The Addiction Podcast-Point of No Return

Mary Burns is a mother of three, a teacher and has become involved in addiction advocacy since her son's death. She helped spearhead a walk called, Changing the Face of Addiction, to help change the stigma of addiction. She has also brought her advocacy to her local state senator and addressed the New Jersey Senate Budget Appropriations Committee about the need for a change to the addiction treatment protocol. She recently published hers and Eric's story in the book: Saving Eric. Available on Amazon.

Charlotte Bismuth is a graduate of Columbia University, Columbia Law School, and Sciences-Po Paris. After joining the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor, she began investigating Dr. Stan Li, a doctor who spent years supplying more than seventy patients a day with Oxycodone and Xanax, trading prescriptions for cash. After a tireless investigation, Dr. Li was convicted of two counts of murder and over 90 other counts. This is the story of Charlotte and her team's campaign to right a deadly wrong. Her book, "Bad Medicine" is the shocking story of New York's most infamous pill-pushing doctor.

We've talked about marijuana many times on the podcast and noted that quite a few of the former addicts started their drug path with marijuana. In this episode, Dr. Kenneth Finn from Colorado gives us the facts about the use of marijuana as pain medication as well as it's adverse effects on young adults. Dr. Finn used slides during his interview so we suggest you watch the YouTube version of this interview so that you get the truth, nothing but the truth and the whole truth about marijuana. He's got the credentials and the science to back it up.

After suffering childhood trauma, Tina Levene turned to alcohol and drugs to cope. Until she learned that if she shared her own childhood trauma with others that she might be able to help other children, her life was on a downtown. Now she is helping to set up recovery schools for high school aged kids in recovery. Florida Recovery Schools of Tampa Bay offers teens in recovery a safe environment to learn the life skills that everyone needs.

Tiffany Jenkins is the funny lady behind "Juggling the Jenkins". She has over 4.5 million Facebook followers and counting! Tiffany is a wife, mother, best-selling author, content creator and recovering addict. Although best known for her funny viral Facebook and YouTube videos, Tiffany is incredibly passionate about bringing awareness to mental illness. She speaks shamelessly, openly and honestly about her past and addiction, as well as her struggles with depression and anxiety and has been featured on national television shows like The Today Show and The Doctors. Tiffany shares her story of hope in jails, rehabs and high schools, and has traveled across the country headlining her own tour and helping others.

Stephen Donnelly's drug use started - as with so many - when he was a teenager. However, later in life, when Stephen answered God's call and become an ordained priest in the Roman Catholic church, his drug use continued. Fueled by guilt, it took years to confront his addiction. He's been sober for 18 years and has chronicled his story in the book - "A Saint and a Sinner", co-authored by Diane O'Bryan.

Emily O'Brien is a beautiful young woman. But like so many, she was insecure and bullied as a child. This insecurity led to abuse of alcohol and drugs. When someone she thought was a friend took her on a trip to St. Lucia, she ended up bringing back drugs to Canada and from there ended up in prison. Rather than bemoan her fate, she learned all she could in prison and left with a successful gourmet popcorn business that employs ex offenders and ex addicts.

Quincy Carter had it all. He was a quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. But marijuana and alcohol brought about his downfall and termination from the Cowboys. He tried getting picked up by other teams but drugs and alcohol kept most teams from hiring him and if they did, he managed to bring himself down. Sober for 15 months, he's running a quarterback school in Texas and instilling the drug free mentality in his students. He's rebuilding his dream by helping others.

This is the story of a mom living the nightmare. Her 22 year old son is addicted despite several rehabs and the 24/7 work of his mom - Kelly Hatcher. What she's going through is why we do this podcast. We don't want other moms and dads to live this nightmare. Now Kelly is helping other parents let go but not give up.

Ellen Isaacs grew up with addiction in her family, became addicted herself and then lost one of her sons to an overdose. Now she is an advocate for addicts and teaches parents and loved ones the value and use of Narcan in order to save lives from overdoses. Through Ryan's Opioid Pandemic Coalition she is helping to raise awareness of this pandemic and the fact that it does not discriminate according to economic status, education or religion.

Brandi Winans is an inspirational keynote speaker and Life Coach. She was married to former Pro NFL player, Jeff Winans for over 30 years, and she details their life story in her book, "The Flip Side of Glory". This was told from the wife's perspective, in a story of love, acceptance and hope. Her faith was tested beyond her wildest imagination in dealing with Jeff's addiction, and after Brandi lost everything she had to learn to start over. And she did.

Don Cummins not only is a former addict but he served over 20 years in prison for bank robberies. He was homeless and declared insane by the courts. But he found his self respect in a recovery workshop and completely turned his life around to where he is a high powered executive in a computer software company, husband, father and a man who is giving back to society.

Duke Rumely is a former alcoholic who has been sober since 1989. Since then he realized that what was needed at concerts and sporting events was an area for those who are sober and trying to remain that way. He founded Sober AF Entertainment and is making great strides in leading the sober movement - making sober the popular to be for young and old alike.

Darren Prince is a prominent sports and celebrity agent and global advocate for addiction and recovery. Through his agency, Prince Marketing Group, he represents icons such as Magic Johnson, Hulk Hogan, Charlie Sheen, Dennis Rodman, Chevy Chase and the late Muhammad Ali - to name a few. However, he will tell you that after 12 years of sobriety, it's his mission to help others avoid and break free from addiction that really makes him happy.

Joanne Peterson is the Founder and Executive Director of Learn to Cope (LTC), a non-profit, peer-led support network established in 2004. Ms. Peterson's journey started when she was a young girl, as her siblings experienced issues with addiction. Years later, when Ms. Peterson discovered that her own son's experimentation with prescription drugs had led to an opioid addiction, she was motivated and empowered to use her voice to bring about change. Today, her son is in long term recovery.

Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson is probably one of the most flamboyant NFL players in recent history. However, his lifestyle led him into full blown addiction. Now sober for almost 37 years, he's reaching out to help others. He is speaking in prisons, churches, AA meetings and basically, to anyone who might benefit from hearing his story.

Britt Barker had a good upbringing, a stable family. But he wanted to try alcohol and drugs; and so went down the road to addiction. He was arrested a few times and went through several rehabs. Finally sober since July 2015, he is making music and has released his first solo EP - Trust under the stage name Catch the Rise. He's also helping others by counselling at the local ER in Greenville, SC.

There is a fine line between enabling a loved one who is an addict and giving up on them. Michelle Weidenbenner is a mom whose son is a recovering addict. She has dealt with all that means including becoming guardian of his two daughters. She did what she had to do and discovered the difference between letting go and giving up. Now she's helping other moms navigate the nightmare of addiction. Her book is Moms Letting Go without Giving up and is available on Amazon. She also has a private Facebook group for moms in this situation - momslettinggo.

There is a saying that it takes a village to raise a child - meaning that there are many different people that play a part. This podcast is a roundtable discussion with several different "experts" - all of whom are playing their part in addressing the addiction pandemic; whether it's treatment; intervention; education or just as a voice for those who often don't have their own voice. Bottom line, if we want to eliminate addiction on this planet, it's going to take each and every one of us.

Grant Feasel was a starting center and long snapper for the Seattle Seahawks from 1987 to 1992. However, due to a brain muddled by a history of repetitive trauma and symptomatic concussions, he turned to drugs and alcohol. The combination of CTE and his drinking led to his death 9 years ago. His wife, Cyndy, is on a mission to educate people about this deadly combination - brain injury and addiction.

Aaron Garcia is an evangelist, international speaker, best-selling author of "Coincidence or God?" and his newest book - "Burn Notice". At one time, he was the biggest drug dealing in Joplin Missouri and living on the streets. He is the founder of S.O.S. Ministries, Inc., a nonprofit that is dedicated to improving the community and reaching the lost in the streets. Aaron travels all over the globe, specifically to unreached countries where the gospel isn't preached, sharing his story and seeing people come to Christ. Aaron, his wife and three children, all reside in Neosho, Missouri.

Greg Nance had it all - a great home, a great family, successful business, successful athletic ability and a scholarship to a great college. This is a story like so many. He suffered a loss and turned to alcohol and drugs to deal with it. When he finally admitted to being an addict, he found help in the form of mentors and his ability to run. Now he's passed 3000 days sober and he's planning a run across North America - 3000 miles to celebrate 3000 days. His positive outlook makes his story truly one of redemption and hope. http://www.gregrunsfar.com/

Not only did Lisa Busby deal with her son, Cannon's addiction for 12 years but now she has to deal with his death due to overdose. This is something that we feel very deeply, being parents to two sons. One of the purposes of this podcast is to ensure that no parent has to lose another child to addiction. Lisa still has hope because Cannon never lost hope and so she is starting a foundation to help addicts get the help they need - even if they have to pay for it.

Randy Grimes was an NFL player with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He considered taking painkillers to be a "necessary evil" - part of the job description. However, he left the NFL addicted to painkillers and spent the next 20 years in the depths of addiction - losing friends and almost his lovely wife - Lydia. Lydia stood by him throughout that whole time and finally got him into a treatment program that stuck. Now they are giving back through their non-profit, Pro Athletes in Recovery. Hear from Randy and the woman who helped to save him.

For three years, Robby Gallaty battled a drug addiction that ravaged his life. A $180 a day heroin and cocaine addiction forced him to steal $15,000 from his parents. After living without gas, electricity and water for months, losing 8 of his friends to drug related deaths, watching 6 friends arrested, and completing two rehab treatments, Robby remembered the gospel that was shared with him by a friend in college and was radically saved on November 12, 2002. Robby has served as Long Hollow's Senior Pastor since 2015. In addition to his leadership at Long Hollow, Robby is also the founder of Replicate Ministries and the author of several books, including Growing Up; Firmly Planted; and Rediscovering Discipleship.

Rob Lohman's rap sheet includes alcohol and drug addiction, gambling addiction, divorce, bankruptcies, mental health and suicide ideation, prison, recovery and transformation. Rob's drinking career started at age 14 which lead to some very dark places. The climax of Rob's drinking career happened with a suicide attempt interrupted by the compassion of his dog Jake. Upon a divine intervention, Rob was freed from his substance abuse addiction which began a rollercoaster ride in recovery…to which Rob has yet to take another drink or drug. Rob now invests in the lives of those wanting to see positive change, whether it is coming out of addiction, prison or just wanting more for their lives.

Ryan Skinner is currently the co-owner of the Woburn based Summit Financial Partners. His journey into and slow burn out of a hell of multiple addictions is living proof that with deep faith, the encouragement of loving friends, sponsors, mentors and family and a 12-step program, anything is possible. Whether he is buying lunch for the police department that arrested him multiple times, or getting together with fellow addicts in recovery - "Deadmen on Vacation"; he is living his best life.

Steve Mason is a stund performer, author, actor and speaker who believes in "simply doing the RIGHT thing!" Steve lost his father to suicide when he was an 8 year old boy and he found the body. This sent him down a dark path and many years of substance abuse and depression. Now nearly 9 years clean and sober, Steve shares his poignant story. Steve wrote and co-produced EIGHT, a 21 minute short film based on his father's death. It is a message of helping those in need.

Meghan is an advocate for drug education. She is a public speaker, brand ambassador and event producer. Since 2006, she has been the Executive Director of the Foundation for a Drug Free World of the Americas Chapter. She also promotes basic Human Rights as the Executive Director of Youth of Human Rights New York Chapter. She is passionate about inspiring young people to follow their goals and dreams and learn the truth about drugs. https://www.drugfreeworld.org/

Norman is too young to have experienced all he has. Starting at age 13, smoking weed; his addiction led him down a dark path including a shooting that took the life of one of his friends. He's recovered his sobriety through the Narconon program at Narconon Ojai. He's working today to stay sober and to help others experience the program that saved his life. https://www.narcononojai.org/

K.C. Armstrong got his start with Howard Stern — first as an intern then as a cast member and producer. Now he is now a radio personality in his own right as the host and founder at WMAP (World's Most Amazing People). In between was a dark life from homelessness to alcohol to over 50 hospitalizations, and much more. Now he's highlighting the life of other "Amazing People" and his book "Simply Amazing" are making positive contributions to helping others.

By all rights, Trisha could have turned to drugs or alcohol. She grew up in a time when it was not pleasant to be Jewish. She survived bullying and religious discrimination. So at a young age, she got tough. When her husband - Gerald Posner - was researching his book on Josef Mengele (The Angel of Death in the Holocaust), she learned of the part that a pharmacist played in the horrors of the Holocaust. Her book - The Pharmacist of Auschwitz is a national bestseller.

Jennifer Gimenez was discovered at age 14 and became a super model and super star in Hollywood. Surrounded by a fast-paced Hollywood lifestyle and unprepared for the trappings of fame, Jenn eventually found herself at the mercy of her own drug and alcohol demons. Embracing her spirituality brought her back to sobriety and brought her to her husband - Tim Ryan. Together they share their stories to help others avoid the pitfalls of addiction.

Tim has seen and done it all. He's been an addict. He's run million dollar companies. Drugs stole more than half of his life but now he's dedicated every waking minute since walking out of prison to dealing hope to addicts and their families. Tim says "where there is life, there is hope." Known as The Hope Dealer, Tim is a successful entrepreneur, grateful recovering heroin addict and alcoholic - and truth-talking convicted felon.

This episode is about the podcast. It features the host - Joanie Sigal - and the producer - Steve Sigal - talking about how and why the podcast was started and how it has progressed over the last 3 years plus. https://theaddictionpodcast.com/

Wes Geer is a rock star - literally and figuratively. He founded the band HedPE and was traveling guitarist for KORN. In 2003, Wes was addicted to methamphetamines, alcohol and pot. He got clean. In 2012 he founded Rock to Recovery, a non-profit organization that allows recovering addicts, victims of abuse and troubled teens to express themselves through song. Rock to Recovery also works with Wounded Warriors helping our most valued citizens - our veterans.

In the last episode of the podcast, we talked to Dan about the death of his son Danny. Danny didn't die of an overdose but rather was murdered while trying to buy drugs. Dan found the murderer and saw him convicted. Dan promised God that if he'd help him find Danny's murderer, that he would be on a mission for God. What Dan did next is the subject of crime thrillers. Noticing that one doctor in his area was writing 90% of the prescriptions for pain meds, he eventually got her license revoked and her criminally prosecuted.

In 1999, Dan Schneider - a Louisiana pharmacist - lost his only son to a drug related murder. Unlike, perhaps, what most of us would do, Dan was relentless in pursuing his son's murderer and kept up an investigation for more than a year to bring the perpetrator to justice. He finally saw the young man sentenced to 15 years after taking a plea bargain. Dan's story of investigation and ultimately redemption is the subject of a trending Netflix docu series - The Pharmacist. His story doesn't end there.

This interview is with Connor Miller, 26 years old. He was a heroin addict who got clean from drugs four years ago and since then, he has not looked back. He co-founded a 50 million dollar logistics business with his father and now he is in the process of teaching himself how to be a filmmaker. He's been a successful entrepreneur and has a great method for approaching sobriety - be on the offense, rather than the defense.

Robert is a successful entrepreneur and childhood sexual abuse survivor. Straddling the line between poor and destitute, Robert was raised by a single mother in a failing steel town. Robert wrote his book - Before I Leave You - as a final message, fully intending to end his life after writing it. However, he's now married with a child and living life to it's fullest. It can be done.

Mike Diamond, former reality TV star, motivational speaker/author, and celebrity interventionist. Being 13+ years sober himself, Mike shares his knowledge in his new book "7 Steps to an Unbreakable Mindset," speaks in schools around the nation and keynotes national health conferences. In addition, he is currently in development on a TV Show (with a major network, soon to be announced!) showcasing his work helping addicted youth find recovery.

Dr. Mohr strongly supports treatment and sustainable recovery. He is not an advocate for the delegalization of marijuana. In his capacity as epidemiologist for Drug Free America, he researches the effects of marijuana - especially on our youth. Dr. Mohr has recently written a timely article on the effects of the Coronavirus on drug addiction relapse: https://www.dfaf.org/coronavirus-and-stimulus-may-increase-risk-of-relapse-for-many/

We titled this podcast as Janet being a champion for newborns. This is because she worked as a neonatal nurse and had to treat newborns born addicted to drugs in an ever increasing number with the opioid addiction epidemic being in full swing. However, with the death of a friend's son due to overdose, her campaign became all about pill mills and legal distribution of deadly drugs. Her book and her organization are called STOPP Now. http://stoppnow.com/ Get involved.

Shelley Winner was introduced to alcohol by her dad at age 11. Her drug and alcohol use grew from there to trafficking in drugs in her 30s. She was arrested and received a 4 year sentence in a federal institution in California. Believe it or not, it turned out to be one of the best things to happen to her. She got clean, gave birth to a wonderful baby boy and now works for a high tech company. She advocates for formerly incarcerated people. Watch her interview on Ted Talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zOikuUjzw8

What, you ask, is pharmacognosy? It's the study of medicinal plants. Pamela Seefeld is all about replacing drugs with natural remedies and it's not just about her opinion. It's about science and she knows the science. If you, or someone you know, has been prescribed any sort of pain killer, you need to listen to this episode and talk to Pamela BEFORE you continue.

A tenacious crusader in today's drug crisis, Allie Severino is no stranger to addiction–or to the stigma that comes with being an addict. Allie has devoted her life's work to breaking down the stigma associated with substance use disorders and increasing access to care for all who experience them. Allie speaks regularly with schools, drug court officials, judges,teachers, parents and those like herself who are dealing with addictions. This devotion to creating a healthier community for all didn't start yesterday, Allie has been advocating and creating real change for those who struggle with substance misuse and their loved ones for over a decade.

Nick Ferguson grew up in the inner city of Miami, known as the projects. Within his neighborhood and even his own family, he was aware of the negative effects of addiction from an early age. With the influence of two of his teachers and his mother, he went down a different path and decided to use his God given talent as an athlete to pursue professional sports. After 10 years in the NFL, he is working to educate youth about the dangers of drugs. He is the host of 1043 - "The Fan" in Denver.

In his just released book "Pharma", a meticulously documented expose of decades of fraud, incompetence, conspiracy and avarice, award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author Gerald Posner traces the heroes and villains of the trillion-dollar-a-year pharmaceutical industry and uncovers how those once entrusted with improving life have often betrayed that ideal to corruption and reckless profiteering—with deadly consequences.

James Brown has his own addiction story. It's not dissimilar to stories we've told about children starting on alcohol or marijuana. But James' story has so much tragedy - the loss of his siblings - that it's a wonder that he survived and has been clean and sober for more than a decade. Not only is he clean and sober but he's written three semi-autobiographical books in an effort to hell his story and help others recover from loss and addiction.

Running a rehab center might not be first and foremost on your list of professions you want to pursue. However, Fabian Padro - with a background of entrepreneurship and business - became the Executive Director of the most exclusive Narconon on the planet. He is dedicated to helping individuals get clean and sober and he's been doing a great job at it. His is a story about helping others with their addiction and being successful at it.