Let's Talk Addiction & Recovery

Latest Episodes:

How to Choose the Right Outpatient Treatment Program Feb 21, 2023

Show notes

The search for addiction treatment is exhausting. How do you differentiate one program from the next? What factors are most important? This is uncharted territory, meaning it's okay to feel lost or overwhelmed. To provide some much-needed clarity and guidance, a panel of experts joined host William C. Moyers to explain what you should look for, including the keys to effective care and the most important questions to ask a potential treatment provider.

Why New Mexico Leads the Country in Alcohol-Related Deaths Feb 20, 2023

Show notes

What did journalist Ted Alcorn learn during his seven-part investigation into drinking trends in New Mexico? From uncovering why the state leads the U.S. in alcohol-related deaths, to discovering laws and policies that ignore and even encourage alcohol use, Alcorn spotted gaps in the system that allowed one man to spend 40 years in active addiction without intervention. But there's hope: he also found some solutions. Now he joins host William C. Moyers to share what he discovered.

Most Common Obstacles to Recovery Feb 20, 2023

Show notes

Some obstacles to addiction recovery for the Native community are obvious and well documented, like underfunded health systems. But other, less obvious challenges are just as sticky and prevent just as many people from seeking help. These obstacles, in turn, lengthen "the journey from the head to the heart"—when a person understands that they need help, but the paradigms of recovery have yet to take root in their heart and soul.

How to Relieve Stress and Anxiety without Substances Feb 20, 2023

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Millions of Americans are trying to medicate their anxiety with alcohol, marijuana and other drugs. This might work for a short time, but it opens the door for addiction and produces even more anxiety in the long run. Having seen this same sequence of events over and over again, clinician Sarah Wicks, PhD, LP, joins host William C. Moyers to talk about anxiety and addiction: how they feed off one another and the healthy coping skills that actually relieve stress.

The Story of a Healing Spirit Feb 20, 2023

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This is the recovery story of Daisy Vanslyke, a gentle spirit who spends most of her time healing other people. In her every word and wisdom, she speaks from the heart: she has endured some of life's greatest adversities and hardships, but she still finds beauty and purpose in herself, her children and her recovery. And she's brave enough to see the same in others—and to help them see it too.

Coordinating the Care My Community Deserves Feb 20, 2023

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Chandell Boyd, LADC, joins host Andrew Williams to discuss her work with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, where she's an associate director for the Substance Use Disorders Department. Boyd is also an alumnus of the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies. And although she dreams of the day when addiction no longer affects her community, she's using her master's to coordinate new patient services and facilitate change in her community and among her people.

What Happens in Outpatient Treatment? Am I a Good Fit? Feb 17, 2023

Show notes

Much has changed in the world of addiction treatment. The standard model of care used to revolve around a 28-day stint inside a treatment center. But residential care isn't optimal for everyone, and with kids, careers and other responsibilities, sometimes it's not even an option. Enter outpatient and virtual treatment options—where the earliest stages of recovery happen alongside the rest of life. Would you be a good fit? Tune in for this panel discussion with host William C. Moyers.

Dispelling the Myths Native Communities Recovery Equity Feb 17, 2023

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In this episode of Let's Talk Recovery Equity, journalist Ted Alcorn talks about his investigation into alcohol use in New Mexico, which has the worst rate of alcohol-related deaths in the country. He focused on the small town of Gallup in McKinley County, which is sandwiched between Navajo, Hopi and Zuni reservations and has long served as the local drinking spot—and is perhaps the perfect setting for busting myths.

The Veteran's Guide to Fighting Pain and Addiction Feb 16, 2023

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In this episode of Let's Talk, licensed psychologist and military veteran Dustin Brockberg, PhD, and his wife, Kerry Brockberg, PhD, also a psychologist, talk about their new book, End Your Covert Mission, with host William C. Moyers. They share some tangible advice with other veterans who want to find peace from chronic pain—in all its forms—and long-lasting recovery from addiction.

How to Heal and Recover from Shame Feb 10, 2023

Show notes

Shame and addiction go hand-in-hand. Because of that, some of the most important work in recovery deals with the transformation of shame into something lighter and more actionable—guilt. Then a person can understand, "I did bad things, but I am not a bad person." And they can forgive themselves and work to make things right. Senior clinician Sarah Wicks, PhD, LP, explains the key differences between shame and guilt and chronicles the healing process with host William C. Moyers.