The "33": Methamphetamine: A Love Story

Part 2: From gun violence to gangs, LA authorities are over worked and overwhelmed by the the influx of crime that drug use brings to their community. Dr. Shukla shares the details from her interview with a Hollenbeck undercover detective and delves into the challenges that impede their job as a detective.

While visiting Hollenbeck Community Police division in Los Angeles, Dr. Shukla had an opportunity to interview an undercover detective. The conversation covers drug and meth addiction and the impact it has on the community, LA gang and cartel control of distribution, and the lack of legislation by community leaders.

Los Angeles' drug problems, gang violence and homelessness issues are heavily documented and well known. Dr. Shukla spent two days with the Hollenbeck Division of the LA police department and shared her experience driving down Skid Row and being on her first murder scene.

Guest, Travis Jones, Ph. D., discusses the difficulty of navigating the holidays for recovering addicts and provides advice as how to manage the holidays. Originally aired in 11/2021.

Allie was a 34-year old female who dealt drugs and a mother of one. She worked three "full-time" jobs and made anywhere from $500 to $1000 a day, but today has nothing to show for it. She was in recovery when she spoke with Dr. Rashi Shukla, author of the book, The 33: Methamphetamine: A Love Story." Credits: BenSound

"Sam" is a 44-year old male who started dealing drugs in high school to graduating in dealing meth later in life. "Sam" lost everything to meth but now is on the road to recovery. Dr. Shukla shares her interview she had with "Sam" in this episode of "The 33: Methamphetamine: A Love Story."

Our guest, Dr. John Duncan, is the inspiration for Dr. Shukla's book, "Methamphetamine: A Love Story. In this episode he discusses meth on the brain, the long term effects of meth and the struggles of passing legislation in Oklahoma to limit meth labs and access to pseudoephedrine.

We continue our conversation with Dr. Mark Baker, a Hawaii ER physician, about the health issues he sees with meth use in the ER and his fight to end meth in Hawaii.

Hawaii has a major meth problem. The U.S. Congress representatives described it as "The Poisoning of Paradise" in a 2010 report on the meth issue in Hawaii. Our guest, Dr. Mark Baker, a practicing ER Physician at Poli Momi Medical Center in Hawaii, sees the results of meth on a daily basis. This podcast is part 1 of a two part interview with Dr. Baker as he shares his experiences, opinion and his...

"Dillon" first experiences drugs at 13 with a "dancer," and later moves to using meth by the time he entered his 20s. He later learns how to cook meth while in jail and becomes an everyday cook and dealer when he goes back out to the world. In this episode, Dr. Rashi Shukla shares with us her interview with the then 37-year old "Dillon" over his abuse of meth and his road to recovery.

"Vince"--trucker #3 had a 30-year long love affair with meth as a dealer, user and cook. He's a "nice guy"-- a "farmer-type"-- who got caught up in the world of meth addiction. He eventually turned his life around and moved down a path of recovery after 30-years of meth use. Dr. Shukla shares her interview she had with "Vince" and his patterns of use and dealing meth.

Dr. Shukla shares "Patrick's" story in this episode. From cooking and trafficking meth in his 18-wheeler, to getting all his kids addicted to meth, Patrick, a 55-year old male, lived 30 years in this lifestyle before he and all his kids got on the road to recovery. 

Host, Dr. David Nelson and Author, Dr. Rashi Shukla discuss the success of Drug Courts in Oklahoma County and the fentanyl crisis with Honorable Judge Ken Stoner of Oklahoma.

In Episode 9, Dr. Shukla delves into the life of Bryant, a trucker, who is introduced to meth at 14 and later learns how to cook it in prison. Bryant is one of  three truckers Dr. Shukla interviewed for her book, "Methamphetamine: A Love Story." 

Dr. Shukla and Dr. Nelson interview Dr. Chris Hill, Sociology Professor, about the sociological component and theory related to why one has a substance abuse problem.

Part 2 of Jami's story about her son, Judson, and his death due to a meth addiction. Dr. Shukla expands on the lack of legislative help and her personal difficulties she faced in writing her book, "Methamphetamine: A Love Story" and its impact on her life. Jami wants to give back  and help others heal through grief yoga and recovery circles. She is in  the process of creating a Grief Relief Yoga s...

This is part one of a special two-part interview with Jami, a grieving California mother who lost her son, Judson, to a meth addiction. Jami shares her story about her beloved son's early life successes to his slow spiral to a world of addiction.  Jami wants to give back  and help others heal through grief yoga and recovery circles. She is in  the process of creating a Grief Relief Yoga series to...

Dr. Shukla and Dr. Nelson discuss the latest news stories of a 3-year old who was "caged" by his meth addicted parents and the growth of meth around the nation and world. In addition, they will also discuss one of the "33" Dr. Shukla interviewed for her book, Methamphetamine: A Love Story." This episode focuses on Nicolas, a 27-year old recovering from his addiction to meth who "felt like a rock s...

Dr. Shukla discusses the life of Vanessa, a recovering meth addict whose childhood was filled with great uncertainty, poverty and malnutrition, but lived to tell her story.

Dr. Shukla and I discuss "Zoom Meth Parties," the largest meth bust in San Diego, and the life of Mia. Mia is one of the 33 recovering meth addicts Shukla interviewed for her book," Methamphetamine: A Love Story." Mia was heavily involved in "financing" manufacturing of meth and selling it. She was 39-years old at the time of her interview and a mother to two children.

This episode covers the most recent busts that include the use of a fast food drive-thru and baby seats to distribute meth. Dr. Shukla also adds the latest innovative programs being developed in selected US states to deal with the drug problem in their communities. "Jackson" is the main person of discussion as Dr. Shukla carries us through his 20-year long addiction to meth and the difficulty of t...

Dr. Rashi Shukla discusses her interview with Ava, a 30-year old recovering meth addict and one of the rare female meth cooks in her study of meth recovery and addiction in Oklahoma.

In this episode, Dr. Rashi Shukla, author of the book, "Methamphetamine: A Love Story" and host, Dr. David Nelson discuss the latest seizures of major meth and fentanyl busts in Oklahoma and the rarely spoken phenomenon of "contaminated houses" that are cleaned of meth and sold back on the housing market. The podcast also includes a look at "Steven," one of the 33 recovering addicts Dr. Shukla int...

Episode 10 looks into the life of Emme, a 25-year old mom with two kids and a recovering meth addict in Oklahoma. Emme is one of the "33" users, cooks and distributors that Dr. Rashi Shukla interviewed for her book, Methamphetamine: A Love Story."

Meth is still present in Oklahoma though it does not get the media headlines as much as in the past. Dr. Rashi Shukla and I have a conversation with Mark Woodward, PIO of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. Topics include the status of the meth issue in Oklahoma, different methods of distribution and manufacturing of meth, and the international component related to meth usage.