Pathways 2 Prevention artwork

Pathways 2 Prevention

38 episodes - English - Latest episode: 12 days ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratings

Join us for Drug Free America Foundation’s ‘Pathways to Prevention’ podcast as we engage stakeholders from across the drug demand reduction spectrum including government, academia, clergy, preventionists, treatment professionals, and persons in long-term recovery. Topics of discussion include current trends in the global substance use pandemic, strategies to reduce drug demand, and how to best adapt those strategies to the ever-shifting substance use landscape.

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Episodes

International Cooperation in Drug Abuse Prevention: Lessons from Serbia

July 03, 2024 09:00 - 33 minutes - 22.9 MB

In this episode of the Pathways 2 Prevention podcast, we explore the critical role of international cooperation in drug abuse prevention with Branislava, a dedicated advocate from Serbia. Branislava shares her journey from law school to making a significant impact on drug policy and international collaboration. She provides a unique perspective on how listening, collaboration, and a multidisciplinary approach can drive meaningful change in the fight against drug abuse. Key Takeaways Branis...

Challenging the Status Quo: Dr. David Patton’s Journey From Adversity to Innovation

June 05, 2024 10:00 - 1 hour - 47.2 MB

In this powerful episode, Dave Closson sits down with Dr. David Patton, an Associate Professor in Criminology at the University of Derby, for an in-depth conversation about resilience, recovery, and the transformative power of lived experience. Dr. David Patton shares his journey from growing up in a disadvantaged neighborhood in England to becoming an associate professor in criminology. He discusses the impact of social policies and economic changes on his community and how it shaped his d...

Empowering Change: The Transformative Story of Boomer Rose

May 01, 2024 09:00 - 59 minutes - 40.8 MB

In this powerful episode of the "Pathways to Prevention" podcast, Dave welcomes Boomer Rose, a fervent advocate and inspiring figure in the realms of prevention and recovery. Boomer shares his profound journey from overcoming personal adversities including addiction, incarceration, and homelessness to becoming a leading voice in community transformation. His story highlights the importance of lived experience in crafting interventions that truly resonate with vulnerable populations. What Yo...

The Courage to Change: Tracey Ford's Inspiring Path to Recovery

April 03, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 44.8 MB

In this podcast episode, Tracey Ford shares her compelling journey from a challenging upbringing in Sheffield, UK, to her remarkable work in the recovery field. Coming from a background of dysfunction, teenage pregnancy, and subsequent struggles with drugs and coercive relationships, Tracey's life took a positive turn after being sectioned due to drug-induced psychosis. Discharged without aftercare and determined to change, she left her past behind, including her partner and a life of crime....

A Global Recovery Conversation: The Inclusive Recovery Cities Initiative

March 06, 2024 10:00 - 1 hour - 42.3 MB

In this enlightening episode, host Dave Closson engages in a profound conversation with David Best, a professor of addiction recovery and director of the Centre for Addiction Recovery Research, and Mulka Nisic, a project manager and PhD researcher, about the transformative concept of Inclusive Recovery Cities. This initiative aims to foster communities where recovery from addiction is not only visible and celebrated but also integrated into the fabric of society, enhancing citizenship and mu...

Behind the Scenes with the Drug Free America Foundation: Amy's Story

February 13, 2024 16:00 - 48 minutes - 33.1 MB

In this inspiring episode of the Pathways to Prevention podcast, host Dave sits down with Amy, the Executive Director of the Drug Free America Foundation. From an unexpected start with a humanities degree to becoming a leading voice in drug prevention, Amy shares her unique journey and the profound lessons learned along the way. This conversation sheds light on the personal experiences that shaped her, the importance of mentorship, and the impactful work being done to combat substance abuse ...

Empathy in Action: How Dave Higham's Vision is Shaping Recovery

January 03, 2024 11:00 - 1 hour - 42.1 MB

Welcome to a special re-broadcast of one of our most acclaimed episodes. As we step into the new year, we revisit our inspiring conversation with Dave Higham, founder of 'The Well.' Dave shares his remarkable journey of overcoming adversity and how his vision has transformed the lives of many through community support, empathy, and resilience. Episode Highlights: Dave Higham's Personal Journey: Discover how Dave overcame his own struggles with addiction and how his experiences shaped the c...

A Journey of Healing and Transformation with Stacey Doorly-Jones

December 06, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 45 MB

In this deeply moving and enlightening episode of "Pathways to Prevention," host Dave engages in a heartfelt conversation with Stacey Doorly Jones, the founder and CEO of Stand. Stacey opens up about her journey, marked by a childhood riddled with abuse and trauma, and how she transformed these harrowing experiences into a life dedicated to helping others. Her story is not just one of survival, but of profound resilience and an unwavering commitment to make a difference in the world. Listen...

Nurturing Minds: How Parents and Educators Can Support Brain Development

November 01, 2023 09:00 - 48 minutes - 33.6 MB

Dr. Crystal Collier, a renowned expert in addiction and brain development, shares her inspiring journey and discusses her groundbreaking program, "Know Your Neuro." She empowers parents, educators, and youth with the knowledge to protect and nurture their brain health, providing valuable insights and practical tips for improving well-being. The conversation explores the impact of risky behavior on the brain and highlights the importance of understanding and supporting neurodevelopment at eve...

African Youths Initiative on Crime Prevention

October 04, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 41.4 MB

In this compelling episode, listeners are welcomed into the world of Chris Ibe, an impassioned advocate dedicated to making a profound impact on the lives of young people in Nigeria and across the globe. Chris shares his personal journey, highlighting his active role in international forums and significant projects like the Global School Intervention Project on Drug and Substance Abuse in Kenya in 2019. His unwavering commitment to empowering the youth shines as he discusses his efforts to p...

World Resiliency Day: A Global Movement You Need to Know About

September 06, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 55.6 MB

In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with Shane Varcoe, a leading voice in the world of prevention and resiliency. Ever wondered why some people bounce back from adversity while others struggle? The answer might lie in understanding your 'why.' Shane takes us on a transformative journey, revealing how knowing your 'why' can be a game-changer in life, prevention, and recovery. Plus, get an exclusive first look at World Resiliency Day, an initiative that aims to make resiliency a global co...

From Local to Global: The Rotary Action Group’s Fight Against Addiction

August 02, 2023 09:00 - 34 minutes - 23.8 MB

In this episode, host Dave Closson interviews Jo Baxter from Drug Free Australia and the Rotary Action Group, Addiction Prevention. They discuss their latest project, a thought-provoking book entitled "Street Drugs, The New Addiction Industry," authored by Elaine Walters. The book sheds light on the addiction industry and its impact, and the episode explores key themes and insights encapsulated within its pages. Jo shares her passion for drug prevention and education and emphasizes the impor...

From Stigma to Support: One Man’s Mission to Transform Addiction Therapy

July 06, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 45.5 MB

In this enlightening conversation, Dave sits down with Christopher, a seasoned addiction therapist with over 20 years of experience in the field, who specializes in treating cannabis addiction. They explore the intricacies of addiction, delve into therapeutic approaches that work (and those that don't), and discuss how to enhance the success rate of treatment. This is a must-listen for anyone seeking to understand addiction on a deeper level, particularly those in the healthcare profession o...

From Local to Global: Pakistan Youth Organization's Fight Against Substance Abuse

June 07, 2023 09:00 - 36 minutes - 25 MB

In today's insightful episode, we're joined by Sana Ullah Rathore, a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in drug demand reduction and the founder of the Pakistan Youth Organization (PYO). Equipped with a Masters in Sociology and an International Certification of Addiction Professional (ICAP), Rathore has implemented numerous projects with international organizations and leads various trainings on substance use disorder. During our discussion, we delve into the work of ...

Preventing Drug Addiction in Pakistan: A Comprehensive Approach

May 03, 2023 09:00 - 53 minutes - 36.6 MB

In this episode of the "Pathways 2 Prevention Podcast," host Dave Closson interviews Cristina von Sperling Afridi, founder of the Karim Khan Afridi Welfare Foundation (KKAWF) in Pakistan. KKAWF was launched in 2015 after Cristina and her husband, Ambassador Tariq Khan Afridi, lost their 19-year-old son, Karim, to drug use. Cristina shares insights into the challenges of drug trafficking in the region and how KKAWF is addressing the issue through prevention efforts focused on youth mental he...

Building Strong Communities for Youth: The Icelandic Model

April 05, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 44.9 MB

In this episode, we interview Dr. Michael Mann, an associate professor, Interim Divisional Dean for the School of Public and Population Health, Associate Divisional Dean for Academic, Student, and Faculty Affairs at Boise State University, about the Icelandic model and its impact on youth development. The Icelandic model is a community-based approach to youth development that has seen remarkable success in Iceland and has been adapted by other countries around the world. Dr. Mann explains h...

A Playful Approach to Drug Prevention: How to Do Drug Prevention Without Talking About Drugs

March 01, 2023 10:00 - 40 minutes - 27.7 MB

Today we are speaking with Anne-Kristin Imenes, Senior counselor/psychologist specialist in Norway. She shared a wonderful program that addresses mental health and life skills called Robust Youth. What is Robust Youth? Robust Youth is a 3-year program in mental health and life skills for youth age 13 – 15 years old in secondary schools in Norway. The teaching has a playful approach to promote the students' wellbeing and sense of belonging. Through structured exercises the students build r...

The Biology of Addiction and Recovery: Unpacking the Biological Component of Mental Health and Addiction

February 01, 2023 10:00 - 45 minutes - 31.5 MB

Today, we’re talking about the biology of addiction and recovery with Dr. Evelyn Higgins, who is an internationally recognized expert in the epidemiology of addiction and the Founder of Wired For Addiction®. We’ll discuss everything there is to know about interpreting an individual’s physiology in order to make informed treatment decisions based on objective biomarkers. Wired For Addiction® specializes in the biological component of mental health and addiction.  Through their patent-pending...

Movendi International: Development Through Alcohol Prevention

January 04, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 41.3 MB

In this episode, we’re talking about alcohol prevention with Movendi International, who is the largest independent global movement for development through alcohol prevention. Movendi International’s vision is a life for all human beings free to live up to their fullest potential, and free from harm caused by alcohol and other drugs. It’s a world of peace, democracy and justice where free and healthy citizens actively contribute in all levels of society. We get into some great topics around ...

Peace Inn: Every Human is Blessed with the Opportunity for Greatness

December 07, 2022 10:00 - 43 minutes - 29.8 MB

Pease Inn….. A House of Peace and Tranquility for Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders Today we are speaking with Asia Ashraf from Pakistan, who has been serving in the field of drug addiction/mental health disorders treatment and rehabilitation for the last 17 years. Asia received her Masters in Applied Psychology from Punjab University, completed a one-year fellowship in Substance Abuse, Education, Treatment, Policy and Prevention from Virginia Commonwealth University, USA (2015-2016...

Reducing Adult Addiction Must Begin with Youth Prevention

November 03, 2022 09:00 - 59 minutes - 40.9 MB

TEEN DRUG USE IS NOT INEVITABLE! Teens and the adults that care about them need to know that the One Choice of no use of any alcohol, nicotine, marijuana or other drugs is a realistic goal and that many teens are already making that choice. A study led by the Institute for Behavior and Health, Inc. analyzed data from the Monitoring the Future study showing for the first time that for three decades a growing percentage of 8th, 10th and 12th graders have made One Choice. In November 2020, an...

National Drug-Free Work Week 2022

October 21, 2022 15:00 - 11 minutes - 7.84 MB

Welcome to this special episode of the Pathways 2 Prevention Podcast: We are proud to announce the 14th annual anniversary observance of NATIONAL DRUG-FREE WORK WEEK, OCTOBER 17 - 23, 2022. This yearly public awareness campaign highlights the importance of a drug-free workplace and encourages workers with alcohol and drug problems to seek help. Episode Links: https://www.ndwa.org/resources/national-drug-free-work-week/  https://www.ndwa.org/featured/make-your-drug-free-workplace-recovery-...

Only Prevention Can Protect the Future Generations.

September 07, 2022 09:00 - 41 minutes - 28.2 MB

Our guest today is Rima Saade Turk. Rima is currently Executive Director and international relations of Nusroto Al-Anashid Association, using her wide network of social relations spanning across Lebanon and abroad. She is passionate for humanitarian activities, social services, and charitable works. She has 18 years of experience in the service of prisoners, 14 years of experience in the service of people who use drugs, a co-founder member and currently Manager of Drug Rehabilitation Center...

The Well Communities: Core Conditions of Recovery

July 06, 2022 09:00 - 58 minutes - 40.1 MB

The Well has been created and developed by ex-offender, David Higham. David had been in and out of prison since the age of 16 and was a person who used drugs for more than 25 years. But with intensive support from the former Lancaster Castle prison, David began his recovery and has been drug-free for 17 years. David left prison for the last time in 2007. Since then he has dedicated his life to supporting others with alcohol and substance use disorders through both voluntary and paid employ...

Save Your Brain - Drug Free Australia

June 01, 2022 09:00 - 44 minutes - 30.3 MB

Our guest today is from Drug Free Australia and is here to share a new resource they have created that puts prevention first! It is a new suite of health education modules with a focus on drug use prevention to be used by teachers, parents, school counselors, life coaches, and youth workers.  ‘Save Your Brain’ (SYB) is targeted for younger adolescents (in middle school years) to promote an understanding of how the brain develops throughout the early years and into adolescence. In particular...

Project Venda: Keeping Kids S.A.F.E.

May 04, 2022 09:00 - 45 minutes - 31.2 MB

You know as well as we do, that in this increasingly challenging world, it takes a lot of effort to educate and empower children who belong to the marginalized, unrecognized and ignored segments. Our guest’s work has succeeded in creating socially responsive, self-reliant communities that work together to create safe environments for children as well as sustainable change through collective participation. They catalyze social change by innovating and piloting model solutions that Government...

The Sober Youth Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo

April 06, 2022 09:00 - 39 minutes - 26.9 MB

In this month's episode, we talk with Mr. Dandy Yela, the World Federation Against Drugs DRC Country Representative about their Sober Youth Project. Stigmatisation and discrimination of persons who use substances is still an issue in the Democratic Republic of Congo and its capital city, Kinshasa. This is the case of youngsters, such as members of urban youth gangs – the kulunas. They are facing rejection and social exclusion and are being singled out, leading to urban violence and insecur...

Demand reduction: The importance of coalition-building nationally and abroad

December 03, 2021 16:00 - 38 minutes - 26.6 MB

This month's guest is Carlton Hall, the Tony Robbins of community change. Join us as we discuss how the coalition model and Carlton's unique LEAD training system is applied domestically and abroad. Carlton Hall is the President and CEO of Carlton Hall Consulting LLC, a multi-faceted, full-service consulting firm designed to provide customized solutions and enable measurable change for communities, organizations, families and individuals. Carlton spent twelve years with the Community Anti-Dr...

Towards greater equity and inclusion in treatment and recovery

December 02, 2021 18:00 - 52 minutes - 36.2 MB

In this episode we speak with Regina Mattsson on how women are uniquely impacted by substance use in the developing world. We also discuss how we can work towards eliminating treatment barriers whilst strengthening approaches that create more inclusive environments in treatment and recovery for women and children. Regina Mattsson is the Secretary General of WFAD and supported in the implementation of the WFAD 10-year strategic plan to focus particularly on Children’s Rights and Women. As Bo...

That's no maple leaf: Marijuana policy north of the border with Pam McColl

November 30, 2021 20:00 - 32 minutes - 22.6 MB

In this month's episode we talk with Pam McColl about marijuana policy north of the border as well as the latest research on prenatal THC exposure. Pamela McColl is a Canadian publishing entrepreneur and advocate of children's issues and smoking cessation, best known for releasing a smoke-free version of the classic Twas The Night Before Christmas.

Episode 7: Drug demand reduction down under with Shane Varcoe

November 03, 2021 15:00 - 53 minutes - 36.7 MB

In this month's episode we meet with Shane Varcoe, Executive Director of the Dalgarno Institute. Join us as we discuss some of the more nuanced aspects of the global drug policy debate including drug use normalization and harm reduction in the Australian context. Shane Varcoe is currently the Executive Director for the Dalgarno Institute (Coalition Of Alcohol & Drug Educators) a long standing Alcohol & Other Drugs (AOD), community based, not-for-profit, public interest coalition. As an AOD ...

Building Connection in the Prevention Community with Dave Closson

September 30, 2021 16:00 - 32 minutes - 22.6 MB

We chat with Dave Closson, director of the mid-America Prevention Technology Transfer Center to discuss the role of motivational interviewing in campus prevention and the importance of building connection in disparate prevention organizations.   Dave is a national expert on substance misuse prevention and law enforcement. He is the author of the Amazon Best Seller, “Motivational Interviewing for Campus Police.” Dave was named to the “Top 40 Under 40 Military Class of 2016” by Military Trans...

Giving a voice and political agency to those in recovery

September 03, 2021 20:00 - 1 hour - 50.7 MB

In this episode we are joined by guest Boro Goic, a  founding member of the Recovered Users Network (RUN). We not only discuss Boro's personal journey to recovery and the important work RUN is doing, but we also touch on the importance of establishing recovery oriented systems of care in communities throughout the world.  Further points of discussion include the still-persistent stigma around addiction and recovery and the importance of giving persons in long-term recovery a voice in shaping...

Episode 4: Healing addiction through art in Macau

July 19, 2021 16:00 - 24 minutes - 17 MB

Join us as we meet with Augusto Nogueira, Executive Director of the Association for Rehabilitation of Drug Users  in Macau (ARTM). We talk about ARTM's unique approach to treating addiction and re-integrating addicts into society through long-term aftercare, skills training, and the arts. 

Fool me once: Research as marketing in the marijuana industry

June 23, 2021 15:00 - 51 minutes - 35.4 MB

Join our discussion with economist and public health  expert Theo Caputi  as we discuss how the marijuana industry uses poorly-designed research to  market their products and make unsubstantiated claims regarding health benefits and safety. We also discuss the economic and societal costs of marijuana legalization. Theodore Caputi is a public health and economics researcher and a second-year Ph.D. student in the Economics program at MIT. He is also the author of the Behavioral Health Matters...

Substance Use Prevention in Afghanistan

June 15, 2021 20:00 - 17 minutes - 12.2 MB

In this episode, Dr. Mohr joins with Dichen Choden, Program Officer with the Colombo Plan’s Drug Advisory Program, to discuss her pilot project to train Afghan teachers in the Universal Prevention Curriculum.

Substance Use Prevention in Afghanistan

June 15, 2021 20:00 - 17 minutes - 12.2 MB

In this episode, Dr. Mohr joins with Dichen Choden, Program Officer with the Colombo Plan’s Drug Advisory Program, to discuss her pilot project to train Afghan teachers in the Universal Prevention Curriculum.

We kick-off with Dr. Kevin Sabet!

June 14, 2021 17:00 - 28 minutes - 19.7 MB

An author, consultant, former advisor to three U.S. presidential administrations, assistant professor, and the President and CEO of SAM, Dr. Kevin Sabet joins us simultaneously with the launch of his new book, SmokeScreen: What the Marijuana Industry Doesn't Want You to Know. 

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