Mitika Kanabar, MD, MPH, DFASAM, Dip ABLM
Candidate for Director-at-Large
Mitika Kanabar, MD, MPH, DFASAM, Dip ABLM completed her fellowship in Addiction Medicine from Stanford University. She is triple board-certified in Addiction, Family and Lifestyle Medicine. Dr. Kanabar previously chaired the California Society of Addiction Medicine (CSAM) conference and serves as a CME Director at Kaiser Permanente. Mitika has served on the ASAM criteria committee and the publications committee. She is a Member of the CSAM Board of Directors. Dr. Kanabar has published research and spoken extensively on behavioral addictions. She is the host of the MindSattva podcast and brings her social media skills to her volunteer roles.
Candidate Questionnaire Responses
1. How would your election to the ASAM Board of Directors benefit ASAM and the field of addiction medicine?
We are facing an unknown future with the advent of artificial intelligence and what impact it may have on process addictions. Prediction markets are highly addictive for today’s youth, and we have concerning trends for AI chatbot attachment and dependency. This is where ASAM stands to impact youth the world over, and future generations and their social connections. In the real world clinical scenario, we are all witnessing the effects of 7-OH addiction. With my MPH in Epidemiologuy and clinical experience, I can help with the efforts to combat these issues As a subject matter expert in process addictions, with international experience, I can help shape guidelines as the evidence emerges. I hope to bring my social media skills to augment ASAM’s efforts to reach the younger generations.
2. Candidate Statement
I am a physician currently practicing Addiction Medicine in the Southern California high desert. It is a high-need, low-access area, and I am privileged to care for people with addiction. I also help with their lifestyle medicine goals when in recovery.
At ASAM, I served on the writing group for the 4th edition of the ASAM Criteria and continue to serve on the Publications Council. In 2024, I was awarded the DFASAM for my service to the field.
I currently serve as a Board Member at Large for the California Society of Addiction Medicine (CSAM). I have volunteered with CSAM in various capacities since 2019. I had the honor to chair the 2022 State of the Art Conference in San Diego, our first time back after two years of a virtual conference. I relaunched our poster sessions, which attracted presenters from across the world, and with other volunteers I revamped our social media to generate interest in plenaries and workshops. I have also worked with the ISAM NEXT group of the International Society of Addiction Medicine.
With my passion for education, public speaking, research and mentorship, I hope to serve ASAM where my skills are needed. We need all hands on deck, and I am here for it. As a subject matter expert in process addictions, international experience and knowledge, I can help shape guidelines as these issues emerge. My background as an Epidemiologist is particularly helpful in understanding research methods deeply and weighing evidence as it stands.