The Addiction Podcast-Point of No Return

Philip Markoff is an online influencer and thought leader on addiction education; he is known as his alias "CG Kid" and obtained a large audience primarily on YouTube as a vlogger and journalist. He has his own story of addiction and recovery and uses that to educate others, those in addiction or family and friends so that they can take steps to recovery.

Melissa's story is different than pretty much any other we've told on this podcast. She was prescribed Ativan when she had her second child and couldn't sleep. As the dosage was upped, she experienced seizures and when she tried to cut down on the medication, she had strokes. After a year of decreasing the dosage, she finally was able to stop taking most of the drug but to this day is on a very low dose of Valium.

From selling his first business at age 19 to building a multimillion-dollar A- list talent agency, Darren Prince has experienced what life is like in the celebrity world. He also saw the dark reality of addiction through his own personal struggle. After over 11 years of sobriety, Darren has become a sought-after speaker on addiction recovery and mental health. He specializes in helping high functioning addicts and at-risk executives to identity and avoid the pitfalls of addiction. His book "Aiming High" details his challenges.

Michael is an ex-offender and former addict and gang member. After 12 years in prison he finally had his "point of no return", he became determined to ensure that no other child in America "turned out like me". He has since presented drug education and prevention in all 50 states in over 700 schools throughout the US. Michael is on a mission to educate youth and parents on the dangers of drugs. In this interview he takes a deep look into the dangers of vaping.

Marshall Faulk was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for twelve seasons, both for the Indianapolis Colts and St. Louis Rams. In 2011, Marshall was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2017. Now he is the National Spokesman for "The Foundation for a Drug Free World", a nonprofit public benefit corporation that empowers youth and adults with factual information about drugs so they can make informed decisions and live Drug-Free.

Dr. Cali Estes has her own history with addiction involving food. But dealing with that and studying the whole area of addiction made her much more able to deal with her rock musician husband - Tim - when he became addicted to heroin. He's clean and sober with the help of his wife and both are giving back to people in need.

IIn 2002, Marianne Skolek Perez's daughter Jill died at the age of 29 after being prescribed OxyContin for back pain. As a nurse employed at a large medical center, Marianne wanted answers. Her research led her to Purdue Pharma and the FDA's involvement in a growing. Marianne has appeared in Federal Court on this matter and continues to work with government agencies and private attorneys in giving a voice for her daughter, as well as the voice for scores of victims of OxyContin.

Kathleen left her husband due to his heavy drinking, thinking this would protect her children. However, the cycle of alcohol abuse was repeated in her family. Her message is one of hope and recovery. Her book will be published shortly and hopefully will provide insight into addiction and how to deal with it in the family. A mother's perspective.

Jonathan Goyer began his addiction journey with pot at age 7. He, like so many others, worked his way up to pretty much all drugs - heroin, coke, meth - you name it. He lost his dad to an overdose and then his brother to complications from a drug overdoes. In 2013 he got clean and now he gives back via his nonprofit - https://www.atrecovery.org/ He recently was featured in the TV show "60 Days in Narcoland"

Ed Kressy was bullied had many childhood issues. As a teen he became a meth addict for 11 years. Stealing, after being arrested, he was shown compassion by a caring police officer. But his addiction led to losing his job, he stole from his family and ended up rock bottom. Spirituality brought him back. He persevered for years, got sober, and was later awarded the FBI Director's Community Leadership Award for work he did helping people reintegrate into society after being released from prison

Branislav Jankic's story is not so much about his addiction as it is about him dealing with his mother's addiction to drugs and alcohol. When his mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer, he wanted to tell her everything that he had experienced as a result of her addiction but he found that the best way he could do that was through his documentary short film "Letter to My Mother".

Drew's addiction began before the 7th grade with prescription drugs for "ADHD". Add an abusive father, anger issues and add pot, meth, coke, ecstasy, Atavan, Zoloft and more. Drew's story of recovery leaves no stone unturned. Now stably sober through the Narconon program, his whole family is closer together. He is now staff and knows there is hope for anybody that wants to achieve sobriety.

Jam Alker is a songwriter who spins his experiences into stories. These stories, told through music, often touch on life's dark, gritty underbelly, without judgment or condemnation, but often with a message of hope. In his formative years on Chicago's music scene, Jam played virtually every stage in the city, then toured the country. Though he loved music, he lost his way. In the depths of misery and addiction, on the verge of losing everything, he reached out for help. See also on YouTube.

Austin is a husband and father living in rural Wyoming. He was raised in a family struggling with addiction and while he swore he wouldn't go down that road, ultimately he did end up addicted to drugs and alcohol. He now has a wife and 4 year old daughter who miraculously survived her mother's addiction. You can watch this also on YouTube Channel

This episode is an interview with award winning actor Tony Denison - co-star of TNT's #1 drama series "The Closer" and "Major Crimes". He describes how he overcame his battle with alcohol and cocaine and how he is now helping others become sober and stay sober. Tony has received a Prism Award by the Entertainment Industry Council for Outstanding Performance in a Drama Series and five SAG nominations for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. As a popular television guest star, he's appeared on ABC's Castle, in the final season of FX's hit show Sons of Anarchy and had a recurring arc on FOX's Prison Break.

A prize winning nonfiction writer's account of a troubled adolescence spent immersed in alcohol, drugs, and crime. She is author of "Body Leaping Backward: Memoir of a Delinquent Girlhood". Her essays and memoirs have been published in Creative Nonfiction, Fourth Genre, The Florida Review, New England Review, and River Teeth, among others. She has received the Iowa Review Prize, the American Literary Review Prize, Pushcart Prizes, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, and Maine Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowships. She has an M.F.A. from Ohio State University, and teaches at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Visit her at www.maureenstantonwriter.com

Jade Eilers is title holder of Miss Teen Ohio International 2019, placing top 5 in the world. These titles have given her an International audience for her platform "Start Talking, Building a Drug Free Future." She has done more than most to help counter the drug problem nationally. Jade talks about how it is OK to not do drugs, smoke, vape or drink and that it should be validated not ostracized. She recently shared her message to Religious Leaders and Political Officials at the United Nations.

TV co-star in "60 Days in Narcoland", Alexis Johnson is 4 years clean and sober. She has suffered everything imaginable, from 7 overdoses, 2 flatlines, 3 DUI's, 7 trips to prison, burying 16 of her friends- including her ex-fiancé, and giving her addiction 15 years of her life. Today, she is an international fitness model, making 2 magazine covers and getting published in one of the most prestigious magazines in America. Her memoir, "Beautiful Nightmare" will be released this year.

Jason and Joanie talk about pharmaceutical companies recently being sued and having to fork over millions, if not billions for their part in this whole opioid epidemic plaguing the world. it's a start. And they get into the vaping controversy. The dangers just outweigh the benefits - if there are any.

Grant Feasel was a starting center and long snapper for the Seattle Seahawks from 1987 to 1992. During that time he suffered multiple traumas and used alcohol and drugs to dull the pain. This eventually led to his death. This interview with his wife Cyndy tells the battle they went through for years to deal with the trauma and drugs. Cyndy has documented Grant's battles in her book -"After the Cheering Stops".

When Paul Fletcher was a major league baseball player for the the Phillies and Oakland Athletics, many of his teammates drank. Alcohol was readily available. But Paul got to the point where he couldn't stop. His wife and kids left him and he tried taking his own life by downing a bottle of prescription meds. But still he didn't stop drinking. Finally he got clean and sober and is working to help others get sober and stay that way. An inspiring story that anyone can overcome an addiction.

Lee Burns says himself that with his upbringing there was no real reason to start drugs except that at a young age he started down a road of self doubt and invalidation. He got clean, has stayed clean and is a very successful entrepreneur and public speaker. https://leeburnsgames.com/

There have been several news articles printed about how addicted mothers give birth to addicted babies. This podcast interview is from the viewpoint of the addicted baby. Kim Mathis was born addicted and lacked all of the things we count on our mothers for because her mom was an addict. However, it made her even more determined to not only survive, but excel at everything she did. Now she has written her story in her book - Dope Girl: A Story of Addiction (available on Amazon). Her husband Kevin was a defensive back with the Dallas Cowboys. She is now a successful entrepreneur.

We recently published an episode with Dan Zsido (former Pinellas County Sheriff's deputy) about vaping and we have gotten some very passionate feedback. We're talking about it again today on a special episode with Michael DeLeon from steeredstraight.org. Fasten your seatbelts because it's going to be a bumpy road. As mentioned, we are not talking to adults who want to vape. We just don't want kids doing it.

Eric Burgess excelled at baseball. Then, due to a bad car accident, his world and his family fell apart. Starting with marijuana at a young age, he moved on to crack cocaine before he finished high school. He not only took the drugs, he sold them. He was addicted to the drugs and addicted to the lifestyle of no responsibility. Finally in August 2018, he died from smoking crack cocaine that had fentanyl in it. Narcan brought him back and he has been clean and sober ever since. After getting sober, he picked up a baseball and began marking off each stitch on the baseball. Others picked it up as a way to stay sober one day at a time. This is the 108 challenge.

About 29 years ago, a public school teacher told Barbie Rivera that her 6 year old son had a mental disorder and she needed to put him on a mind altering drug - Ritalin. Barbie thought that was nutty as her son was very bright, normal and already bilingual. She started home schooling him now has her own school - called HELP Miami. Her story of how the drug companies offered to pay her $5K every year for every student she will recommend for medication is horrific.

Dan Zsido has had 15 years of narcotics investigative experience with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. He established and supervised the the Strategic Diversion Task Force investigating pharmaceutical crimes, doctor shopping, fraud, trafficking and more. His current presentations and training target the dangers of "vaping", especially in the teen population, the e-cigarette delivery systems and he current and potential delivery of THC and other drugs through these new devices. The song is by Melanie Tolbert - Addiction Salvation: https://youtu.be/EJVtk-Fj7OE

Erin's story is horrific for any mom to deal with. Not only did she lose her beloved son to a heroin overdose but when she started a foundation to spread his story in the hopes of helping others, she was arrested. Here is the tragic story of a young man with a very bright future in hockey who overdosed after being prescribed opiates. Here is also the story of a mother who doesn't want any other mother to have to experience what she went through.

Justin's struggle with addiction is not so different from other former addicts' stories and yet, it's different. He started on drugs, alcohol and Adderall when he was young and in school, and ended up on heroin and methamphetamine. After 10 different rehab programs, he tried a holistic route and now he is clean and sober - and happy to be alive and helping others.

Jennifer Gimenez had it all. She was a beautiful Argentinian young lady who became a model and graced the cover of all the top fashion magazines. She appeared in films with stars such as Johnny Depp and Tom Cruise. Then she found cocaine and her life spiraled out of control. Jenn has now been clean and sober for over 13 years,is helping others, and hopes that her story will inspire others to get help and get clean and get back to a happy life like she has now.

Tim Ryan has been a huge success in business. He's made millions. But drugs and alcohol took everything away from him - his money, his companies, his marriage and even his son. How do you come back from that? With faith and a belief in himself action. A nationally renown speaker, his work was the subject of the A&E TV series "Dope Man". and has been featured in many publications, podcasts and television shows including the Chicago Tribune, Newsweek, The Steve Harvey Show and Dr. Drew's podcast.

There are many kinds of addiction. Our guest on this episode was addicted not only to cocaine and Adderall but also gambling. He has always been a successful entrepreneur but for him that came with the cost of addiction. Now clean and sober - largely through his own efforts, he is giving back to leaders and through raising money for charity. This is Michael Dash's story.

Pastor Michael Carter began his journey into addiction at the tender age of 6 where he saw that those who used drugs had money, power and influence. He snorted heroin at age 9 and his drug use continued from there. Finally reaching his Point of No Return in his 20s, he got clean and sober and now helps others through Victor Newman Ministries - a non-profit group founded by himself and his wife, Yvette. Together, they nourish not only the bodies of individuals but also the souls through their faith.

Recently there was some fake news about kids smoking bed bugs. It appeared that the television station reporting same, said that it was a joke and that it really wasn't true. We don't think it's funny. There are too many horror stories about the drugs that ARE being used to make up things like this. Colorado is finding that young people are abusing marijuana. Ya think?

Dr. Basha Jordan has been a pastor for decades. But more importantly, he is known as The Hope Doctor. Why? He himself has been challenged and is a former addict who has been in recovery for years. So he's "been there and done" that and uses his experiences to deliver hope to individuals and loved ones trying to deal with addiction. His book "The Pipe and the Pulpit" is an impactful story of denial, family challenges and ultimately success. This is his story.

An interview with Susan Korabek, mother of Landon Korabek. Landon Korabek was a talented athlete, a bright student, and an extraordinary guitarist. He was full of life and love. His future was bright with possibilities. Landon died unexpectedly in 2010 at the age of 17 from a prescription drug overdose. Sadly, there is no future now for Landon. Like so many others, he did not understand just how lethal prescription drugs can be. That message needs to be spread. Landon was not an addict. It took only one lethal mixture of Xanax and Vicodin. Family and friends established the Landon Korabek Foundation to celebrate Landon's life and shine a light on the prescription drug abuse epidemic. His mother Susan has spoken to thousands of school kids and community events to raise awareness of the abuse of prescription drugs. Here is her story.

Chris' story at the outset doesn't sound that different than many of the stories we've told on the podcast. What does it take for someone to reach the "point of no return"? In Chris' case it took 7 rehabs, 3 overdoses and 4 stints in jail to get there. But once he did, and arrived at Narconon Suncoast, he changed his life for good. He has been clean and sober for 3 years - has a wife, a son and a new life.

Jay's story is one that we haven't heard before. Prescribed psychiatric medications at a very young age, he ended up addicted to several of those as well as some street drugs. Finally, he realized he didn't have a mental disorder, he was addicted. When he spotted this, he told his psychiatrist that he wanted to get off all of the medications. He was told that he could but only to take different medications. With the help of his grandmother, he stepped down off all drugs and has been clean and sober - completely drug and alcohol free - for 9 years.

Joanie and Jason back in the studio and talking addiction. What is denial really? So often Jason encounters parents and loved ones of addicts who say that there's nothing they can do because the addict is in denial. First of all, there is ALWAYS something you can do. Just reach out to whoever you trust and get help for your loved one.

In the past, we have interviewed Narconon graduates and related their story of addiction, treatment and sobriety. We have also interviewed members of the families of former addicts. In this episode, we have all three of those involved - Josie (former addict) and her mom (Nadja) and dad (Jim). They each have their own perspective on addiction and what each experienced with Josie's addiction and where she is today - healthy, happy and sober. This episode is for everyone.

Today's episode is an interview with author Dave Chase. His latest book focuses on the Opioid Crisis. The opioid crisis is not an anomaly. Instead, it's a self-inflicted wound, driven by a catastrophically dysfunctional health care system, leading to what has become the largest public health crisis in 100 years. Fortunately, proven antidotes exist -- all created and spearheaded by forward-looking citizen leaders and employers.

Diane Stein is the President of Citizens Commission on Human Rights in Florida. She adds a unique perspective on the role that psychiatric mind-altering drugs play in the addiction epidemic we face today. It's not a small role and if psychiatry has it's way, addiction will be labeled as a brain disease and treatable only with further medication. Substituting one drug for another will not result in a sober individual.

This is the story of one unbelievably unethical doctor in West Virginia - Dr. Raj Masih - who was not only responsible for at least one death, but for 100s if not 1000s of people becoming addicted to prescription pain killers. Doctors across the country are now being arrested for this crime against humanity. Kelly worked for this doctor and her stories will raise the hair on the back of your neck.

Bobby Newman is an interventionist with a 90% success rate of getting people into treatment. He is a former addict, so knows all the whys and wherefores that prevent the addict from getting clean and sober. Bobby has developed a series of videos to help YOU to do your own intervention and get your loved one into treatment NOW.

Today's episode is an interview with Ted McGrath. Ted is a highly paid consultant, coach, motivational speaker, actor and entrepreneur. Following his struggle with addiction, Ted created a movement called The Good Enough Movement with the mission to help people realize that no matter what their circumstance or dream, they are good enough to achieve their goals.

Benjamin is from Denmark and started on drugs when he was DJing in Denmark. He is now clean and sober and wants to help spread the word to others. He goes into depth about his experiences on the Narconon program. He suggests that communication is a good first step for anyone addicted.

Giles has an amazing story of how he finally got out of his drug addiction and makes a point that anyone can beat it. Something can be done. This is an amazing story.

When we think of athletes and drugs, it's general performance enhancing drugs like steroids. However, when you are a professional athlete and your job depends on your performance, it's easy to depend on pain killers to get through the next game or the next tournament. That's what happened to former Tampa Bay Bucs offensive lineman and NFL player Randy Grimes. He ended his football career addicted to pain killers. He's clean and sober now and helpoing others get sober. This is his story.

This is episode 100 and Jason and I talk about how it's been and what we are looking forward to with the next 100 episodes. This is also part 3 of the interviews from the 7th Annual Southeastern US Regional Drug Prevention Summit. We interviewed recovering addict Eric Burgiss who has found a simple tool to help himself and others stay clean and sober; Dan Zsido former Pinellas County Sheriff lieutenant with the law enforcement viewpoint and Michael DeLeon, founder of Steered Straight which helps educate youth about the dangers of drugs.

This is part 2 of our Drug Prevention Summit interviews. In this episode we interviewed an independent consultant who is an expert on the effects or drugs and how to post the indicators of addiction; a medical doctor with a slightly different approach to addiction; and a cop who has educated more than 75000 people on drugs and addiction. Our thanks to Drug Free America for allowing us to interview their speakers and attendees. www.dfaf.org