Substance Stories

One injection a month — sometimes stretched to every six or seven weeks. Long-acting injectable buprenorphine is quietly changing what opioid agonist therapy looks like. Dr. Richard Bradlow breaks down why methadone and buprenorphine aren't 'just another drug' — they're evidence-based medicine that cuts overdose risk and keeps people out of hospital.

Cannabis harm reduction — the facts people don't want to hear. 🌿Dr. Richard Bradlow breaks down what the evidence actually says:🫁 Smoking method matters — dry herb vaporising and edibles are far easier on your lungs than bongs🚫 Holding smoke in? It increases lung damage with zero extra effect⚠️ THC is directly linked to psychosis and schizophrenia risk — this is well established🤢 Cannabis...

Harm reduction saves lives — and it starts with honest information. 💙In this episode of Substance Stories, Dr. Ferghal Armstrong covers the essential opioid safety advice that doesn't always get said out loud:→ Why mixing opioids with benzos or alcohol is how most overdose deaths happen→ The tolerance drop risk after hospital or prison discharge→ How to get free naloxone from your pharmacy —...

The reality of benzodiazepine withdrawal that every patient should know 👇• Physical dependence develops in just 4 weeks• Daily use for 3 months can cause BIND• Neurological dysfunction can last 2 years post-cessation• Withdrawal can be life-threateningDr. Richard breaks down the clinical reality of benzo dependence and why tapering must be done slowly and safely.

Most people think they lack motivation to exercise. But here's what they don't tell you: motivation isn't the problem. I'm joined today with exercise coach Steph Saltis, we're revealing why someone can enjoy lifting 300 kilograms while another person hates every second under a 20-kilogram bar — and it has nothing to do with genetics. The real difference? It's not what you t...

One episode of stimulant-induced psychosis can permanently change your brain. Here's what Dr. Richard Bradlow wants you to know: If you experience psychosis from stimulants like cocaine or amphetamines just once, you're much more likely to get it again. And here's the terrifying part — if it happens enough times, you won't even need the drugs anymore. You'll develop an enduring...

Did you know alcohol withdrawal is one of the few withdrawals that can be deadly? 😳 In our latest SubstanceStories episode, Dr. Bradlow breaks down practical harm reduction strategies for Australia's most commonly used (and most harmful) drug. From the surprising truth about standard drinks (spoiler: that bottle of wine isn't 4!) to why eating before drinking actually changes absorption r...

Here's a myth that's literally killing people: 'Teaching someone how to use drugs safely encourages drug use.' The neuroscience tells us the complete opposite. When we activate the prefrontal cortex through education and planning — the same brain region damaged by addiction — we're actually strengthening the neural pathways responsible for impulse control and decision-making. Countries with compre...

Think addiction recovery is all about willpower and changing yourself? Your brain disagrees. New neuroscience research shows that 73% of relapse occurs not because of personal failure, but because we're fighting our environment with our prefrontal cortex tied behind our back. The most powerful predictor of sustained recovery isn't motivation or mindset — it's actually something happening outside y...

Most people think addiction is about willpower or the drug itself. But here's what neuroscience actually shows us: it's not what you take — it's how you take it. The same substance can be barely habit-forming when eaten, but incredibly reinforcing when smoked or injected. This isn't about the drug being 'stronger' — it's about timing. Your brain's reward circuits fo...

Addiction isn't about 'evil drugs' – it's about dopamine dysregulation and societal trauma. Dr Richard Bradlow exposes how drug panics distract from real recovery science. 🧠 THE MYTH EXPOSEDFor centuries, society has blamed specific substances for addiction – from gin in the 1700s to ice, crack, and now fentanyl. This 'magic drug theory' suggests certain chemicals are inhe...

Addiction recovery, cravings, and shame take center stage in this raw conversation with rapper 360. The myth Addiction is just bad choices, weak willpower, or a party lifestyle that someone can stop anytime. Fame, money, or even treatment alone will automatically remove cravings, relapse risk, and emotional pain. What this episode reveals Matt Colwell, aka 360, opens up about how weekend partying...

Addiction recovery, spirituality, and religion come together in this wrap-up episode of our three-part Substance Stories series exploring faith and recovery. In the previous episodes, we spoke with a rabbi, a Christian leader, and a Muslim scholar about how religion, spirituality, connection, and meaning can support people struggling with addiction and mental health challenges. In this final conve...

Boundaries in addiction recovery aren't about isolation—they're about rewiring neural pathways that support long-term sobriety. Learn the 3 types and the neuroscience behind healthy boundary-setting for recovery. 🧠 THE COMMON MYTH Many believe setting boundaries in recovery means cutting everyone off or that "boundaries = conflict." This black-and-white thinking actually mirrors...

A lot of people still think addiction is mainly about bad choices or weak willpower. But in recovery work, shame, cravings, emotional pain, and disconnection often matter far more than people realize. One powerful idea from this conversation: recovery is not just stopping a substance. It is rebuilding connection, meaning, and self-trust. Do you think addiction recovery is harder when people feel j...

A lot of people think addiction recovery is just about saying no, trying harder, or having more willpower. But what if recovery is also about healing broken relationships, rebuilding routine, and finding meaning beyond cravings? In this week’s episode, we talk about spirituality, relapse, and recovery with a Christian pastor working in addiction support. It’s a thoughtful conversation about surren...

Islamic spirituality, addiction recovery, and relapse hope are at the heart of this first episode in our 3-part series on religion and addiction. Many people still believe addiction recovery is mainly about willpower. But this episode challenges that myth. From an Islamic perspective, recovery is not simply about “trying harder.” It is about reconnecting to a higher power, rebuilding hope after re...

Addiction recovery, brain health, and lifestyle medicine are deeply connected—and most people misunderstand why. The Misconception Many people believe addiction recovery is about willpower. Just try harder. Make better decisions. Be more disciplined. But addiction is not a motivation problem. It’s a brain disease that impairs decision-making circuitry—particularly in the prefrontal cortex and dopa...

Addiction neuroscience reveals how dopamine and the reward system drive gambling addiction. Most people believe gambling addiction is about money or a lack of willpower. But that’s not what the brain science shows. The Myth: “They Just Want to Win” In reality, people hooked on slot machines (pokies) often aren’t chasing profit. As discussed in the episode , modern machines are engineered to create...

🚦 Do you actually control your drinking—or does it control you? This episode breaks down:👉 When moderation works👉 When it becomes dangerous👉 And how mental health changes everythingIf you’ve ever said “I don’t have a problem, but…”—this one’s for you.🧠 Honest. Practical. Judgment-free.▶️ Watch now👍 Like, 💬 comment, 🔔 subscribe for more Substance Stories

Exercise might be the most powerful mental health and recovery tool you’re not fully using. If you’ve ever felt stuck, unmotivated, depressed, or trapped in cycles of craving or relapse, this episode will completely reframe how you think about movement. In this episode of Suds and Stories, Richard sits down with Nathan—an endurance athlete and recovery advocate—to unpack why exercise works even wh...

Why do we repeat the same patterns—even when we KNOW better? This week on Substance Stories , we unpack psychodynamic psychotherapy —the therapy that explains what CBT often can’t. 🔥 You’ll learn: • Why insight actually matters • How unconscious defenses shape addiction • Why “quick fixes” usually fail • How therapy itself becomes the tool for change If you’ve ever felt stuck, frustrated, or conf...

Sleep might be the missing piece behind your anxiety, depression, and burnout. And the harder you try to “fix” it, the worse it often gets. In this episode of Substance Stories, you’ll discover why sleep is the foundation of mental health, not an optional wellness upgrade. If you’ve been struggling with low mood, racing thoughts, poor focus, or emotional instability, this conversation may complete...

These 2 Types of Cravings Secretly Control You — Here’s How to Stop Them! Understanding cravings is one of the most important parts of addiction recovery, relapse prevention, and early sobriety. In this video, we explain the two primary types of cravings that people commonly experience during recovery and why recognising the difference between them is essential for long-term sobriety. Hedonic crav...

Meditation isn’t optional anymore—it’s neurological self-defence. If anxiety, stress, or mental overload feels like your default setting, this video may change how you see your mind forever. You’ve probably heard meditation is “good for you.” But why does it work—and why do just 5–10 minutes a day create measurable changes in the brain? In this episode of Substance Stories, you’ll discover how med...