Avoiding the Addiction Affliction
210 episodes - English - Latest episode: 12 days ago - ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsWhen does it stop being a party and start becoming a problem? Is there a way to steer clear of addiction? Every Wednesday, Mike McGowan, host of the podcast "Avoiding the Addiction Affliction," explores substance use disorders with expert guests.
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Episodes
"Recovery Doesn’t Happen in a Vacuum" with Jim Savage
April 17, 2024 05:00 - 36 minutes - 33.3 MBRecovery doesn’t happen in a vacuum any more than addiction does. Family, friends, and coworkers are all affected by the disease. Jim Savage discusses the importance of family education and support in recovery. Jim is the owner of “Rehab Works! Family Support Program” and Jim Savage Consulting. He is the author of Rehab Works! A Parent's Guide to Drug Treatment and a new ebook, Sobriety Doesn't Have To Suck: A Guide To Finding Happiness, Excitement, And Spiritual Fulfillment In Recovery. Jim...
"Sometimes, You Can’t Go Home Again" with Dr. Ghazeleh Bailey
April 10, 2024 06:00 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MBWhen a child’s caregivers are bullies, the child often carries the scars of that relationship around with them into adulthood. Dr. Ghazeleh Bailey discusses the trauma caused by those primary relationships -- and the healing that can take place. Dr. Bailey is a certified therapist, couple’s therapist, supervisor, and trainer with a PhD in Psychology. She is based in Berlin, Germany, and has a unique multi-cultural background and approach she uses to help people overcome childhood and generat...
"EMDR, Getting at the Trauma" with Dr. Wendy Freitag
April 03, 2024 06:00 - 29 minutes - 27.2 MBDr. Wendy Freitag discusses Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. EMDR is a comprehensive psychotherapy that accelerates the treatment of many different pathologies and trauma related to disturbing events and present life conditions. Dr. Freitag is a Clinical Psychologist, EMDR Therapy clinician, trainer, and consultant as well as a Professional & Life Coach with over 30 years of experience. She is an EMDRIA Certified Therapist, Approved Consultant and Sr. Trainer for...
"Grey Area Drinking" with Sarah Rusbatch
March 27, 2024 06:00 - 27 minutes - 25.5 MBSarah Rusbatch got to the point in her life where she realized that she was developing what she describes as a “dysfunctional relationship” with alcohol. She decided to remove it from her life in early 2019 and has never looked back. She's now an accredited “Grey Area Drinking” coach, helping other women (and men) enjoy the benefits of sobriety and improve their health. She talks about what “grey area drinking” is and the benefits of living alcohol-free. Sarah is the author of the book, “Bey...
"Undoing Drugs" with Maia Szalavitz
March 20, 2024 06:00 - 32 minutes - 29.6 MBNew York Times best selling author Maia Szalavitz talks about her most recent book, “Undoing Drugs: How Harm Reduction Is Changing the Future of Drugs and Addiction” and the future of drug treatment and policy. Maia’s previous New York Times bestseller, Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction wove together neuroscience and social science with her personal experience of heroin addiction. It won the 2018 media award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. She is a...
"Restorative Justice - Working for Peace" with Jill Sternberg
March 13, 2024 06:00 - 24 minutes - 22.2 MBWe all want peace in our world. We hope for it. We wish for it. And some of us work for it every day. Jill Sternberg has been working on peace and justice issues, primarily focusing on nonviolent conflict transformation, for more 35 years. She has supported nonviolent movements in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Currently, Jill is a restorative justice coordinator in a New York City high school. She is on the Board of The Restorative Justice Initiative. She came to re...
"Losing Everything - Gambling Addiction" with Jerry Bauerkemper
March 06, 2024 06:00 - 39 minutes - 36.5 MBWhen does wagering cross the line from entertainment to problem gambling? Jerry Bauerkemper, a Consultant to the Office of Problem Gambling at the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), discusses the rise in problem gambling across the country. He is responsible for supporting IDPH Problem Gambling Treatment providers serving Iowans experiencing problems due to their gambling as well as providing support to their families. Jerry is a nationally-recognized expert on problem gambling and has...
"Turning Tragedy into Hope" with Dr. Brian Hoeflinger
February 28, 2024 06:00 - 30 minutes - 27.5 MBWhen a loved one dies tragically, there are questions, so many questions. Brian and Cindy Hoeflinger’s oldest son Brian died after drinking and driving. Dr. Brian Hoeflinger talks about how he and his family coped with the tragic loss and how they have tried to turn the tragedy into hope. Dr. Hoeflinger is an Ohio-based neurosurgeon whose passion and profession is saving lives. Instead of asking why his son died, Dr. Hoeflinger asks us to consider instead why he lived. The Hoeflinger family,...
"Getting the Message Across" with Glen Muse
February 21, 2024 06:00 - 26 minutes - 23.9 MBThere are many ways to make a difference. Telling a story is perhaps the oldest and most effective way to get the message across. Glen Muse, an accomplished professional filmmaker and video producer/director whose experience includes contributions to productions for PBS, The Discovery Channel, ABC News, and The History Channel, discusses his work with Texas Pictures. Texas Pictures creates socially relevant, award-winning documentaries of substance about important topics in order to increase...
"Somebody Who Believes in Me" with Dr. Kathryn Daley
February 14, 2024 06:00 - 30 minutes - 27.6 MBChildren who grow up surrounded by trauma are affected differently by their adverse circumstances. Why do some children make it successfully into adulthood while others succumb to substance misuse, homelessness, crime, and mental illness? Dr. Kathryn Daley discusses her work with traumatized youth and the power of developed resiliency. Dr. Daley is a Senior Lecturer in Youth Work and Youth Studies and Theme Leader, Homelessness and Housing Insecurity - Social Equity Research Centre for Royal...
"Don’t Punish the Pain" with Claudia Merandi
February 07, 2024 06:00 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MBAnyone who has experienced chronic pain or has had a serious injury or surgery knows there is a role for pain-killing drugs. We’ve also all heard that those drugs can be dangerous when taken recreationally or incorrectly. Claudia Merandi discusses the important role opioids play in treating patient pain and the campaign to limit or eliminate those necessary drugs. Claudia Merandi is a former court reporter/owner of Merandi Court Reporting and is the founder and Executive Director of The Doct...
"Resilient, Primed and Purposeful" with Gabriella Flax
January 31, 2024 06:00 - 35 minutes - 32.3 MBAlcohol is such an integral part of our culture that deciding to stop drinking carries its own stigma...and benefits! Gabriella Flax talks about her decision to stop drinking and the physical and mental health benefits that being alcohol-free brought. Gabriela is a graduate of the University of St. Andrews and the London School of Economics and Political Science. She is a stress reduction coach whose goal, as she says, is to "help burnt out people become resilient people." Her contact inform...
"We See You!" with Jim Scarpace
January 24, 2024 06:00 - 32 minutes - 29.9 MBMen, young men in particular, make up the largest substance using demographic. Jim Scarpace talks about the baggage that comes with the cultural expectation of excessive use and how to break through the isolation that comes with the disease of Substance Use Disorders. Jim Scarpace is the Chief Clinical Officer at Gateway Foundation, one of the nation's largest providers of behavioral health services for clients diagnosed with co-occurring mental health disorders. Jim has over 25 years in adm...
"Collateral Damage" with Brandi Mac
January 17, 2024 06:00 - 27 minutes - 25.1 MBHave you ever loved someone with a Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and felt completely alone? As a mother of a daughter with SUD, it’s a question Brandi Mac asks regularly. Brandi talks about what she has experienced and the changes she made in order to start meeting her daughter where she is while in active substance use. Brandi, her blog, her guide, Doing What You Can Live With, her social media, and her contact information can be accessed at https://bio.site/BrandiMac. We're always interes...
"While You Were Out" with Meg Kissinger
January 10, 2024 06:00 - 28 minutes - 26.3 MBWhat happens when mental illness intersects with substance abuse in a culture of silence? While You Were Out, a New York Times Editors Choice book by award-winning journalist Meg Kissinger, is a searing memoir of a family besieged by mental illness, as well as an incisive exploration of the systems that failed them and a testament to the love that sustained them. Meg is a Pulitzer Prize finalist and has won dozens of accolades, including two George Polk Awards, the Robert F. Kennedy Award, I...
"No Choice At All" with K.J. Aiello
January 03, 2024 06:00 - 26 minutes - 24.4 MBK.J. Aiello is a Canadian who describes herself as a mentally ill writer. It is, she says, who she is. Canada’s medical assistance in dying (MAID) law, which first came into effect in 2016, is scheduled to be expanded in March of 2024 to give access to people whose sole medical condition is mental illness, which can include substance use disorders. K.J. discusses the implications of the proposed change and the obstacles to getting assessment and treatment for mental illness. To make end of l...
"#1 Isn’t Always A Good Thing" with Guida Brown
December 27, 2023 06:00 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MBWhen a culture submerged in alcohol consumption and sales comes out as a leader in excessive use among women and adolescents, it should surprise no one. Guida Brown talks about the latest studies showing Wisconsin among the nation’s leaders in alcohol consumption and excessive drinking and the mental health issues that correspond to that usage. Guida is a Community Relations Consultant with United States Drug Testing Laboratories. She also is an Adjunct Faculty member with Concordia Universi...
"Into The Desert?" with Walter Hendrickson
December 20, 2023 06:00 - 38 minutes - 34.9 MBIs weed addictive? That’s the question Walter Hendrickson asked himself as he began a thirty-day quest to stop smoking cannabis after nine years of daily use. Walter chronicled his journey daily on his TikTok account and first joined us on day six. We catch up with him here after 51 days to see how it all went. Walter talks about the discoveries, the temptations, the revelations, and the joy of the quest. Walter’s TikTok can be followed here, https://www.tiktok.com/@walterooski?_t=8gI2xTdG4v...
"Mental Health Support: Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime" with Amber Heil
December 13, 2023 06:00 - 22 minutes - 20.8 MBMental health crisis doesn’t happen on a schedule or in a therapist’s office. Amber Heil talks about the work of the Milwaukee Mobile Crisis Team, a community-based intervention model that focuses less on psychiatric inpatient admissions and emergency room visits and more on bringing services to the individual in need. Amber is a Master-degreed Social Worker and a licensed Advanced Practice Social Worker. If you need help in the Milwaukee area, the Crisis number is (414) 257-7222. To learn m...
"The Mommy Wine Culture" with Celeste Yvonne
December 06, 2023 05:00 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MBMommy Wine Culture is the pervasive message that alcohol helps women survive motherhood. That message couldn’t be more flawed and destructive. Celeste Yvonne pulls back the veil on what's really plaguing mothers and discusses her new book, It's Not about the Wine. Celeste Yvonne is a writer and certified sober coach with over twenty years of experience as a communications professional in corporate America. Her essays on parenting, the mental load of motherhood, mommy wine culture, and sobrie...
"Cure Addiction Now" with Nancy Davis
November 29, 2023 05:00 - 25 minutes - 23 MBWhen the goal is to transform the current system of how substance use disorder is viewed and treated and break the mold of the endless merry-go-round of this disease, you assemble a stellar group of scientists in the field to work as a team. And that’s what Nancy Davis did. Nancy is the Founder and President of Cure Addiction Now (CAN), an organization dedicated to start funding important, well-thought-out research and generate new discoveries for substance use disorders. Nancy and Cure Addi...
"Waiting for the Miracle to Happen" with Kris and Nanci
November 22, 2023 05:00 - 24 minutes - 22.6 MBWhen people decide to stop using alcohol or other drugs, one of the first things they are often advised to do is “go to a meeting.” Soon after they are advised to “get a sponsor.” Kris and Nanci, Alcoholics Anonymous sponsors, discuss the role of the sponsor and the unique relationship between sponsor and sponsee. Finding support among a community of like-minded people is one of the cornerstones of recovery. You can find AA meetings here: https://www.aa.org/find-aa and NA meetings here: http...
"Never Use Alone" with Carmen Skarlupka
November 15, 2023 05:00 - 24 minutes - 22 MBCarmen Skarlupka lost her daughter to an overdose. Like many parents who go through a similar devastating tragedy, she wanted to help make sure it never happens to another family. Carmen is the Co-founder and President of Never Use Alone. Never Use Alone is a toll-free national overdose prevention, detection, life-saving crisis response and reversal service for people who use drugs while alone. Never Use Alone’s peer operators are available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and...
"The Seeds of Wellness and Connections" with Jeanne Williamson, David Israels-Swenson and Matt Johnson
November 08, 2023 05:00 - 23 minutes - 21.7 MBWhen young people leave home for college, they leave behind much that is familiar. Jeanne Williamson, David Israels-Swenson, and Matt Johnson talk about how the University of Minnesota Morris creates a community that sustains and supports students well-being and success. Jeanne Williamson is Associate Director for Student Counseling, Health, and Wellbeing; David Israels-Swenson is Senior Director for Student Activities, Health, and Wellness; and Matt Johnson is the athletic director, all at ...
"A Community That Cares" with Sandy Olson-Loy and Adrienne Conley
November 01, 2023 05:00 - 21 minutes - 19.3 MBThe freedom young people experience when they leave home for college provides opportunities and obstacles. Sandy Olson-Loy and Adrienne Conley discuss some of those obstacles and how the University of Minnesota Morris works to create a community that cares. Success often depends upon making good decisions and connecting with a caring community. Sandy Olson-Loy is Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, and Adrienne Conley is Associate Director for Residential and Community Life at the Universit...
"Care for the Care Giver" with Teresa Durbak Sipos DMin, RN
October 25, 2023 05:00 - 35 minutes - 32.9 MBHow do those who take care of the rest of us take care of themselves? Chaplain Teresa Durbak Sipos discusses how, when surrounded by trauma, those caregivers can take care of their moral and spiritual selves. Teresa serves as a behavioral healthcare chaplain and has taught mental health and addictions nursing for many years at three state universities in Ohio. Teresa is the author of "Integrating Spiritual Healthcare Interventions into Nursing Praxis: An Educational Intervention" and "Spirit...
"Is Weed Addictive?" with Walter Hendrickson
October 18, 2023 05:00 - 32 minutes - 29.7 MBIs weed addictive? That’s the question Walter Hendrickson asked himself as he began a thirty-day journey to stop smoking marijuana after nine years of daily use. Walter is chronicling his journey daily on his TikTok account and discusses with us what he has learned so far. Six days of not using at the time of this conversation, Walter’s goal is to make it to one month and see what happens from there. Walter’s TikTok can be followed here: https://www.tiktok.com/@walterooski?_t=8gI2xTdG4vz&_r=...
"It’s More Than Fun and Games" with Alex Peacock and Nolan Wright
October 11, 2023 05:00 - 25 minutes - 23.7 MBWhen everything you have done is associated with substance use, how do you have a good time when no longer using? That’s the question Alex Peacock and Nolan Wright asked and why they formed Recess Games USA. The goal, their mission, is “To pair those in the community with people in recovery who are seeking healthy avenues to have good, clean fun while building a meaningful and purposeful life.” It is possible to have fun again. Alex, Nolan, and Recess Games USA can be contacted at https://ww...
"What the Hemp?" with Annie von Neupert
October 04, 2023 05:00 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MBAs more and more states legalize marijuana and others have a variety of cannabinoid products available, it seems sensible to ask what they are, what they aren’t, and how they might affect young people. Annie von Neupert is Project Coordinator for REACH. REACH, a federal Drug Free Communities coalition, focuses on reducing misuse of alcohol, nicotine, and other substances by youth in Calumet County, Wisconsin. When a product is visible and accessible, young people tend to view it as safe to u...
"One Last Lap" with Panel of College Senior Women (Grace, Aiden, Jackie, and Austyn)
September 27, 2023 05:00 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBA returning panel of women, now entering their senior year in college, discuss navigating their journey through college while also navigating academics, a pandemic, excessive alcohol and other drug use, relationships, and mental health issues. Grace, Aiden, Jackie, and Austyn talk about discovering who they are and where they want to go, made more challenging and complicated by issues around mental health, substance use, and maturity. Remember, every college has a student health center and a...
"Recovery is More Than a Bumper Sticker" with Kathy Reiley
September 20, 2023 05:00 - 26 minutes - 23.8 MBWe’ve all seen the slogans, signs, and bumper stickers. “One Day at a Time,” “K.I.S.S.,” “I’m a Friend of Bill W.,” and dozens more. What do they mean to folks in recovery? Kathy Reiley, a retired attorney and a person with an alcohol use disorder, talks about the meaning of the recovery slogans so frequently seen. One of the keys to recovery is finding a community of like-minded people to connect with. As an attorney, Kathy wants the legal community to know confidential recovery resources a...
"New Horizons" with Dr. Hendrée Jones, Dr. Elisabeth Johnson, and Chrissy Dunn
September 13, 2023 05:00 - 32 minutes - 29.3 MBProviding world-class, empowering, and transformative interdisciplinary care to women and their children affected by substance use disorders is the mission of the Horizons Program at the University of North Carolina Medical School. Dr. Hendrée Jones, Dr. Elisabeth Johnson, and Chrissy Jones, an alumni of the UNC Horizons Program, discuss the importance of providing substance abuse resources and programs geared towards women and children. Dr. Jones is a licensed psychologist and an internatio...
"Clean - There is Always Hope" with Michael Rebellino
September 06, 2023 05:00 - 34 minutes - 31.2 MBMichael Rebellino is a civil engineer. And a writer. Michael’s stream of consciousness novel, Clean is the fictional story, inspired by true events, of Cameron, an independent, accomplished, and strong-willed young adult caught in the grips of alcoholism and drug addiction. Whoever you are and whatever you’re going through, you’re not alone. And there is hope. There is always hope. Michael's information and his book can be accessed at https://www.michaelrebellino.com/ We're always intere...
"Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy" with Kevin Franciotti
August 30, 2023 05:00 - 34 minutes - 31.7 MBThis is your brain. This is your brain on drugs. Or is it? Can drugs long labeled as problematic be used as therapeutic aids? Kevin Franciotti is a Denver-based writer and licensed addiction counselor trained in psychedelic-assisted therapy. He discusses an increasing amount of research indicating that some substances can be beneficial in the treatment of depression, opioid addiction, PTSD, and other brain disorders. Several states have passed laws, or are considering licensing and regulatin...
"The Compassion Whirlpool" with Lynn McLaughlin and Karen Iverson Riggers
August 23, 2023 05:00 - 36 minutes - 33.4 MBWhere is the line between caring about someone else’s pain and caring so much that it affects your own well being? Lynn McLaughlin and Karen Iverson Riggers talk about how to manage empathy in our relationships, especially for those who work in the helping professions. Lynn and Karen are consultants, co-owners, and members of Ebb & Flow Connections Cooperative in Northeast Wisconsin. They can be reached at https://www.ebbandflowcooperative.com. Numerous studies have shown a high rate of comp...
"The Addiction Inoculation" with Jessica Lahey
August 16, 2023 05:00 - 35 minutes - 32.6 MBHow can parents help their children navigate the minefield of growing up without making poor choices around substance use? Jessica Lahey is the author of the New York Times bestselling book, The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed and The Addiction Inoculation: Raising Healthy Kids in a Culture of Dependence. Jessica discusses substance use disorder research and the dialogue needed between parents, teachers, and children to help young people ma...
"Turning Off the Fentanyl Spigot" with Michael Brown
August 09, 2023 05:00 - 29 minutes - 27 MBWe know where the drugs come from. We know how the drugs get here. We know how they are made and distributed world wide. Michael Brown explains how current and advancing technologies can aid in the disruption of the flow of fentanyl. Brown is the global director of counter-narcotics technology at Rigaku Analytical Devices. He has a distinguished career spanning more than 32 years as a Special Agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). As Mr. Brown explains, understanding the drug d...
"Listen to the Silence: Women Trapped in the Opioid Epidemic" with Debra Gonsher Vinik
August 02, 2023 05:00 - 36 minutes - 33.4 MBWhen it comes to substance use disorders, women have traditionally been misunderstood, understudied, and underserved. In her newest feature film, Attention Must Be Paid: Women Lost in the Opioid Crisis, Debra Gonsher Vinik shines a light on the women experiencing opioid abuse. Dr. Gonsher Vinik is a film producer, writer, director, and founder of Diva Communications. She has produced and written twenty-one documentaries, including six Emmy winners. Attention Must Be Paid: Women Lost in the O...
"Be Your Best Advocate" with Michelle Correia-Templin
July 26, 2023 05:00 - 31 minutes - 28.7 MBMost people spend most of their time at work, and what happens at work is often a leading cause of their stress and anxiety. Michelle Correia-Templin talks about the importance of asking for what you need and forming healthy relationships in the workplace. Michelle is the author of Selling It Right! Getting Result with Integrity and Five Star Teamwork. Michelle is also the President of Get Smart Training, a California-based learning organization with focus on Sales Messaging, Emotional Intel...
"Art for Hope" with William Stoehr
July 19, 2023 12:36 - 34 minutes - 31.7 MBWilliam Stoehr’s artwork focuses on victims, witnesses, and survivors of opioid/substance use disorders and the stigma that inhibits prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. Stigma suffocates discussion, blocks action, causes pain. William Stoehr wants to use his art to normalize the discussion and to help erase the stigma. William discusses his art, his sister’s substance use disorder, which led to her death, and his exhibit, “Art for Hope/Stigma and Survival.” William’s art can be a...
"Pillars of Success" with Simone Schär
July 12, 2023 05:00 - 28 minutes - 25.9 MBIn the 1980s when drugs were seemingly everywhere and parents couldn’t take their children to parks for fear their children would step on heroin needles, Switzerland decided to try a different approach to their drug problem. Now, forty years later, Simone Schär talks about the country’s collaborative effort and Switzerland’s Four-Pillar Policy. Simone Schär is a studied psychologist and head of department at CONTACT Foundation. To work with people who use or abuse substances was always somet...
"Surround Yourself With Angels" with Mark Murphy
July 05, 2023 05:00 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MBMark Murphy lost his twenty-one-year-old daughter Lizzie to fentanyl poisoning. He has worked tirelessly to try to make sure other families don’t experience a similar loss. An Ohio native, Mark has traveled the country to share his experiences and learn from those who are trying to stop the flow of fentanyl into the US. Mark shares his observations about the dangers of fentanyl and what is being done, and not done, to stem the flood of drugs into and across the country. A media report of one...
"Bring Your Whole Self To Work" with Dr. Uma Kedharnath
June 28, 2023 05:00 - 32 minutes - 29.6 MBA recent study has shown that mental health has worsened for thirty-four percent of American workers. Dr. Uma Kedharnath talks about how workplaces are addressing the mental health concerns of their workers. Dr. Kedharnath received her doctorate in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Colorado State University and is currently an Associate Professor of Management at the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. Taking the steps to address mental health is not only good for the employee;...
"Relationship Obstacles and Deal Breakers" with Dana Emold, MS, LPC, CSAC
June 21, 2023 05:00 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MBWhat happens in a relationship when partners don’t see eye to eye on important issues? What happens when, over time, values and opinions change? Dana Emold, a Clinical Therapist and Certified Substance Abuse Counselor with LifeStance Health, discusses relationship roadblocks and deal breakers. People and relationships change over time. That change can be anticipated and embraced, but it needs to be communicated, too. Dana can be reached at https://lifestance.com/provider/dana-emold-ms-lpc-cs...
"Mending the Hole in Your Heart" with Stephanie and Tom Quehl
June 14, 2023 05:00 - 31 minutes - 29.2 MBJack Quehl was successful in almost everything he did. Sports, academics, friends. On September 20, 2021, a decision to use a drug laced with fentanyl ended Jack’s life. Stephanie and Tom Quehl talk about their son’s life, his tragic passing, and lessons they learned about fentanyl poisoning. The Jack Quehl Foundation’s mission is to educate communities about the threat of fentanyl poisoning. More than 100,000 individuals lost their lives last year to a synthetic opioid overdose in the Unite...
"Treating Everyone Like They Can Succeed" with Amy Molinski
June 07, 2023 05:00 - 23 minutes - 21.4 MBIt isn’t easy to ask for help to overcome opioid dependency or, for that matter, to offer that help. Amy Molinski, a Peer Support Specialist with Community Medical Services, talks about working with community partners to decrease overdoses. Battling the stigma of drug usage and reaching out to people where they live, teams of professionals have seen a 21% decrease in overdoses in the communities they work in. Amy and Community Medical Services can be reached at https://communitymedicalservic...
"Working to Make Things Better" with Representative Tip McGuire
May 31, 2023 05:00 - 26 minutes - 24.3 MBRepresentative Tip McGuire, from Wisconsin Assembly District 64, discusses the proposed legislation allowing fourteen year olds to serve alcohol and other pertinent addiction and mental illness issues. While traveling the state as part of the Joint Finance Committee, Representative McGuire has seen and heard the people ask that government work together to help with the problems citizens and communities face. Representative McGuire believes a combination of education, treatment, and interdict...
"Letter of Reckoning" with Cletus
May 24, 2023 05:00 - 26 minutes - 24.4 MBCletus was fishing when his father called about a letter in the mail. Cletus had sold drugs to an undercover police officer and was now facing numerous charges. His life changed in a heartbeat. He talks about what led to his using, his dealing, and the other mistakes he made along the way. More importantly, he discusses what he learned from those mistakes and how he found his way back. If you or a loved one needs help due to substance use disorder, help is available. There are online Alcohol...
"Imagine What You Can Do" with Melvin Adams
May 17, 2023 05:00 - 29 minutes - 27.2 MBThe old saying is, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Melvin Adams shares his recipe for lemonade. Melvin grew up in poverty, with an abusive father in Houston, Texas. He was challenged early on with extremely negative circumstances. Even though Melvin was only 5’8”, he became a two-time NCAA All-American basketball player and the team captain of the World Famous Harlem Globetrotters. Melvin Adams knows firsthand how to achieve great things despite challenging circumstances. Now a ...
"Incurable Hope" with Lisa Gennosa
May 10, 2023 05:00 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MBEvery family that experiences addiction and mental illness searches endlessly for answers to their pain and hopes to stumble upon a survival guide. Lisa Gennosa discusses her journey as she tried to cope with her son Tyler’s illness. Lisa is the author of Incurable Hope: A Memoir and Survival Guide for Coping with a Loved One’s Addiction. Lisa is a practicing Physician Assistant. She is a dedicated wife and mother who grew up the third child of a liquor and narcotics agent. She discusses how...