I Took the High Road

In this episode I talk with the co-founder and president of the McShin Foundation, John Shinholser. The McShin Foundation, which was founded in 2004 and named for its two recovering co-founders, John Shinholser and Carol McDaid is located in Richmond Virginia. Shinholser and McDaid have dedicated their lives to helping individuals and families in or seeking recovery from the disease of addiction. The McShin Foundation operates on the founders' belief that by helping others find and sustain recovery, they can better sustain their own recovery, something I can certainly attest to. Please join us to learn more about what the McShin Foundation is doing to take the recovery world by storm on this very important episode, The McShin Foundation with President John Shinholser.

In this episode I talk with interventionist Ed Storti about the 5 Pieces to the Puzzle of Addiction and the disease model. Drug addiction has been classified as a disease since 1974. Why do we still treat it as criminal behavior? Are there things that may identify addiction risk in an individual? Through years of experience and research, Mr. Storti has learned that there are things we can look for that may indicate a higher than normal chance of addiction. The 5 pieces to the Puzzle of Addiction are 1. Higher Appetite Level 2. Turned up Amplifier 3. Some one pushed your Kill Switch years ago 4. Higher need for relief 5. Genetics Based on the Pieces of the puzzle, Mr Storti's belief is that we our hosts of the Illness ,and once experimentation of Alcohol ,other drugs, food,nicotine,gambling ,Internet / gaming takes place then these pieces will reveal themselves! Please join us as we explore this fascinating topic on the 5 pieces to the puzzle of addiction with Ed Storti

In this episode I welcome back Candy Finnigan, television interventionist on A&E's award winning show Intervention. Interventions often take time to prepare and involve a process of figuring out the right path for the patient and the family. Are we seeing the whole picture on TV? Topics for discussion include what is cut from the final show, how having a camera changes the intervention process and if the show Intervention accurately portrays the intervention process. Please join us to go behind the scenes of A&E's Intervention with guest Candy Finnigan.

In this episode I talk with addiction specialist, author and interventionist Candy Finnigan from A&E's Emmy award winning show INTERVENTION about interventions and recovery in general. As an fellow interventionist and person in recovery, I will talk with Candy about her experiences as an interventionist, intervention models and her experiences that have not only helped thousands of individuals get the treatment they needed for their addictions, but also helped millions of people better understand addiction. Join us as I talk with one of the recovery game changers.

In this Valentine's Day episode, I talk with licensed professional counselor Dan Bird, MS, SAC from Alliance Counseling Center about drugs, love and intimate relationships. Drugs often cause problems in not just the user's life, but also in the lives closest to the addicted individual. In this episode we will explore how intimate relationships can be affected by drug use and what to do about it. Topics will include co-dependency, what is enabling and how counseling can be beneficial for all those involved. We will also explore certain techniques used in relationship counseling such as Anger Management, Analyzing Communication, Emotionally Focused Therapy and Stress Resistance. Please join us to hear more about Drugs and Intimate Relationships with Licensed Professional Counselor Dan Bird.

In this episode I talk with The Shores Treatment and Recovery center CEO Lyle R Fried about our current drug problem in America and what Mr. Fried and The Shores faculty are currently doing to change this. As Florida's leading addiction treatment center, The Shores makes sure they are continuously looking into the latest evidence based treatment programs. Topics will include addictions training (what do professionals need to know), what does state licensure mean for a treatment facility, alternative solutions for addictions and the holistic recovery approaches backed by modern-day science. Whether you are a professional in the industry or just want to learn more about addiction and recovery, please join us to find out more about what The Shores Treatment and Recovery Center does with CEO Lyle Fried.

In this episode I talk with special guest Allen F. St. Pierre about a controversial topic in America, Marijuana. With 23 states now offering medical cannabis and multiple states going legal, marijuana has certainly been front and center in the media. NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) has been on the front lines since 1970 providing a voice in the public policy debate for those Americans who oppose marijuana prohibition and favor an end to the practice of arresting marijuana smokers. Today NORML continues to lead the fight to reform state and federal marijuana laws and serves as an informational resource to the national media on marijuana related stories. Episode topics will include current cannabis prohibition, current punitive laws, medicinal uses, marijuana education and what is to come of cannibis in the future. Do we have it wright, or wrong? Please join us to learn more about Marijuana in America with NORMAL executive director Allen St. Pierre.

In this episode I talk with Rockers In Recovery founder John Hollis about the RIR organization and the many ways they promote recovery. This non-profit based out of Florida, started in 2008 and has dedicated its focus on producing addiction recovery news, interviews, meet and greet events, concerts and festivals taking place within the clean and sober community. RIR, since its founding, has reached hundreds of thousands of followers and has produced 16 concerts and four music festivals devoted to sobriety, bucking the trend that rock music has to center on the usual themes of sex, drugs and other components of that lifestyle. Please join us as I talk with John Hollis about Rockers In Recovery, how they spread the recovery message and their upcoming events!

In this episode I talk with Ken C. Winters, Ph.D. about adolescent substance abuse and how it is affecting our country. Mr. Winters is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Minnesota, director of the Center for Adolescent Substance Abuse Research, and a Senior Scientist with the Treatment Research Institute in Philadelphia, PA. The passion that Mr. Winters has for understanding and treating adolescent addiction has won him numerous research grants and awards to further help solve this growing problem through evidence based practices. Topics will include how drugs affect the adolescent brain, how the wrong levels of treatment can do more harm than good, and effective treatment models for adolescents and young adults. We are facing a drug epidemic that affects adults and youth alike. Don't miss this very important episode on adolescents and substance abuse.

In this episode I talk with my alcohol and drug counselor Jerry Flanagan, about Alliance Counseling Center, how treatment modalities have changed over the years, why incarceration doesn't work and recovery in general. Over the last six years, Mr. Flanagan has helped see me through some of my most difficult times as my therapist, and has trained me as a certified interventionist in my recovery. With decades of experience in alcohol and drug treatment, supervision and training of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment, Mr. Flanagan has a wealth of knowledge to share. Listen in so you don't miss this opportunity to learn from my mentor, counselor and teacher, Jerry Flanagan.

In this episode I talk with award winning producer, director and writer Molly Hermann about her new documentary “WRITTEN OFF: The Short, Sad, Beautiful Life of Matt Edwards”. This film is the story of Matt Edwards, a man from the Northwoods of Wisconsin that never made it out of the cycle of opiate addiction, told through his private journals. Sometimes, when a tragic event happens, a positive change can occur. Out of this tragedy Molly Hermann and the Biscuit Factory are raising awareness about the growing opiate problem in the United States. One death is a tragedy, a thousand is a statistic. This film helps personalize the current opiate epidemic and makes Matt’s story not just another statistic. Please listen in to learn more about Matt Edwards, addiction, Molly Hermann and making a documentary on opiate addiction.

In this episode I talk with Beverly Buncher, CEO of Family Recovery Resources about the family dynamics of addiction and how to change the unhealthy behavior within the family. Addiction is a family disease. The behavior of a person who is using can affect members of the family and conversely, behaviors from members of the family can contribute to the unhealthy cycle of addiction for the individual. In this very important episode, we will learn how to erase judgments that create barriers between families & their loved one, regain the inner calm and peace they thought they’d lost forever, learn how to avoid the mental obsession that plagues so many families caught up in their loved one’s lives and discuss how family's start enjoying their lives again, regardless of their addicted individuals choices.

In this episode I discuss the topic of Education NOT Incarceration with Julia Negron. Mrs. Negron has a background in the music industry having past relationships with members of the bands from The Doors, The Alman Brothers and Three Dog Nights, however her focus after music has been on recovery and Education NOT Incarceration. Beginning with her participation in the LA Overdose Task Force she has been active for more than a decade in advocating for changing our punitive drug policies, reducing stigma, and prison & sentencing reform. Mrs. Negron's passion is harm reduction, decriminalization and ending the mass incarceration of drug offenders. Her goal, as well as an underlying theme of the show, is to move the issue of drug dependence out of the hands of law enforcement and courts - to the professionals who are best suited to work with Substance Use Disorder as a public heath issue. Join us as we discuss this very important issue with influential advocate Julia Negron.

In this show I talk with Richie Ogulnick about a relatively new substance in the United States called Heantos. Heantos is a combination of 13 organic Vietnamese herbs used to detox and eliminate cravings from opiates, methadone, and cocaine. For decades, Vietnamese doctors have been refining Heantos' medicinal properties and healing thousands in the East. Heantos is said to have no side effects, all herbs are FDA approved, and is does not create dependency like some maintenance drugs and has now been brought to the United States. Join us to hear about this amazing substance, Heantos.

In this episode I talk with addiction specialist, author and interventionist Candy Finnigan from A&E's Emmy award winning show INTERVENTION about interventions and recovery in general. As an fellow interventionist and person in recovery, I will talk with Candy about her experiences as an interventionist, intervention models and her experiences that have not only helped thousands of individuals get the treatment they needed for their addictions, but also helped millions of people better understand addiction. Join us as I talk with one of the recovery game changers.

In this show I talk with guest Dr. Michael Miller about the Herrington Recovery Center and Rogers Memorial Psychiatric Hospital, and how they help people find recovery from chemical and process addictions. Dr. Miller has been practicing addiction medicine for 30 years and will share his knowledge of this often very difficult but rewarding field of medicine. The shows discussion will revolve around drug and alcohol detoxification, the medicines that are currently being used and the following treatment and therapy involved after the detoxification process.

In this show I travel to Ibogaine University in Rosarito, Mexico to learn about Ibogaine, an isolated active alkaloid from the root bark of the central West African shrub Tabernanthe Iboga. Ibogaine has been used for thousands of years for spiritual development and as a rite of passage into adulthood. In the 1960's, it was found that ibogaine can be used to stop painful opiate withdrawal and other chemical addictions, yet it still remains a schedule I substance in the United States. In this show we will talk about what ibogaine is, how it works to stop addiction, and why it is illegal in the United States but legal in other countries.

In this show I talk with senior director of MusiCares Harold Owens about what the Musicians Assistance Program is, and what they do. The music industry is filled with temptation, and for some, this can lead to addiction and destructive behaviors. There are many musicians who are looking for help getting out of the spiral of addiction and may not have the funds to do so. MusiCares is one organization that gets individuals the help they need. This year, MusiCares provided over $687,00 in treatment to over 700 individuals. Listen in to find out how.

In this episode I talk with LifePoint about what they do in the community. With opiate use running rampant, LifePoint has expanded quickly to meet the demand and help save lives through harm reduction services. Shows topics will include what Naloxone is, how LifePoint (needle exchange) programs help the community and what is the 911 Good Samaritan Bill?

In this episode I am joined by Vincent Hack, a left leg amputee, and Mel Pohl, Medical Director of Las Vegas Recovery Center to talk about chronic pain and living without pain medications. Between the years of 1999 and 2010, sales for prescription painkillers to hospitals, doctors and pharmacies increased fourfold. Why has this happened? The shows discussion will include Vincent's story of addiction, chronic pain and recovery, alternative methods to deal with pain, how opiates affect the brain, non-opiate pain medication and pain relieving techniques, and how the Las Vegas Recovery Center helps chronic pain patients break the addictive grasp of pharmaceutical opiates.