Busting Addiction and Its Myths

This podcast is the second in the series on the deadly effects of alcohol and the disease of alcoholism. We learn that: Alcohol may be the deadliest drug on the planet because it is easily available, cheap and warps the mind at just .08% of the substance in the blood. A few alcoholics are the real troublemakers. Ten percent drink half the alcohol and likely kill more than 50% of the 18,000 people...

This podcast is our first episode on the facts behind alcohol and alcoholism. We learn that: One could consider alcoholism an epidemic if we count a minimum of 14 million adults as having the disease. And since it does not travel alone, those 14 million adults affect another 5 people each so 70 million are in one way or another affected. The myth that we can protect our young people from the risks...

In this podcast, we discuss the illusion of fear and reveal that fear: Is responsible for more damage than most people realise when it is unacknowledged. Triggers chronic pain, a relatively new finding in the research of chronic pain and a factor in families of active addicts and alcoholics. Has our brains on alert 24/7 and is the major cause of stress-related dysfunction such as fear of further p...

In this podcast, we illustrate how smart, sophisticated people can also fall prey to a disease that is an equal opportunity predator. We learn that: Educated, smart people have more difficulty accepting that they need help overcoming addiction than do ordinary mortals like you and me. According to the experts, this is a class of people who have developed a sophisticated defence system that creates...

This podcast is about the struggle of getting and staying sober in the early days. We learn that: The vast majority of recovering people don’t get sober “for good” the first time out, and that is not surprising given the lack of knowledge about the true nature of their condition. There are two main traps that need to be taken into account in the early going. The first of these is the idea that “we...

This podcast is about the stigma associated with addiction and alcoholism. We learn that: The whole truth is not being told as to the causes of death when it comes to addiction and alcoholism. Silence and stigma cause shame, and shame keeps people sick, keeps them hidden and from not seeking the help they deserve. Overdose deaths tripled in the last ten years and have been accelerated by cheap fen...

This podcast is about a genuine recovery and not a fake one. We learn that: If we do not surrender to a teaching, do not completely give ourselves “to this simple program” we’re likely to not get any of the major benefits that we ourselves seek. We are all lazy to some extent in that we want to go through the motions and fear going deeper. It’s the fear that blocks us from personal growth. We who...

This podcast is about how to stop enabling. We learn that: Enabling just feeds the addiction and makes it feel comfortable in our homes. We can begin the process of intervention with a “soft intervention” that will help us identify and begin to eliminate enabling practices. One way to help accept the idea of non-enabling is to join Al-Anon where we learn the art of detachment. We love the addict,...

This podcast is about the value of play, especially for those who need a break from their obsession with a loved one who happens to have a substance abuse disorder. We learn that: We who live with an addict or alcoholic in our life know what it is to live in a world filled with worry, fear, and resentment. It’s as if the sun has disappeared behind a dark cloud and we have forgotten what it was lik...

In this podcast, we tell the story of Gary the gambler who bet that he could beat the odds, and sadly failed in his mission. We learn that: Addiction to gambling is probably the most dangerous addiction one could have when it comes to financial consequences. Alcohol consumption can make a gambling addict that much more careless and heedless to dire consequences, even when it affects the entire fam...

This podcast is about the downhill slide of Adam, a true original. We learn that: Deep sadness exists underneath all the light-hearted fun that comes with party time as a drinker. There is always the next day. The tragedy of Adam’s story is of a talented man whose life was taken by alcohol, who admitted he was an alcoholic and yet did nothing to stop his downhill slide. My love and friendship serv...

In this podcast about Anthony, we learn that some alcoholics refuse to see the truth, no matter what happens to them. We learn that: Some alcoholics will deny they have a problem despite all evidence to the contrary. Part of Anthony’s problem was that people loved him and were loath to make him pay the consequences. His good friend probably didn’t do Anthony any favours employing him when no one e...

In this podcast, we see how addictive disorder proves itself to be an equal-opportunity predator, regardless of intelligence or achievement. We learn that: No one is exempt from the cunning, baffling, and powerful nature of this disorder. Intelligence and achievement are weak defences against addictive disease. It turns out that July, like so many other smart people, thought that she could outwit...

In this podcast, we tell the story of Bruno Jr.’s Uncle Francis, we trace the history of his uncle’s survival during wartime and describe his downfall following his escape. We learn that: A man can survive almost anything and still be taken down by this disorder we call alcoholism. The power of family is evident in this story; it turns out that Francis was welcome wherever he went unless he was dr...

This podcast is about Cary who gave it all to the myth that she could control the disease. We learn that: Here was an ordinary, nice woman who was overcome by the disease that her husband contracted through no fault of her own. It became obvious that she was crying out for help, but she fervently denied the idea that there was anything wrong with her. Her co-dependency was so profound, she stopped...

In this podcast about the life of Roy, we learn how a subtle, slippery slope can lead to an unwelcome destiny. We learn that: What starts out as an innocent friendship can morph gradually into a using and drinking companionship. Roy had no clue as to what his life was becoming. The desire to smoke weed and drink alcohol overtook his ambition to finish his studies at UCLA. That seemed to be the rea...

In this podcast about April, we discuss how an extreme addiction to cocaine cut her life way too short. We learn that: Had I (Bruno J.) even known about the possibility of recovery, I believe April would not have bought it since she had not yet reached her bottom. Nor did it appear as though her family tried to intervene, although I cannot be sure, since she never talked about her habit or her fam...

In this podcast, Bruno J. recounts his early career as a Mad Man in the ad business, led by his boss Chuck. We learn that: Chuck had established what was already a successful routine that included alcohol by the time I met him. The ad culture back in the 70's was very male and focused on the intensity of work and of play, defined as drinking. A young, ambitious man would adopt whatever he saw...

This podcast is a story about Frankie, his beautiful daughter Johnnie, and the power of desperation. We learn that: There is goodness within people that we don't often see because they are not "our kind". Frank loved his beautiful daughter but was not able to help her due to his own addiction. It took a village to save her. Johnnie must have figured out that she could no longer stay...

This podcast is a story about Angelo, a dear friend of Bruno J. Angelo overcame almost unheard-of life challenges to get clean and sober and teach others the lessons of living a sober life. We learn that: It is possible to recover from addiction to drugs and alcohol regardless of one's life circumstances. We call the disease an equal opportunity predator and we call the 12-step program an equ...

This podcast is about a good friend of Bruno J. who helped him in his early sobriety. We learn that: Some of the most important friendships happen in early sobriety when we most need them. There are the lucky ones who wake up and are still able to deploy their power of choice and say: "This is it". It is possible to have a whole lot of fun when you get sober, and you do not need any help...

In this podcast about Lindsay, we tell the first of our stories of people who deal with addiction. We learn that: Some addicts never make it, and they end up in prison. The hard truth, but the real truth. Even though science says that addictive disorder is driven by genetics, Lindsay's environment accelerated her decline into hard drugs taken on a daily basis. Friends who want to save their f...

In this podcast, we discuss the moral imperative of helping those who need us most, with truth and assertive compassion. We learn that we can: Think of an addictive disease as an invisible vampire that preys upon your loved one and saps their strength on a "nightly" basis. Create a powerful stake that is based on assertive love; love that does not take no for an answer and is calm and co...

In this podcast, we discuss the basic questions that people have about the topics of addiction and alcoholism. We learn that: There is no cure for alcoholism or drug addiction, and any claims to the contrary are misguided and/or attempts to seduce us into buying a bogus service or product. Untreated, addiction never gets better if left alone. It is well-known as a progressive disorder and has been...

In this podcast, we discuss why the recovery program begins after the alcoholic has put the drink down or the addict has stopped using. We learn that: Alcoholics who have not yet recovered do not understand that they only need to avoid one drink, and that is the first one, in order to stay sober. After they put down the alcohol, they realise that they no longer have a drinking problem, but they do...