Let's Talk Addiction & Recovery

Latest Episodes:

Aida's Recovery Story - Trapped in the Eye of the Storm Feb 08, 2023

Show notes

Aida was addicted to crystal meth and too sick to evacuate when hurricane Katrina battered the coast. Her daughter and family had sheltered in Dallas, but she had to wait out the destruction alone in Baton Rouge, praying for help from helicopters flying overhead. Unbeknown to Aida, a twist of fate was soon to reveal itself. Now Aida and her brother Will share their unbelievable story with host William C. Moyers, reflecting on the power of dignity and hope, especially in the midst of crisis.

How Trauma and Migration Affect the Treatment Process Feb 08, 2023

Show notes

Immigrants and refugees are often forced to flee from unimaginable crisis—their lives torn apart by war and other humanitarian disasters. Unfortunately, that trauma doesn't disappear when they arrive in the States. Plus, with no experience, they have difficulty navigating our health systems. To shed light on the subject, and to explain culturally-responsive treatment settings, Damir Utrzan, PhD, and Manuel Garcia join host William C. Moyers.

Great Work: the Cook Inlet Tribal Council Feb 07, 2023

Show notes

Daisy VanSlyke from the Cook Inlet Tribal Council shares how they're promoting recovery among Native Alaskan communities. Using culturally-sensitive care and native models of wellness, their organization is able to spread the messages of recovery that really stick and resonate with local communities. The key, according to VanSlyke, is to listen.

A Family's Multigenerational Story of Hope and Recovery Feb 07, 2023

Show notes

Addiction passes from one generation to the next. But so too does the hope of recovery. This was the case for Judy and her family: Her mother was the fourth patient to ever receive treatment at the Betty Ford Center. Then Judy, her brother and her son later followed in those healing footsteps, sharing a multigenerational story of hope and recovery. Now she joins host William C. Moyers to discuss how recovery gets passed down, and she answers the question, "What keeps you sober after 37 years?"

Breaking the Cycle of Trauma and Addiction Feb 06, 2023

Show notes

Indigenous children were stolen from their homes, sent to boarding schools and forced to assimilate. Thus began the cycle of trauma and addiction. Today, the Wellbreity movement responds—providing a cultural framework for healing from those injustices and breaking the cycle.

The Role of Historical Trauma Feb 06, 2023

Show notes

Host Andrew Williams speaks with his colleagues Cecelia Jayme, Director of Clinical Services, and Sarita McGowan, PhD. As two proud Native women in long-term recovery, Jayme and McGowan, PhD, share their personal and professional insights into addiction within Indigenous communities. And they discuss how it's being addressed, and how allies and community members can partner to create change—honoring the long history of trauma and the very real impact on their community.

The Medicine of Community: Native Strong Men Project Feb 06, 2023

Show notes

Food. Touch. Connection. Music and Laughter. These are medicines, and when a person is healthy and whole, they become good medicine to others. That's how Celina Mahinalani Garza is bridging the health equity gap for Native communities. Tune in to hear her fascinating outlook on healing.

Teaching the Language of Recovery Jan 24, 2023

Show notes

Emi and Lina didn't have the tools to process and make sense of their loved one's addiction. They're just kids, after all. But once they attended the Children's Program, they started to speak the language of recovery—and they understood that they will never, ever be alone on this journey.

Do I Have an Alcohol Use Disorder? Jan 13, 2023

Show notes

Has your drinking become problematic? You're not alone: the headlines have focused on opioids and fentanyl, but alcohol remains the most used and abused substance in the country. And the pandemic made things worse. So if you're wondering whether you might have an alcohol use disorder, learn these warning signs and signals—and the healthiest solutions available. Quyen Ngo, PhD, and Stephen Delisi, MD, discuss all that and more with host William C. Moyers.

A Message of Hope for Parents with Addicted Children Sep 14, 2022

Show notes

A beautiful and fun-loving boy transformed when he began to experiment with substances. His father, Stephen, could hardly recognize him: he became "nasty and combative," and their home life was marred by conflict. Willing to do anything, Stephen retired from Wall Street to learn everything he could about parenting an addicted child. Now he joins host William C. Moyers to share some essential life lessons and tools for other families who still hurt.