Let's Talk Addiction & Recovery

Latest Episodes:

Addiction Recovery and Support for Families Apr 17, 2019

Show notes

Learn where to find help if your family is faced with addiction. Just as the alcoholic or addict needs help to get well, families need support to heal from the harm of addiction. Listen in as host William C. Moyers talks with therapists Sarah Schwalbach and Julia Edelman about the importance of addiction recovery support for families. They will discuss the recovery process, rebuilding trusting relationships, relapse prevention and helpful resources.

Addiction and Your Spirit: Recovering Hope Apr 03, 2019

Show notes

Addiction is defined as a disease of the body, mind and spirit, but the spiritual aspects of recovery often take a backseat to treating the physical and psychological symptoms. Listen in as noted psychiatrist and addiction recovery expert Marvin D. Seppala, MD, talks with host William C. Moyers about spirituality and healing: practicing honesty, humility and compassion; leaning on others for help; experiencing positive emotions (joy, love, awe); and living with greater purpose and meaning.

How Addiction Affects Your Body and Mind Mar 20, 2019

Show notes

Learn how addiction to alcohol or other drugs hijacks the brain and why people in active addiction continue drinking or using substances despite devastating effects. Recovery expert Marvin D. Seppala, MD, joins host William C. Moyers to discuss the disease of addiction in easily understandable terms: the role of dopamine in the brain's reward center; effects of alcohol and other drugs on the brain, liver, heart and mental health; genetic and other risk factors for addiction.

What's the Harm in Vaping? Mar 07, 2019

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Vaping nicotine rather than smoking the drug is widely promoted as a safe way to wean off cigarettes, but the popular practice is exposing a new generation to risky substance use. Listen in as host William C. Moyers talks with President and CEO Joseph Lee, MD, about the difference between vaping and smoking, types of vaping devices used for nicotine and other drugs, and the harmful health effects of vaping—especially for teens.

Family Roles When Addiction Takes Hold Feb 20, 2019

Show notes

With the best of intentions, families can fall into unhealthy roles when attempting to cope with a loved one's alcohol or drug addiction. Enabling, denying, blaming and preoccupation are common coping behaviors. Listen in as host William C. Moyers talks with therapists Sarah Schwalbach and Julia Edelman about how addiction affects the family system, what it means to "detach with love" and why helping a loved one who has addiction starts with getting help for yourself.

Cross Addiction: Substance Use Disorders and Compulsive Behaviors Feb 06, 2019

Show notes

Two different types of activities—substance use and compulsive behavior—increase dopamine output, producing a "feel good" sensation that can trigger and reinforce addiction. Host William C. Moyers talks with recovery expert Brenda Iliff about cross addiction (addiction interaction disorder), the condition of replacing one problematic substance or behavior with another. Iliff explains why addictive behaviors around food, sex or gaming thrive in secrecy and where to find recovery help and support.

Addiction and Recovery for Older Adults Nov 21, 2018

Show notes

America's older generations are increasingly at risk of developing substance use disorders. Listen in as Brenda Iliff, executive director of the Hazelden Betty Ford treatment center in Naples, Florida, joins host William C. Moyers to discuss the growing prevalence of addiction among older adults. She describes how age-related issues can hasten problematic drinking or drug use and offers helpful advice about initiating a conversation if you're concerned that your loved one may need treatment.

Mobilizing Against Addiction: Local Efforts Address the Opioid Crisis Nov 07, 2018

Show notes

Some of the most promising approaches to the nation's opioid epidemic are being forged in courthouses, correctional institutions, hospital emergency rooms and town hall meetings in communities across the country. Jordan Hansen, manager of clinical strategies and programming for the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, joins host William C. Moyers to report on several successful efforts at the local level to effect change, advance addiction recovery and build a healthier tomorrow.

Opioid Rehab: A Nurse's Story of Addiction, Truth and Healing Oct 10, 2018

Show notes

When Linda P. was prescribed Percocet to relieve her debilitating migraine headaches, the powerful opioid drug quickly became her go-to remedy for all of life's struggles. Listen in as Linda tells host William C. Moyers why shame kept her trapped in addiction for years until she was able to ask for help. Linda also discusses why a medication-assisted treatment program along with a combination of inpatient and outpatient rehab proved the best path for her in finding lasting freedom from opioid addiction.

Rehab Evolution: Following the Science to Help More People Sep 27, 2018

Show notes

While a "cure" for alcohol and drug addiction remains elusive, clinicians are getting closer to understanding how to help more people successfully reclaim their lives from the chronic disease. John Driscoll, senior vice president of recovery services for the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, joins host William C. Moyers to discuss evidence-based rehab advancements and core elements of effective treatment designed to help patients learn how to successfully manage the symptoms of their disease.