Kenneth Morford, MD, FASAM
Assistant ProfessorCards
About
Research
Publications
2024
Long-Term Use of Muscle Relaxant Medications for Chronic Pain
Oldfield B, Gleeson B, Morford K, Adams Z, Funaro M, Becker W, Merlin J. Long-Term Use of Muscle Relaxant Medications for Chronic Pain. JAMA Network Open 2024, 7: e2434835. PMID: 39298168, PMCID: PMC11413720, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.34835.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLow back painBack painSkeletal muscle relaxantsChronic painRandomized clinical trialsNeck painCohort studyEfficacy of long-term useLong-term useSystematically searched Ovid MEDLINEMuscle relaxant medicationsModerate risk of biasOpioid prescribing guidelinesRisk of biasQuality of cohort studiesWeb of SciencePainful crampsRelaxant medicationsChronic pain syndromesPainful spasmsOvid MEDLINEPrescribing guidelinesSystematic reviewIncreased prescriptionModerate riskBuprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder—An Essential Medical Treatment
Weimer M, Morford K. Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder—An Essential Medical Treatment. JAMA Internal Medicine 2024, 184 PMID: 39186298, DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2024.3977.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHepatitis C virus and integrated care for substance use disorders
Mahoney B, Morford K, Biegacki E, Tetrault J. Hepatitis C virus and integrated care for substance use disorders. Clinical Liver Disease 2024, 23: e0241. PMID: 38952692, PMCID: PMC11216679, DOI: 10.1097/cld.0000000000000241.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTo the Editor: Let This Be the Last Call to Action to Train Residents in Addiction.
Chan C, Binder M, Levander X, Morford K. To the Editor: Let This Be the Last Call to Action to Train Residents in Addiction. Journal Of Graduate Medical Education 2024, 16: 369-370. PMID: 38882438, PMCID: PMC11173032, DOI: 10.4300/jgme-d-24-00147.1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThe MATE Act: Progress for substance use education, but is checking a box enough?
Morford K, Tetrault J, Fiellin D. The MATE Act: Progress for substance use education, but is checking a box enough? Journal Of General Internal Medicine 2024, 39: 1496-1498. PMID: 38308156, PMCID: PMC11169132, DOI: 10.1007/s11606-024-08652-7.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2023
Medical improvisation-based motivational interviewing for internal medicine residents: Mixed-methods evaluation of a novel course
Chan C, Cabaniss P, Morford K, Martino S, Martin A, Windish D. Medical improvisation-based motivational interviewing for internal medicine residents: Mixed-methods evaluation of a novel course. Medical Teacher 2023, 45: 1411-1418. PMID: 37378496, DOI: 10.1080/0142159x.2023.2225725.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchRecognition and Treatment of Wounds in Persons Using Xylazine: A Case Report From New Haven, Connecticut
Dowton A, Doernberg M, Heiman E, Barelli P, Golden M, Wang H, Leventhal J, Morford K, Sue K. Recognition and Treatment of Wounds in Persons Using Xylazine: A Case Report From New Haven, Connecticut. Journal Of Addiction Medicine 2023, 17: 739-741. PMID: 37934550, DOI: 10.1097/adm.0000000000001198.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid use disorderUse disordersDrug useCase report presentsIndex of suspicionInjection drug useDrug supplyCare management strategiesHarm reduction strategiesOverdose presentationsCutaneous manifestationsWithdrawal syndromeClinical complicationsCase reportIntravenous useWound carePatientsTreatment of woundsInfectious diseasesChronic woundsXylazineSkin woundsWoundsMore reportingDiagnosisFacilitation and Preferred Models for Delivering Substance Use Disorder Treatment in HIV Clinics: Results From a Multisite Randomized Trial
Muvvala S, Gan G, Morford K, Dziura J, Esserman D, Porter E, Chan P, Cornman D, Reynolds J, Yager J, Fiellin D, Edelman E. Facilitation and Preferred Models for Delivering Substance Use Disorder Treatment in HIV Clinics: Results From a Multisite Randomized Trial. Journal Of Addiction Medicine 2023, 17: e388-e391. PMID: 37934538, PMCID: PMC10726383, DOI: 10.1097/adm.0000000000001192.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid use disorderAlcohol use disorderTobacco use disorderHIV clinicUse disordersAddiction treatmentSubstance use disorder treatmentUse disorder treatmentMaintenance phaseRandomized trialsStaff preferencesImproved outcomesMultisite Randomized TrialImplementation facilitationDisorder treatmentControl phaseClinicCliniciansTreatment modelTreatmentDisordersSignificant differencesInterventionHigher proportionAddiction treatment models
2022
The impact of benzodiazepine exposure on treatment retention in an open-access methadone program: A retrospective cohort study
Morford K, Tetrault J, Zhou B, Li F, Gleeson B, Edelman E, Stein M, Barry D, Madden L. The impact of benzodiazepine exposure on treatment retention in an open-access methadone program: A retrospective cohort study. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2022, 241: 109707. PMID: 36423462, PMCID: PMC9777057, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109707.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBenzodiazepine exposureRetrospective cohort studyKaplan-Meier analysisTreatment retentionCohort studyCox regressionTreatment durationMedian treatment durationMultivariable Cox regressionCohort of patientsOpioid treatment programsOpioid use disorderLog-rank testSame-day accessDrug Administration recommendationsTreatment discontinuationUrine toxicologyMeier analysisMethadone programsUse disordersPatientsAdministration recommendationsTreatment entryTreatment programTreatment barriersGrief at the Heart of the Opioid Overdose Crisis: Past Lessons and Present Implications
Morford KL, Batchelor HM, Tetrault JM. Grief at the Heart of the Opioid Overdose Crisis: Past Lessons and Present Implications. Journal Of Addiction Medicine 2022, 16: 613-615. PMID: 35165230, DOI: 10.1097/adm.0000000000000976.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid use disorderOpioid overdose crisisOverdose crisisImmunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemicCare of peopleTreatment outcomesOverdose deathsUse disordersEmotional burdenSocial support networksContext of stigmaHarmful consequencesSupport networksRole of griefGriefPatientsOverdoseClinicians
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
Clinical Care
Overview
Kenneth Morford, MD, is an internal medicine and addiction medicine specialist who treats patients with addiction disorders, including alcohol and opioid use disorders, alongside general medical conditions. His mission is to integrate addiction medicine into primary care and improve medical education surrounding addiction.
Additionally, Dr. Morford is the program director of the Collaborative Behavioral Health & Addiction Medicine in Primary Care (CHAMP) Program. CHAMP aims to enhance behavioral health and addiction medicine training for Yale health professional students, primary care residents, and faculty. He also serves as an associate program director for the Yale Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program.
Dr. Morford is an assistant professor and clinician educator at Yale School of Medicine.
Clinical Specialties
Fact Sheets
Opioid Use Disorder
Learn More on Yale MedicineEmergency Medical Services
Learn More on Yale MedicineAlcohol Use Disorder
Learn More on Yale MedicineStimulant Use Disorder
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Board Certifications
Addiction Medicine (Preventive Medicine)
- Certification Organization
- AB of Preventive Medicine
- Original Certification Date
- 2019
Yale Medicine News
News & Links
News
- May 14, 2024
Celebrating Health Profession Students' Poetry, Prose, and Visual Arts
- October 06, 2023
Addiction Medicine Fellowship Training at Yale Expands To Advanced Practice Providers
- August 21, 2023Source: Medscape
Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain: How to Prescribe It
- November 21, 2022
The Curbsiders Addiction Medicine Podcast hosted by Yale Internal Medicine Faculty