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    About this Episode

    Jared Callahan is an award-winning, Emmy-nominated director / producer. He founded and runs People People Media, a production company based on a 95-acre farm in the San Francisco East Bay that specializes in personal and unique stories that help amplify voices and increase empathy. His work has been released through The New York Times, PBS, GQ Magazine, The Atlantic, ALTER, NoBudge, Short of the Week & Vimeo Staff Picks. He's had projects premiere at the best film festivals in the world, including Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, Austin, Nashville, Palm Springs, Aspen, DOC NYC, and more. Jared served as one of the Atlanta Film Society’s Filmmakers in Residence, and produced The Driver is Red, which played over 100 festivals, won 43 awards, and qualified for the 2019 Academy Award in two categories. He has directed three feature documentary films, including Clean Slate.

    Intro and Outro music by:

    Decisions by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100756

    Artist: http://incompetech.com/

    Recent Episodes from The Addiction Podcast-Point of No Return

    Loretta Boesing Advocate for Safe Medications

    Loretta Boesing Advocate for Safe Medications

    Loretta Boesing is the founder of Unite For Safe Medications. Unite for Safe Medications seeks to save lives and advance patient outcomes by improving the quality, safety, and accessibility of pharmaceutical care. Loretta's advocacy began after her son received a liver transplant after his liver failed after contracting the flu. She uncovered the monopolization of the pharmacy industry and its harsh impact on patients' affordability and accessibility to medications after being forced to an insurance owned mail order pharmacy for her child's life-saving medications. Prior to her advocacy, her childhood struggles and the loss of a loved one to substance abuse disorder inspired her to be a social worker. She was a caseworker and group facilitator for people who were dually diagnosed with substance abuse disorder and a mental health condition. Upon starting Unite For Safe Medications, she connected with advocates such as Ed Bisch and Dan Schnieder and is heavily inspired by their advocacy as she realizes that many components of their advocacy work are intertwined with hers. Her advocacy to ensure the safety and accessibility of pharmaceutical care is as critical as exposing and holding accountable those who fail in their roles to protect patients from harm. Loretta hopes to unite with others across the nation to ensure a safer and more accessible future of pharmaceutical care. She has been interviewed by NBC News, NPR, USA Today, & CNN and has been recorded for an upcoming documentary, Harmacy. This documentary will highlight the many pharmacy issues impacting safe patient care in America.

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    Intro and Outro music by:

    Decisions by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100756

    Artist: http://incompetech.com/

    Ricki Friedman Stepping Away from Adderall

    Ricki Friedman Stepping Away from Adderall

    Ricki Friedman is a motivational speaker, visionary, educator, and podcaster who takes you on the walk with her as she embarks on a life-changing journey of growth, healing, and expansion. Her humor, way with words, wisdom, and vulnerability make you feel seen, heard, and ready to transform your life, live your truth and walk towards your next level - one step forward at a time.  Ricki started a business called Break the Weight. With Ricki’s system, she will help guide you every single step of the way, all while helping you to achieve your healthiest lifestyle possible. She’ll be the first to tell you healthy habits don’t happen overnight nor without putting forth the effort and work, but it can happen, and BTW has a number of success stories to prove it. Ricki teaches us the mindset and tools she used to walk away from weed. Her tools are universal in helping with any change or whatever you want to walk away from in your life.

    Since we interviewed her last year she has quit taking Adderall and any sort of stimulants.  

    In her interview with Newsweek, she said: “One year ago, I was taking 100 milligrams of adderall (and Vyvanse) trying to work up the courage to get off the medication.

    “I don’t think I’ve ever been that terrified of walking away from something in my life.

    “28-years on a VERY dangerous drug that controlled my mind and body was hard for me to wrap my head around. This wasn’t like walking away from weed…I knew that getting off this drug was going to make my life harder at first, not better.

    “However, I also knew that staying on them was dangerous and holding me back from healing, expanding and understanding WHO I truly was and how my brain worked.

    “So, I did what I always do…researched, educated myself and walked right into the most challenging journey I’ve ever been on.

    And today, one year after making the decision to begin taking these steps, I’m 9 months completely off stimulants and sharing my story in Newsweek.” (December 2023)

    stan.store/iamricki

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    Intro and Outro music by:

    Decisions by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100756

    Artist: http://incompetech.com/

    Ed Bisch Grieving Father Takes On Purdue Pharma and The Sacklers

    Ed Bisch Grieving Father Takes On Purdue Pharma and The Sacklers

    This is a replay of an interview we did with Ed Bisch in 2021.  Ed was the first real activist to come on our podcast and since then, he has introduced us to countless others who are fighting this fight.

    Ed Bisch lost his son, Eddie, to an oxycontin overdose (he took one pill) in 2001. While Ed grieved the loss of his son, he also took notice - never having heard of oxycontin before. He began researching and finding other parents who had lost children to this drug, and he was contacted by Purdue Pharma, who had all sorts of justifications as to why this might happen. Ed has been keeping the pressure on his group - RAPP - Relatives Against Purdue Pharma. The goal is for Purdue and the Sackler family executives to receive jail time for their participation in the many deaths caused by oxycontin. 

    More about Ed and RAPP: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/20/opinion/sunday/oxycontin-purdue-sacklers.html

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    Intro and Outro music by:

    Decisions by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100756

    Artist: http://incompetech.com/

    Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland Drug Trafficking at the Southern Border

    Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland Drug Trafficking at the Southern Border

    Thaddeus’ service to this country began its course while proudly serving in the United States Air Force. He served on the Terrell County Independent School District School Board for eight years and as the Board President four of those years. His viewpoint: “Students and our school's educators are at the forefront of our nations foundation. Texas must lead the nation by adapting our approach to doing what is best for the students first and foremost so we as Texans and parents promote the most effective solutions to prepare future leaders of Texas and our nation with what they need to reach their full potential.” Currently Thaddeus C. Cleveland is the Sheriff for Terrell County, Texas. He was appointed as Sheriff on May 17, 2022. Prior to his appointment, Sheriff Cleveland spent just over 26 years in the United States Border Patrol and the last 11 years of his career as the Patrol Agent in Charge of the Sanderson Border Patrol Station. Sheriff Cleveland entered on duty with the U.S. Border Patrol on February 26, 1996, as a member of Class 300. His first duty assignment as a Border Patrol agent was at the Nogales Border Patrol Station in the Tucson Sector. Since his entry into the U.S. Border Patrol, Sheriff Cleveland served as a Border Patrol Agent at Sierra Blanca, Texas, a Senior Patrol Agent at Eagle Pass, Texas, a Supervisory Border Patrol Agent at Douglas, Arizona and Artesia, New Mexico. He has also served as a Field Operations Supervisor at Naco, Arizona and Alpine, Texas. Sheriff Cleveland served as an Assistant Chief in Washington, D.C. at the Office of Border Patrol as well as Customs and Border Protection’s Commissioner’s Office of Anti-Terrorism and Office of State, Local and Tribal Liaison.

    https://thaddeusfortexas.com/

    Facebook: The Border Project Terrell County Sheriff's Office

     

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    Intro and Outro music by: Decisions by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100756 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

    #drugaddictionpodcast #alcoholaddiction #alternativetreatment #hopeforaddiction #helpforaddiction #newmaninterventions

    Father Joe's Village - Helping the Homeless in Recovery

    Father Joe's Village - Helping the Homeless in Recovery

    Jenni Wilkens, SUDCC assumes the role of Manager of Street Health, as well as a Certified Substance Use Disorder Counselor, with the Father Joe’s Villages Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center which serves the homeless and at-risk of homelessness populations in downtown San Diego. Jenni has worked with Father Joe's Villages since August, 2019. She holds a Certificate in Behavioral Sciences for Alcohol & Other Drug Studies and a Mental Health Work Certificate through San Diego City College. She is continuing in school to pursue her bachelor’s degree in psychology. Jenni is passionate in leading her Street Health outreach team to assist our unsheltered community members take the action needed to improve their lives and in using her skills to build relationships with community members struggling with substance abuse to provide hope, support, encouragement, and intervention which will empower them to reduce harm caused by their use. Jenni provides counseling to those in need, not only within the clinic’s walls, but also out on the streets, meeting her clients, quite literally, where they are at. She also prides herself in her own recovery, which allows her the added edge she believes allows her to successfully connect and empathize with those who still struggle.

     

    Elizabeth Sophy, MD serves as one of the physicians on the Street Health Team. She grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania and first moved out West for college at the University of Southern California, where she double majored in biology and American Studies and Ethnicity. It was during her time at USC that she discovered her passion for working with underserved populations and partnering with community advocates while spending time with the homeless and working poor of South Central Los Angeles. After college, she deferred her medical school acceptance to live and work for a health and development non-profit organization in Honduras for two years. This experience only further solidified her goal of providing medical care and social support to those most in need. She attended medical school at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, a city with a diverse urban underserved population that provided her with many opportunities for community outreach. She completed her residency in family medicine at UC San Diego and completed a palliative care fellowship at UC San Diego and Scripps health. Currently, she works in family medicine at St. Vincent de Paul Village Family Health Center, a federally qualified health center in downtown San Diego that is the largest provider of comprehensive health care to the uninsured in San Diego and serves mostly people experiencing homelessness. She also works doing inpatient palliative care consultations in Chula Vista where she serves mostly underserved communities including our border population. Additionally, she enjoys volunteering with the UC San Diego medical student free clinic as well as teaching residents and fellows in her other jobs.

     

    Father Joe’s Village - Our mission is to prevent and end homelessness, one life at a time.

    Our values are expressed in our CREED. They are the foundation of our work. C - Compassion, Concern for others and a desire to assist; R- Respect, An act of giving particular attention or special regard; E - Empathy, Understanding, an awareness of and sensitivity to the feelings of others; E - Empowerment, Helping others to help themselves; and D - Dignity, Counting all people worthy of our esteem.

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    Intro and Outro music by:

    Decisions by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100756

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    David Greer From Alcoholism to Inspiring Others

    David Greer From Alcoholism to Inspiring Others

    David J. Greer is an entrepreneurial coach, author, and facilitator living in Vancouver, Canada with his wife Karalee and their three children. He helps people fully realize their dreams through his coaching, writing, and speaking engagements. Spending just an hour with David, whether through his book, a talk, or personal coaching session, provides concrete action items to accelerate one's business within 90 days. 

    David has been sober for 15 years after struggling with alcoholism earlier in life. He leverages his journey to sobriety and personal growth to help other entrepreneurs challenged with addiction issues. Even while living on a sailboat and homeschooling his children for two years, David drank daily to cope with his inner turmoil. His decision in sobriety to connect with his birth families catalyzed immense personal development, although meeting his birth mother who rejected him and drank until her death was deeply painful. David attributes much of his growth to the 12 Step programs that have supported his sobriety.

    Though David appeared successful externally during his drinking years, internally he struggled greatly before committing to sobriety. Now with over a decade of clarity, he is devoted to his family and helping others fully live their dreams and overcome their challenges with alcohol dependence.

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    Intro and Outro music by:

    Decisions by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100756

    Artist: http://incompetech.com/

    Bobby Newman Interventionist How to Get An Addict to Receive Help

    Bobby Newman Interventionist How to Get An Addict to Receive Help

    After going from a strong, moral upbringing in Southern Oklahoma to a drug-related downfall that had him facing federal prison, Bobby Newman understands what those who are addicted feel and think. That’s what enables him to cut through the resistance and manipulative tactics of an addicted person and help them choose life and recovery.

    In the eighteen years since he completed a long-term drug rehabilitation program, he has educated more than a hundred thousand youth on the dangers of drug abuse and helped thousands of people with drug or alcohol rehabilitation. Many of those he helped with their addictions as a substance abuse counselor, now many more as a drug intervention specialist.

    Now, his focus is on doing interventions that turn situations from tragic to hopeful. When Bobby walks into a room full of family who have asked for help, he knows exactly how to cut through the emotion and confusion and establish ground rules to make the intervention a success. A successful intervention is so much about preparation. He’ll work with the family to ensure they have chosen a good rehab and cut off all avenues of evasion so their loved one has only one choice ahead of them — start rehab right now.

    When Bobby arrives, he has only one intention and that is getting that person in the doors of an effective rehab facility. His clear intention resonates with the family and gives them a boost in confidence and strength. Finally, they feel like this is going to happen, they are going to be able to save this person they love — this person they have feared they were going to lose.

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    Intro and Outro music by:

    Decisions by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100756

    Artist: http://incompetech.com/

     

    Marci Hopkins Triumph over Trauma Healing Lives on Air

    Marci Hopkins Triumph over Trauma Healing Lives on Air

    Marci Hopkins is an award-winning TV personality, talk show host, and author. She is the brilliant mind behind the captivating talk show, Wake Up with Marci and Hilary, A Talk Show with A Heart, which has won the prestigious Telly Award three times. Marci is also a sought-after public speaker, recovery expert, and media trainer, with appearances on major networks such as Fox, CBS, NBC, and ABC. Don't miss Wake Up with Marci, airing on CBS owned WLNY-TV 10/55, CBS Palm Springs, and ABC Idaho Falls. The show is also available for streaming on Hulu Live and FuboTV, and as a podcast on all major platforms. 

    Marci's show is a source of inspiration and empowerment, sharing remarkable stories of triumph and transformation. She is deeply committed to changing lives, drawing from her own journey of overcoming alcoholism and celebrating eight years of sobriety. Through her book and show, Marci aims to show that healing is possible and that difficult situations do not define us. Outside of her TV career, Marci is actively involved in giving back to her community. She supports organizations such as the Kumali Organization and the YWCA, and has helped open a sanctuary with Access Family Services. 

    Marci's dedication and impact have been recognized with awards and honors, and she has been featured on major networks and publications. Originally from Texas, Marci began her career at Fox Cable Group before becoming a prominent figure in the industry.Marci's book is her story of sexual abuse and alcholism and sobriety. Marci is now seven years sober. Wake Up With Marci was created after Marci went into sobriety. She felt inspired to help other people with great content and stories that would help inspire and heal others. She graphically shares the chain of events in her book in hopes of helping others.

    Marci has been featured on TV as a recovery expert, such as WJLA ABC Washington, NBC Tampa, Cheddar, WXIX FOX Cincinnati, WTVR CBS VA, Metropolitan Magazine, Hollywood Life etc. She's now an official monthly wellness contributor for  KATU ABC Portland.

    HELP SUPPORT OUR FIGHT AGAINST ADDICTION. DONATE HERE:
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    Intro and Outro music by:

    Decisions by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100756

    Artist: http://incompetech.com/

    Mischa Zvegintzov Sobriety Through the Decades Inspiring Others

    Mischa Zvegintzov Sobriety Through the Decades Inspiring Others

    Mischa Zvegintzov is a man who got sober off of alcohol and drugs when he was 17 years old. In 1986, while living in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, a judge gave him the choice of either going to jail for six months or going to treatment. He chose treatment and has maintained straight line sobriety ever since, which is now 37 years clean and sober. Mischa has known tremendous success, incredible failure and heartbreak over the years but has stayed sober through it all. Now in 2024, at the age of 54, he has tons of stories, strategies and tactics related to sobriety that he looks forward to sharing.

    Mischa is a dynamic force in the world of digital marketing; empowering heart-centered entrepreneurs to Amplify their message into the market and elevate their authority, their impact, and their income! 

    No need for throwing money away on Facebook ads, Mischa has got a better strategy up his sleeve! With a track record of 20 years in old-school sales, Mischa marries tried-and-true strategies with the cutting-edge tools of the digital era. He has made over a million phone calls, run massive flier campaigns, and pounded the pavement door-to-door and business-to-business. Mischa and his team generated over 1.5 billion dollars in loans funded. After a brief retirement to guide his two boys through high school and enlighten others through yoga teaching, Mischa's now back in the game and his superpower is building influence! As the founder of the "Influence Army" and host of the “Table Rush Talk Show”, he's all about sharing his expertise and inspiring others to put their voice out there in a big way. Recent appearances: Podcast Host Testimonial! Yaron Been liked my Tactical Tips, My Stories, and My Energy! 

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    PART OF THE GOOD NEWS PODCAST NETWORK.

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    Intro and Outro music by:

    Decisions by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100756

    Artist: http://incompetech.com/

     

    Paula Santos Young Losing her Son Fuels her Fight against Fentanyl Poisonng

    Paula Santos Young Losing her Son Fuels her Fight against Fentanyl Poisonng

    Paula Santos Young's world shattered when her beloved oldest son's life was stolen in March 2022 - poisoned by fentanyl-laced marijuana from someone he trusted. With his death, Paula's motherly instincts kicked into high gear. Now she's on a crusade, roaring from every platform she can find to wake up officials and communities to the fentanyl crisis destroying families like an unstoppable hurricane.

    Paula ferociously shares her anguish and her son's story on podcasts, TV and radio to put a human face on this epidemic. She mercilessly calls out the lack of urgency from leaders who act like this is just a minor storm, not the Category 5 emergency that it is.

    With steely determination, Paula founded a nonprofit to battle the crisis she calls "our war." She's leading the charge, uniting forces throughout Massachusetts to proclaim this fight. Her rallying cry is being heard - from cities recognizing Fentanyl Prevention Day to the State House honoring her efforts. Still, Paula won't rest until the crisis is tackled with the full might and resources it deserves. For she's more than a grieving mom; she's a warrior fighting to ensure no other mother feels the searing loss that forged her unwavering mission.

    Last month, she received a special Congressional Recognition on her Human Rights Award 2022 for her work combatting the fentanyl crisis.  He and her husband run the organization Achieve Greatness - https://www.achievegreatness88.org/. An organization originally started by her son Andrew.

    HELP SUPPORT OUR FIGHT AGAINST ADDICTION. DONATE HERE:
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    PART OF THE GOOD NEWS PODCAST NETWORK.

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    Intro and Outro music by:

    Decisions by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100756

    Artist: http://incompetech.com/