Avoiding the Addiction Affliction

If we are to have a better understanding of our relationships with family, friends, society, and ourselves, we need a way forward. Rainie Howard, an award-winning CEO, bestselling author, and relationship expert, discusses her book, The Love Habit. Because a person's self-image directly influences daily habits (emotional, mental, and physical), which then directly impact relationships with others,...

Words matter. Words are powerful, so powerful that many of us avoid talking about certain topics because of the emotions the words create. Jessica Lahey, the author of the New York Times bestselling books, The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed and The Addiction Inoculation: Raising Healthy Kids in a Culture of Dependence, discusses losing her good...

When people experience decline in their mental health, every part of their lives is affected. Sydney Reece discusses the need for an integrated approach in addressing a person's mental, emotional, and physical selves. Sydney is the Vice President of Operations at Mind Body Optimization. She has a Master's Degree in Counseling from University of North Texas and has worked in multiple settings acros...

What would you do if your life's partner, the father of your children, was planning on ending his life? That was the situation facing Jenny Prochut when she discovered that her husband, Chris, a police commander, had made plans to do just that. Jenny tells the story of what she did to gather the resources necessary to save Chris's life. Chris Prochut is a mental health advocate and law enforcement...

Jacob Jansen and Douglas Darby embody their company's mission of "connection, strength, and hope." Both Jake and Doug are survivors in long-term recovery. Separately, they established several businesses focused on recovery and then collaborated in 2020, forming Turning the Page, a company that offers educational programs about mental health, substance use disorders, and behavioral change. Jake, Do...

Recovery from Substance Use Disorder is everything from a challenge to a celebration. The recovering community is ever-present to support folks through the challenges and to celebrate together every step of the way. Cindy Burzinski discusses her work with the recovering community and the many programs available at Wisconsin Voices for Recovery. Cindy is the current Director of Wisconsin Voices for...

Who helps the helpers when the helpers need help? And what if the helpers are law enforcement officers and first responders? Chris Prochut, a mental health advocate and law enforcement suicide prevention trainer, discusses his own mental health issues that precipitated in his starting "Talk2EndStigma," a training and resource firm dedicated to starting the conversation to end the stigma of mental...

An increasing number of sober, sober curious, and recovering people have found that alcohol is not necessary. Kristi Tanner is a single mother of four in long-term recovery who serves as a recovery coach and the driving force behind Sober Social, a non-alcoholic bottle shop (AKA a "package store" or "party store") in Middleton, Wisconsin. Kristi is a passionate advocate for sober living and commun...

Since the inception in 1980, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) has worked tirelessly to end impaired driving. In 2022 almost fourteen thousand people were killed by an impaired driver. Erin Payton and Karl Krull discuss MADD's mission and work. Erin is a Director of Mission Operations for MADD, providing support and guidance to about twenty percent of the country. Karl is a Program Specialist f...

Saturday, September 21, is World Gratitude Day. The benefits of expressing gratitude for our physical and emotional well being are many, but how do children learn gratitude, especially when so many are surrounded by negativity? Jacqui Letran, Author, Speaker, Nurse Practitioner, and Teen Confidence Expert discusses her latest book, Have You Ever Thanked Your Nose, a work geared towards helping you...

Indigenous educator and mental health advocate Tim Decorah discusses coping with undiagnosed mental health issues and his dedication to helping others. Tim is a Coach, Teacher, Husband, Father, Grandfather, and Mentor. He is a former University of Wisconsin-Platteville basketball player who played under Hall of Fame Coach Bo Ryan. As a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, Tim hopes to serve as a face fo...

When people think of drugs, they often think of the headline drugs: opiates, cocaine, meth. They rarely think of the drug they have at home in their refrigerators. Maureen Busalacchi discusses the number one drug in the country, alcohol. Maureen is the Director of the Wisconsin Alcohol Policy Project (WisAPP) and has decades of experience in public health policy. She works at the Medical College o...

A drug is a drug is a drug, unless that drug is alcohol, in which case it is, or is not, considered a drug, depending on where you live, how you grew up, and what part of the family you come from. Guida Brown discusses the difficulty in diagnosing Alcohol Use Disorder and the ongoing efforts to treat it as a disease. Guida is the Principal for Guided by Guida and serves as the Community Relations...

How does a mother recover from the loss of a child? Felicia Labatore talks about losing her son Clay, who took his own life at age sixteen, and her emotional recovery from that trauma. Professionally, Felicia is a police officer, speaker, and mental health advocate. Felicia can be reached through The Clay Davison Legacy Scholarship Fund at https://kenoshafoundation.org/scholarships/the-clay-daviso...

Growing up isn't easy. With so many social messages and daily reminders that you aren't a finished product, it's difficult to keep the negative messages out of your head. Jacqui Letran discusses her early-life obstacles and the work she has done to help young people find a positive path in their own lives. Jacqui is an Author, Speaker, Nurse Practitioner, and Teen Confidence Expert. She blends ove...

Fentanyl and fentanyl analogues (FFAs), like all opioids, cause respiratory depression, but FFAs also cause a phenomenon called wooden chest syndrome (WCS). Dr. Torralva (Randy) discusses his research to reverse FFA overdose. Dr. Torralva is a board-certified anesthesiologist and specialist in Addiction Medicine with over 30 years in clinical medicine. He has extensive expertise in pharmacology, i...

James Murdock, Jr., talks about his experience being part of the DAD Project, a City of Milwaukee Health Department program that works to strengthen the bonds between fathers and their children. Through weekly in-home visits and group sessions, the program supports Milwaukee fathers in engaging in early literacy activities, tracking their child's development, and building a community of fathers. J...

Substance use disorders and dysfunctional relationships often go hand in hand. In recovery, learning new, healthy relationship patterns is essential for long-term recovery and mental health. Mark Sanders discusses the trauma caused by toxic relationships and the healing that can — and must — take place. Mark is an international speaker, trainer, consultant, and the author of numerous books on beha...

Trauma is a word used a lot today. Whether caused by events that happen naturally or through human ineptitude and cruelty, studies show an increase in people dealing with trauma. Jim Scarpace is the Chief Clinical Officer and Interim Community Division President at Gateway Foundation, one of the nation's largest providers of behavioral health services for clients diagnosed with co-occurring mental...

Substance use and misuse and mental health issues within a rural community can present many problems. From lack of available services and resources to economics and privacy issues, working in small towns and rural areas presents many challenges. Rachel Stankowski and Danielle Luther discuss those challenges and what the Family Health Center of Marshfield, Wisconsin, is doing about them. Rachel Sta...

Substance Use Disorders affect every demographic, but the impact on some groups has received less attention. An estimated one million older people in the United States have a substance use challenge. Alexandra Plante discusses her article "Substance Use Challenges in Older Adults" and the substance use issues facing older adults. Ms. Plante is a Senior Advisor of Substance Use Disorder in the Stra...

Michael Rebellino talks about Crazy, his followup novel to his critically-acclaimed novel of recovery, Clean. In Crazy, Rebellino uses a creative mix of prose and poetry to examine the challenges of caring for a loved one's mental health while managing one's own recovery and mental health. Where is the line between self care and selfless care for others? Michael is a writer, a professional civil e...

Dr. Alice Feller grew up in a family affected by mental illness and then made it her life's work. She discusses her work within the mental health system and her thoughts on the state of care available to those who need it. Her book, American Madness: Fighting for Patients In a Broken Mental Health System , is an honest examination of a system in need of overhaul. Dr. Alice Feller is a board-certif...

Patricia Roos, Professor Emerita of Sociology, was at Rutgers University when, in 2015, she lost her son Alex, who was 25 years of age, to a heroin overdose. As a professor who had devoted her career to the study and research of work, gender, inequalities, stratification, work/family dynamics, and addiction, Patricia shifted her research and advocacy interests, turning grief into activism. In her...

When one is stressed and under pressure, there are many paths towards healing and mental health. Jeanie Y. Chang discusses the unique role that K-dramas (Korean dramas) might play in that process. Jeanie Y. Chang is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and author of the new book, " How K-Dramas Can Transform Your Life: Powerful Lessons on Belongingnes...