LPP Podcast

HBO has become the ultimate destination of Harm Reduction in streaming media with its shows Mare of Easttown and Hacks. In both, the show’s protagonists (again played by women) drink (Mare) and consume drugs (Hacks) without being driven to perdition. Moreover, the creators of each series seem to be actively pursuing a harm reduction vision — meaning not blaming drugs and alcohol for people’s life...

Naomi Osaka’s decision to withdraw from the French Open rather than face a post match press conference became worldwide news. Osaka says her depression and anxiety make it impossible for her to speak in public. Most observers sympathize with Osaka’s reserve, and castigate the tour directors for making her quit. But tennis legend Billy Jean King and most of Osaka’s fellow players feel that successf...

WARNING: Please be aware that the following many not be suitable for people who are disturbed by discussions of death OR of the fallible thinking that prevails in the drug reform field. Leading figures in drug policy reform and addiction theory swear by MAT, which is universally accepted and used across the country. These well-meaning reformists and experts — groups and individuals like DPA, Maya...

WHY do people so often reject drug and alcohol treatment, let alone refusing to volunteer for it, so that American addiction treatment depends on the legal system to survive?  Stanton and Zach discuss the addiction treatment coercion phenomenon and imagine an alternative helping universe. Coercion is central to the American addiction treatment enterprise. Without the participation of law enfo...

Stanton and Zach consider five responses to NY Times article seeding “pandemic panic” @ alcohol:   1. There hasn’t been a significant increase in drinking.  2. Problems with alcohol and drugs preceded the pandemic, and aren’t due to substances.  3. Judging from Times’ readers’ comments, people with resources do remarkably well adjusting their drinking to their circumstances.  4...

Addiction news of the week (and its meaning and uses) in review:  What does it tell us about (a) medical therapy, (b) the history of medicine, (c) the nature of mental disorders that an ancient "herb" (psilocybin) exceeds the most significant product of modern biochemistry (SSRIs) in remedying depression?  In what way is anxiety addiction-like, and how can we use this knowledge to help E...

Dr. Peele and Zach consider Zach’s interview with Maia Szalavitz. Does Maia believe in the disease theory? What would happen if she took heroin again?  Would she "Richard Harris" it (drinking Guinness as a 70ish grandpa)? Do chronic brain disease advocates understand why families resist their depredations? Are they guilty of manslaughter? Zach says he’s okay with heroin — unlike the opioided...

Maia Szalavitz joins Zach Rhoads a discussion about addiction and harm reduction, including her forthcoming book, "Undoing Drugs". Maia and Zach agree on a definition of addiction but re-open their epic argument about "values"  ;) They also discuss Dr. Carl Hart's book, "Drug Use For Grown Ups" -- Maia disagrees with Hart on a fundamental point about Harm Reduction. ***** SUBSCRIBE to Our Cha...

Dr. Stanton Peele takes questions from LPP followers. Today he tackles the concept of moderation, which LPP encourages with respect to drugs, alcohol, or any other involvement that a person may have formed an addictive relationship with.    But is there such a thing as an over-emphasis on moderation as an end-goal? Dr. Peele explains here. ***** SUBSCRIBE to Our Channel ***** To get more...

JAMA Pediatric affirms what Dr. Peele has been saying for fifty years (which prominent drug-reformers deny): “marijuana is as addictive as opioids.” Or is that... Opioids are only as addictive as marijuana? How is this possible? What are the implications of this claim? Peele and Rhoads also discuss the Derek Chauvin case, and whether the idea that there being fentanyl in Floyd's system is relevant...

California dreamer Demi Lovato joins the long list of people who don’t conform to the recovery narrative. Only she’s up front about it. Demi Lovato’s intense substance-use history almost killed her. But Lovato is different: she recognizes that what almost killed her was the recovery narrative: “You’re doomed as an addict from birth; you can stave off destruction with absolute abstinence for as lon...

Dr. Stanton Peele and Zach Rhoads respond to news threads that link the recent Atlanta murders to sex addiction.   Does this claim make sense or is the "sex addiction" claim simply an insanity plea with no merit?  Peele and Rhoads get into the subtleties on today's "Sundays With Stories" ***** FOLLOW on Social Media ***** - Facebook: https://facebook.com/lifeprocessprogram - Twitter : ht...

Meghan Markel is being used as an example of how speaking openly about depression is invaluable in order to get treatment and avoid suicide. Well, not so fast...  Here are some salient facts: America has the most depression treatment and the highest suicide rate (both much higher than in the U.K.) among economically advanced societies. Markel (a) didn’t get treatment, (b) worked through her s...

Dr. Carl Hart has faced rough seas promoting his new book. As helpers and theorists who have faced similar tempests, Stanton and Zach offer some helpful hints. ***** Learn more about Dr. Peele's Life Process Program at their YouTube channel here:  https://www.youtube.com/c/LifeProcessProgram?sub_confirmation=1    ***** FOLLOW on Social Media *****  - Facebook: https://facebook....

An audience member asks 'Is "Sex Addiction" different from "Love Addiction' and can the two concepts be used interchangeably?  Stanton explores the differences between the two terms and illustrates a comparative parallel between different genres of 'drug addiction'. ***** SUBSCRIBE to Our YOUTUBE Channel ***** To get more of our content and help us grow: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSYri...

Madeleine Dean: We admire you, but you’re thinking about America’s addiction problems is all wrong.  Dr. Peele and Zach explain to the Congresswoman how she is going in exactly the wrong direction in her addiction policies following on her son’s recovery in rehab.    ​- - - - - - - - - -    ***** SUBSCRIBE to Our YOUTUBE Channel *****  To get more of our content and h...

An audience member asks 'Is "Sex Addiction" different from "Love Addiction' and can the two concepts be used interchangeably?  Stanton explores the differences between the two terms and illustrates a comparative parallel between different genres of 'drug addiction'. VISIT OUR WEB SITE https://LifeProcessProgram.com

Dr. Stanton Peele and Zach Rhoads discuss Jordan Peterson's work, his views about addiction, and how he handled his own addiction to benzodiazepines (with an understanding that Peterson makes a distinction between "addiction proper" and what he believes was his own "physical dependence"-- a distinction the two discuss in another video). Peterson is an intelligent, compelling, and very famous psych...

Dr. Carl Hart explains that the vast majority of people who use drugs do so with no problem. In fact, drugs -- yes, even so-called "hard drugs"-- offer more positive than negative experiences. Dr. Hart is a professor (and former chair) of psychology and psychiatry at Columbia University. Today, he opens up to Zach Rhoads about his new book, "Drug Use For Grown-Ups", in which he's comes out of the...

Dr. Stanton Peele and Zach Rhoads answer the following frequently asked question:  Is LPP a “trauma informed program”? They offer a definition of “trauma” in several contexts. Then they discuss differences between traumatic events and adverse conditions in life. Peele and Rhoads also consider what it means to be trauma informed versus believing trauma is responsible for addicti...

Questions of family often appear in relation to addiction and drug issues. As with all questions in these areas, discussion is misled by disease beliefs, which leave people muddled and mystified about how to proceed constructively.  Nonetheless, basic human values often assert themselves, allowing people— especially young people— to free themselves and to display bravery. Examples in the news...

On today's episode, Dr. Stanton Peele and Zach Rhoads (of the Life Process Program) discuss current events in addiction and harm reduction. The key note: Shia Labeouf's Love Addiction! - - - - - - - - - -  Shia Labeouf has made the news for his movies and even for his recovery from alcohol and drugs. Unfortunately, despite years of "programming" for his addiction issues, Labeouf's behavior is...

Stanton Peele answers questions from social media followers, listeners, and YouTube viewers.  Today, Zach Rhoads reads Stanton a question from a Facebook follower: "Why do people call addiction a disease, and what is addiction REALLY?"  Want to ask Stanton a question?? He will answer on video or on the podcast. You can reach us using any of the links below.  - - - - - - - - - - -&nb...

Today Zach Rhoads speaks with Michael Galipeau (AKA Mikey G) about his upbringing in a state-run institution, his years of homelessness, and his relationship (positive and negative) with illicit drug use.  As is par for the course here at "Sundays With Stories", Mikey G's "recovery story is NOT your standard Hollywood-infused story. He describes a traumatic past (which he's not bogged down by...

The actor, podcaster, and AA advocate Dax Shepard has decided to turn his sobriety count from 16 years all the way back to one day. This is the result of a recent decision to take narcotic pain killers off-script.  Dr. Stanton Peele and Zach Rhoads discuss why Dax's own personal development is being stymied by 12-step ideology, and why he either cannot OR refuses to acknowledge that fact.&nbs...