Let's Talk Addiction & Recovery

Ketamine is the source of some controversy: it works wonders for depression, and fast. But it's also addictive and potentially triggering for people in recovery. It's proven to effectively treat severe depression that won't respond to other medications. But because it affects so many receptor sites in the brain, and because it causes hallucinations and other psychedelic effects, there's a lot to c...

It's common for moms to feel a little "off" after giving birth—the hormonal changes can cause something called the "baby blues," where mom is a little sadder than usual. But another possibility is postpartum depression, which interrupts the mom's mood for an extended period of time, making it hard to get out of bed or care for herself and her newborn. How can she start to feel better without self-...

How can we prevent opioid and drug use among teens? We can dispel the myths around alcohol and nicotine use. We can show them the data, and teach them about the countless effects to the mind and body. We can hold 60 one-minute conversations, rather than one 60-minute conversation, and encourage teens to choose their health and happiness above all else. Want to get started? Tune in for this convers...

The pandemic has affected everyone, but young people have been particularly vulnerable to its mental health effects. Teens have been trapped at home and isolated from their friends during a life stage where they seek to express individuality. They've been cut off from academics, extracurriculars and hobbies like never before, and they feel bombarded by rules and regulations. How can adults help ou...

The prospect of entering into addiction treatment can be wildly intimidating. Many don't know what to expect from their treatment experience, and they may delay or avoid the process if they can't picture what's to come. What do those early days in treatment look like? How is addiction treated, and how is a person made to feel comfortable? Those questions and more are answered by Vice President Tes...

Searching for the right treatment program can be overwhelming. It's unfamiliar territory, and it's hard to know who to trust or which information to attend to. "How will we pay for treatment? Why do those mental health services matter? What will keep my loved one safe and sober?" The questions are endless. To simplify the process, Vice President Tessa Voss and Clinical Director Cecelia Jayme sit d...

Much has changed in the world of prevention since the days of "Just Say No." Now the conversation is nuanced and fact-based, and the methodologies are backed up by data. Kids are given the information, and then they're trusted to make the healthy decision. How else has prevention evolved? How do we empower kids to make the healthy choice? Tune in for this fascinating conversation between Deirdre F...

After announcing his retirement, Jerry Moe, the national director of the Children's Program, revisits the incredible impact the program has made for countless children and families. He recounts Mrs. Betty Ford's vision and involvement, and her hopeful words to Jerry all those years ago: "This is really important. We have an opportunity to transform people's lives." And indeed they did. Tune in to...

The Children's Program is a delicate balancing act: it has to respect the gravity of addiction, but it also needs to be a safe space for healing—for having fun and being a kid again. That balancing act was perfected through the years by director Jerry Moe. And now that he's retiring, he reflects on the program's importance with host William C. Moyers, sharing some of his fondest memories that he a...

Sara Polley, MD, watched her dad struggle with addiction for much of her life, and she had grown to expect bad news. When she learned of his death, some part of her felt relieved—his suffering was finally done, and he had found peace. Now she serves as a medical director for Hazelden Betty Ford, and she speaks with host William C. Moyers about the family grieving process: it's a storm of emotions,...

Stress is as natural and persistent as the moon and the tides, and people often unwind with a drink. The rough edges of the day are quickly smoothed out by the depressant effects on the mind and the body, and for many, it's the preferred way to relax: a cold beer after work or a glass of red to pair with dinner. But can that small and modest habit become something dangerous? Join host William C. M...

Before he retired as Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marvin Seppala shared a few of his quintessential lessons and memories from the past 40 years. To name a few: Our pressing need to belong and be loved. The timeless and abiding wisdom behind the Twelve Steps. And the opportunity now for science to further their legacy. Tune in for this wonderful conversation between Dr. Seppala and host William C. Moy...

Jeff Goldring has a uniquely intimate perspective on addiction and recovery. His family's storied history is all about distilled spirits and he himself works for Sazerac, one of the world's most recognized producers of alcohol products. Now with twenty years of sobriety, he joins host William C. Moyers to talk about the convergence of those two worlds and the pillars to his long-term recovery. Tun...

Addiction passed from one generation to the next, and Reyna watched her family succumb to alcohol-related disease and death. She never had a chance to speak up, and she was never given the words to speak out. Then Miaveya, her 10-year-old daughter who attended the Children's Program, came along and taught her. Now they both sit down with host William C. Moyers and share their experience with the d...

Edgar was sitting at the family dinner table—sick, sleepless and withdrawing from drugs at 5 a.m.—while his father was getting ready for work. Until this point, Edgar had hidden his addiction from both his parents. But something compelled him in that moment, and it took only one act of fearlessness to completely change his life. Now he sits down with host William C. Moyers to reflect on that pivot...

Host William C. Moyers speaks with two incredibly supportive parents, José and Juanita, and their son Edgar who is now in recovery. They describe the family journey through addiction and into recovery, from first gaining awareness of the disease at the Spanish Family Program to now supporting one another at every turn. Tune in to hear their invaluable perspectives on the importance of family, the...

Dr. Joseph Lee spent his mornings in the inner city of Baltimore providing basic necessities to lower-income students, then he spent his afternoons treating dignitaries and elites. It opened his eyes, and he vowed on the spot to treat every patient equally. Now the CEO and President of Hazelden Betty Ford intends to uplift as many people as possible. Speaking with host William C. Moyers, he revisi...

Peter Hayden, PhD, always sees an opportunity to help. Even when his family is blindsided by tragedy—the likes of which no parent should endure—he somehow uses the experience to protect complete strangers. Now he shares his story with host William C. Moyers, reflecting on his nearly 50 years in recovery, the biggest difference makers and the undeniable truths that connect us with a higher purpose.

Before he won his Emmy and James Beard awards, and before he became a famous TV personality, Andrew Zimmern was essentially homeless, living in an abandoned New York City apartment and nearly drinking himself to death. How did he transform from hopeless soul into hopeful citizen? Tune in for this honest conversation between William C. Moyers and Andrew Zimmern, where they revisit his past and disc...

Returning service members and military veterans often confront trauma and other mental health challenges, and when they don't receive help, it often ends in tragedy—with more than 6,000 military veterans dying every year to suicide. Army veteran and psychologist Dustin Brockberg, PhD, sheds light on the issues, speaking with host William C. Moyers about the tough emotional realities, mental health...

Rabbi Schusterman used to view addiction as a "moral failure," and he admits that his opinions were manipulated by stigma. Now he sees the opportunity to completely change the narrative, and he's leading a movement among faith leaders to dismantle that stigma. Alongside Chris Thrasher from the Clinton Foundation, Rabbi Schusterman sits down with host William C. Moyers to discuss: How can faith lea...

Addiction affects men and women differently, and women's stories often involve very specific kinds of trauma. To learn more about these differences (and how to respond to them), host William C. Moyers spoke with author, advocate and expert Stephanie Covington, PhD. Listen in and learn about the different kinds of trauma, the benefits of specialized services and the latest developments in gender-re...

Beyond the statistics related to addiction, there are precious human lives that need and deserve help. But only 10 percent of the addicted population will ever receive treatment. How can we help the other 90 percent? One answer: the Lazarus drug, which reverses the effects of opioid overdose. Host William C. Moyers talks with Ginny Atwood Lovitt and Chris Thrasher, who are working tirelessly to di...

The family can recover together. Without a reliable system in place, though, the family will default to negativity, often digging up the past and reliving old memories. That's why expert interventionist Debra Jay co-created Structured Family Recovery, where family members all join the same team to uplift the positive and work toward shared recovery. In this episode, Debra Jay and host William C. M...

In the expert opinion of Dr. Stephanie Covington, it's unwise to ignore trauma when treating addiction and co-occurring disorders. In fact, a failure to address PTSD will leave a person vulnerable to relapse and re-traumatization. In this episode, host William C. Moyers and Dr. Covington chat about the intersection between trauma and addiction, the high frequency of their combination and the best...