Let's Talk Addiction & Recovery

Get the facts about methamphetamine, the powerfully addictive street drug made from combinations of unspecified dangerous chemicals. Methamphetamine is inexpensive, illegal and goes by names like crystal meth, speed, crank, ice and glass. Listen in as host William C. Moyers talks with addiction expert Christopher Yadron, PhD, about the health risks and side effects of using crystal meth, signs and...

Addiction to alcohol or other drugs takes a heavy toll on families, including the loving relationship between a parent and young child. Children's counselors Jerry Moe and Helene Photias join host William C. Moyers to discuss the impact of a loved one's alcoholism or other drug addiction from a child's perspective. Learn why addiction is described as a family disease, what kinds of help and suppor...

While the long-term public health impact of marijuana legalization is yet to be determined, many experts agree that marijuana use is risky for some people and addictive for others. Listen in as host William C. Moyers talks with psychiatrist Marvin D. Seppala, MD, about the health risks of marijuana (especially for teens), the difference between heavy use and marijuana addiction, and how to find he...

Listen in as Sandy Swenson—author, advocate and mom of an addicted child—shares her story and lived experiences with host William C. Moyers. Sandy talks about how understanding the distinction between her son and the disease enabled her to love her child and help him fight the disease. She also shares the importance of self-care as a mom of an addicted child—shedding the shame, blame and guilt to...

As anyone who has searched for addiction treatment knows, there's no shortage of options, approaches and specialty programs available. What's missing are quality standards that consumers can use to determine the most effective care for their situation. Listen in as host William C. Moyers talks with psychiatrist and author Joseph Lee, MD, about what consumers need to know—and should expect—when con...

Learn where to find help if your family is faced with addiction. Just as the alcoholic or addict needs help to get well, families need support to heal from the harm of addiction. Listen in as host William C. Moyers talks with therapists Sarah Schwalbach and Julia Edelman about the importance of addiction recovery support for families. They will discuss the recovery process, rebuilding trusting rel...

Addiction is defined as a disease of the body, mind and spirit, but the spiritual aspects of recovery often take a backseat to treating the physical and psychological symptoms. Listen in as noted psychiatrist and addiction recovery expert Marvin D. Seppala, MD, talks with host William C. Moyers about spirituality and healing: practicing honesty, humility and compassion; leaning on others for help;...

Learn how addiction to alcohol or other drugs hijacks the brain and why people in active addiction continue drinking or using substances despite devastating effects. Recovery expert Marvin D. Seppala, MD, joins host William C. Moyers to discuss the disease of addiction in easily understandable terms: the role of dopamine in the brain's reward center; effects of alcohol and other drugs on the brain...

Vaping nicotine rather than smoking the drug is widely promoted as a safe way to wean off cigarettes, but the popular practice is exposing a new generation to risky substance use. Listen in as host William C. Moyers talks with President and CEO Joseph Lee, MD, about the difference between vaping and smoking, types of vaping devices used for nicotine and other drugs, and the harmful health effects...

With the best of intentions, families can fall into unhealthy roles when attempting to cope with a loved one's alcohol or drug addiction. Enabling, denying, blaming and preoccupation are common coping behaviors. Listen in as host William C. Moyers talks with therapists Sarah Schwalbach and Julia Edelman about how addiction affects the family system, what it means to "detach with love" and why help...

Two different types of activities—substance use and compulsive behavior—increase dopamine output, producing a "feel good" sensation that can trigger and reinforce addiction. Host William C. Moyers talks with recovery expert Brenda Iliff about cross addiction (addiction interaction disorder), the condition of replacing one problematic substance or behavior with another. Iliff explains why addictive...

America's older generations are increasingly at risk of developing substance use disorders. Listen in as Brenda Iliff, executive director of the Hazelden Betty Ford treatment center in Naples, Florida, joins host William C. Moyers to discuss the growing prevalence of addiction among older adults. She describes how age-related issues can hasten problematic drinking or drug use and offers helpful ad...

Some of the most promising approaches to the nation's opioid epidemic are being forged in courthouses, correctional institutions, hospital emergency rooms and town hall meetings in communities across the country. Jordan Hansen, manager of clinical strategies and programming for the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, joins host William C. Moyers to report on several successful efforts at the local lev...

When Linda P. was prescribed Percocet to relieve her debilitating migraine headaches, the powerful opioid drug quickly became her go-to remedy for all of life's struggles. Listen in as Linda tells host William C. Moyers why shame kept her trapped in addiction for years until she was able to ask for help. Linda also discusses why a medication-assisted treatment program along with a combination of i...

While a "cure" for alcohol and drug addiction remains elusive, clinicians are getting closer to understanding how to help more people successfully reclaim their lives from the chronic disease. John Driscoll, senior vice president of recovery services for the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, joins host William C. Moyers to discuss evidence-based rehab advancements and core elements of effective trea...

Psychologist Michael Tkach, director of recovery management for the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, joins host William C. Moyers to discuss the latest research and science on what it takes to stay sober. Three factors seem to make the biggest difference in building lasting recovery from addiction: meaningful engagement with a supportive community, healthy new routines and structure, and enough sel...

A car accident left Josh C. paralyzed at age 18, crushing his plans to play college football along with his sense of self and purpose. Listen in as Josh shares his story of opioid addiction, treatment and recovery with host William C. Moyers. Josh explains how years of heroin use did a number on his physical, mental and emotional health and undermined his attempts to stay clean, and he describes h...

Psychiatrist and author Joseph Lee, MD, medical director of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation's Youth Continuum, joins host William C. Moyers to discuss what puts young people at risk for substance use and what parents can do to minimize the probability of addiction. By modeling certain values in the home, parents can create a culture that encourages children to develop the communication, relatio...

The faster, smarter, more mobile technologies used by teens are changing so rapidly that the impact on adolescent development isn't fully understood. But there are plenty of early warning signs—from an increased risk of sleep disorders and anxiety to a greater susceptibility to drug addiction. Prevention expert Jessica Wong joins host William C. Moyers to look at emerging research around risks ass...

Researchers are beginning to identify how the use of smartphones, computers and other technology changes the way the adolescent brain develops—especially areas of the brain responsible for decision-making, risk assessment, impulse control and processing emotions. Prevention expert Jessica Wong joins host William C. Moyers to discuss the potential consequences of overuse and overreliance, including...

In the midst of the nation's opioid addiction epidemic, advancements in treatment that combine evidence-based psychotherapies along with use of certain medications offer patients and families cause for real hope. As a clinical innovator in the field of addiction treatment, psychiatrist Marvin D. Seppala, MD, joins host William C. Moyers to explain why medication alone isn't an effective solution i...

From insurance fraud to deceptive marketing to patient brokering, the largely unregulated field of addiction treatment is rife with unscrupulous and unethical—even illegal—business practices. Mark Mishek, JD, president and CEO of the nonprofit Hazelden Betty Ford treatment centers, and Marvin D. Seppala, MD, chief medical officer, join host William C. Moyers to discuss the need for industry reform...

Millions of women in the U.S. engage in drinking behavior that poses a substantial risk to their health and well-being, particularly young women in their late teens and early twenties. Addiction researcher Audrey Klein, PhD., joins host William C. Moyers to take a closer look at what's behind the increased rates of binge and heavy drinking among women, why addiction progresses more rapidly for wom...

Comparing addiction treatment success rates across different care providers and approaches might seem like an apples-to-apples assessment, but it's not. For the most part, the addiction treatment field lacks consistently reported—and, in some cases, scientifically valid—ways of measuring the impact of treatment services. Psychiatrist Marvin D. Seppala, MD, and addiction researcher Audrey Klein, Ph...

Why are opioids so addictive? What makes opioid drugs so lethal? Is rehab effective for opioid addiction? From the frontlines of the nation's opioid epidemic, psychiatrist Marvin D. Seppala, MD, joins host William C. Moyers to discuss the role of science and compassion in responding to the opioid addiction crisis. As chief medical officer for the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, Dr. Seppala led the...