists typically receive minimal addiction training in residency — often a few weeks. Dr. Lazarevic completed an addiction fellowship at NYU and holds board certification in both General Psychiatry and Addiction Psychiatry, a distinction held by fewer than 5% of psychiatrists. This means accurate diagnosis across substance types, evidence-based medication, co-occurring condition management, and clinical fluency in what standard care routinely misses.

Harm Reduction, Moderation, and Abstinence

Not every patient arrives ready for abstinence — and treatment does not require it as a starting point. Dr. Lazarevic works across the full spectrum: harm reduction for patients stabilizing while still using; the Sinclair Method where moderation is clinically appropriate; and abstinence-oriented care for those pursuing full recovery, including medication, trauma-focused therapy, and lifestyle support. Goals are adjusted as patients progress. Relapses are part of recovery, not failures — treatment continues, not ends.

Biological Repair

Chronic substance use causes inflammation, nutritional deficiencies, gut dysbiosis, hormonal disruption, and mitochondrial dysfunction that often persist well into recovery. Functional lab work identifies what use has depleted. Targeted protocols — anti-inflammatory nutrition, gut healing, amino acid therapy, and supplementation — rebuild neurotransmitter systems and reduce cravings at a physiological level, not just a behavioral one.

What Makes This Practice Different

Board certification in both disciplines — Dr. Lazarevic holds board certification in General Psychiatry and Addiction Psychiatry, with advanced training in integrative, functional, and regenerative medicine — a combination held by fewer than 5% of psychiatrists.

Time and clinical depth — Assessments begin with a 60-minute initial evaluation. Complex addiction histories often require two to three appointments to evaluate thoroughly before treatment is fully initiated.

Coordinated team care — Psychiatry, psychotherapy, and functional nutrition are available within a single practice and coordinated from the start — not parallel, siloed services.

Still evaluating? These pages may help.

Addiction psychiatry and integrative care →Addiction Psychiatry NYC
How this approach differs from standard care →Integrative vs. Conventional Psychiatry
Physician wellness and monitoring programs →Physician Wellness Program
Have questions?Frequently Asked Questions

Cannabis use disorder — Including cannabis hyperemesis syndrome and management of withdrawal symptoms. Cannabis withdrawal is clinically significant and taken seriously here.

Other substances — Tobacco and nicotine · MDMA · hallucinogens · kratom · prescription medication misuse

Behavioral addictions — Gambling · sex and pornography · internet and gaming · compulsive shopping · exercise addiction. Behavioral addictions activate the same brain reward pathways as substance use and require the same clinical seriousness.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

For alcohol use disorder: naltrexone (daily or via the Sinclair Method), acamprosate, and disulfiram. For opioid use disorder: buprenorphine/Suboxone to reduce cravings, prevent withdrawal, and block euphoria; oral naltrexone for patients who have completed detox. Injectable formulations (Vivitrol, Sublocade) are coordinated with outside providers. For nicotine: varenicline (Chantix) and bupropion.

Medication is not replacing one substance with another. It gives the brain the stability it needs to heal while the psychological and biological work of recovery proceeds.

Harm Reduction, Moderation, and Abstinence

Not every patient arrives ready for abstinence — and treatment does not require it as a starting point. Dr. Lazarevic works across the full spectrum: harm reduction for patients stabilizing while still using; the Sinclair Method where moderation is clinically appropriate; and abstinence-oriented care for those pursuing full recovery, including medication, trauma-focused therapy, and lifestyle support. Goals are adjusted as patients progress. Relapses are part of recovery, not failures — treatment continues, not ends.

Biological Repair

Chronic substance use causes inflammation, nutritional deficiencies, gut dysbiosis, hormonal disruption, and mitochondrial dysfunction that often persist well into recovery. Functional lab work identifies what use has depleted. Targeted protocols — anti-inflammatory nutrition, gut healing, amino acid therapy, and supplementation — rebuild neurotransmitter systems and reduce cravings at a physiological level, not just a behavioral one.

What Makes This Practice Different

Board certification in both disciplines — Dr. Lazarevic holds board certification in General Psychiatry and Addiction Psychiatry, with advanced training in integrative, functional, and regenerative medicine — a combination held by fewer than 5% of psychiatrists.

Time and clinical depth — Assessments begin with a 60-minute initial evaluation. Complex addiction histories often require two to three appointments to evaluate thoroughly before treatment is fully initiated.

Coordinated team care — Psychiatry, psychotherapy, and functional nutrition are available within a single practice and coordinated from the start — not parallel, siloed services.

Still evaluating? These pages may help.

Addiction psychiatry and integrative care → Addiction Psychiatry NYC
How this approach differs from standard care → Integrative vs. Conventional Psychiatry
Physician wellness and monitoring programs → Physician Wellness Program
Have questions? Frequently Asked Questions