The Addiction Podcast-Point of No Return

Giles has an amazing story of how he finally got out of his drug addiction and makes a point that anyone can beat it. Something can be done. This is an amazing story.

When we think of athletes and drugs, it's general performance enhancing drugs like steroids.  However, when you are a professional athlete and your job depends on your performance, it's easy to depend on pain killers to get through the next game or the next tournament.  That's what happened to former Tampa Bay Bucs offensive lineman and NFL player Randy Grimes.  He ended his football career addict...

This is episode 100 and Jason and I talk about how it's been and what we are looking forward to with the next 100 episodes.  This is also part 3 of the interviews from the 7th Annual Southeastern US Regional Drug Prevention Summit.  We interviewed recovering addict Eric Burgiss who has found a simple tool to help himself and others stay clean and sober; Dan Zsido former Pinellas County Sheriff lie...

This is part 2 of our Drug Prevention Summit interviews.  In this episode we interviewed an independent consultant who is an expert on the effects or drugs and how to post the indicators of addiction; a medical doctor with a slightly different approach to addiction; and a cop who has educated more than 75000 people on drugs and addiction.  Our thanks to Drug Free America for allowing us to intervi...

We interview onsite direct from the 7th Annual Drug Prevention Summit, put on by Drug Free America. Part I are interviews with key event speakers including industry leaders Former White House Drug Czar Robert DuPont; then Dr. Ken Finn; and finally Luke Niforatos, Senior Policy Advisor for "Smart Approaches to Marijuana". Parts II and III will be uploaded in the next week, so look for them.

A few months ago we interviewed the producer and director of the feature documentary "Overdosed" which exposes how McKesson pharmaceutical distributor specifically targeted West Virginia for the distribution of billions of opioids to only a few million citizens.  Recently the film premiered locally and we were able to get some great feedback from audience members as well as an interview with one o...

Brandon Jordan was one of the founders of Kill Radio - a punk rock band.  His family had a history of drug abuse, but Brandon didn't start abusing alcohol and drugs until his early 20s. Once he started to party, he went from 0 to 60 in a split second. Friends didn't want to party with him because he was so hard core.  After tanking his successful music career, he got sober and now devotes his time...

Devin's story starts similarly to others in that he was prescribed drugs to address ADHD.  Since those drugs are actually stimulants, they caused him to act out and he countered that with marijuana and other drugs.  During high school he experimented with various different drugs and after 11 visits to jail and 3 rehabs, he has found path to being clean and sober and hopes to be reunited with his c...

Nate's story is typical but then not so typical.  Addicted to drugs at an early age, he attempted suicide several times after the death of friends close to him.  In and out of jail but now clean and sober, Nate Wilson has written a book - Zero to Hero: The Tale of My Recovery from Drug Addiction and Psychosis.  Nate has turned his life around and is now mentoring young people.

Angela is a graduate of Narconon and she was on the podcast last year telling her story.  Her story is unlike any other and addresses those addicts who maybe just drink every day and take pills but don't need rehab.  If this is you, listen to Angela's story and think again.

Wes Geer is a successful rock star - literally.  He founded the rock band HedPE and toured with the band Korn.  In 2003, Wes was addicted to methamphetamine, alcohol and pot.  He is now in his 11th year of sobriety. In 2012 he founded Rock to Recovery which is a non-profit organization that allows recovering addicts, victims of abuse and troubled teens to express themselves through song.  Rock to...

This is a replay of the interview with Kris Waite. Kris is a registered nurse and became addicted to Fentanyl while working as a surgical nurse in a hospital. Her story goes into the depths of addiction, incarceration and out the other side to redemption and a reattainment of her goals. Now she's spreading her story through her book and public speaking.

Tyler began his addiction story at age 6 when he was put on psych drugs to combat ADD. From there he moved onto Marijuana and then hardcore drugs. Now he is clean and sober and wanting to help other addicts get to where he is today. He has a new life after having done the Narconon program.

Now is the time to get yourself or your loved one into treatment. There is always the New Year's resolution to get clean and sober and no matter how vehemently it is made, unless you or your loved one get treatment, the chance of it actually happening are slim to none. Get help now. Don't do nothing. If you do nothing, you will never forgive yourself.

Approximately one year ago, we interviewed Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi on the podcast and she spoke about action she was taking from her "hat" on the opioid epidemic. Last week, she filed suit against Walgreens, CVS and various pharmaceutical companies for their part in helping to create and prolong this epidemic. We wanted to replay our interview with her as it's timely.

Beating the drum once again for getting help BEFORE the holidays - addiction does NOT take a holiday. Also the Florida Attorney General - Pam Bondi - has filed a lawsuit against two of the major pharmacies and several drug companies who are responsible for a large part of the opioid epidemic. Go Pam!

A few weeks ago we interviewed Michael DeLeon.  Michael is a former addict, former felon and since leaving prison for the last time he has dedicated his life to educating youth and inmates about drugs and the consequences.  His story is one of the most harrowing stories we've featured on the podcast.  He happened to be in Florida so we invited him into the studio to update us on what he's been up...

July 5th, 1992 and Lillo Brancato is a young man on Jones Beach.  He is seen by a casting agent and ends up being cast in "A Bronx Tale" as Robert DeNiro's son.  After being introduced to marijuana on set by a fellow cast member, he began experimenting with more and more drugs to become a heroin addict.  Now, after spending 8 years in prison for robbery which resulted in the wrongful death of a po...

Since Jason is traveling, we are posting today a previous interview of Derek.  We interviewed Derek very near the beginning of the podcast and this interview really brought home the reason we are doing this podcast.  We want to offer help and hope to our listeners.  Addiction is a horrible situation but there is hope.  But you must get yourself or your loved one into treatment and you need to do i...

This is Emily's story and that of her mom - Linda.  Emily is a recent Narconon graduate.  She started on drugs at 12 or 13 - drinking and smoking marijuana.  She gradually moved onto heroin.  She went to two different rehabs but neither of them got to the root of her deep seated issues for which drugs became a solution.  Her mother was familiar with the concept of sauna detox so when Narconon was...

This episode is an interview with two of the producers of a new feature-length documentary by Award-winning Editor Mary Sue Connolly.  The film is an 80-minute documentary set in the small town of Petersburg, West Virginia, a rural community tragically impacted by the opioid epidemic in our country.  Why West Virginia?  Because West Virginia was specifically targeted by pharmaceutical companies as...

Even those in the medical field are susceptible to addiction.  You might think that because they are more educated in the effects of drugs on the body that this would not be the case but today's episode is the story of a nurse who became addicted to Fentanyl and lost everything.  She's regained what she lost and more and has been sober for more than 10 years.  Her name is Kris Waite Labott and she...

Recently Canada legalized recreational marijuana countrywide.  This is really such a bad idea.  States in the US have legalized marijuana because they think they will make money, yet the states where it has been legalized are making less than 1% or their total budget from the taxes on the sale of recreational marijuana.  If you then add in the law enforcement and medical costs of people becoming a...

Kathy Dion has worked inside the addiction arena for more than 20 years.  She's worked with addicts and rehab facilities.  She is a certified specialist in addiction.  In her book - After Rehab - A Simple Guide to Aid in Lasting Sobriety - she gives 10 simple tips on how to help maintain sobriety and live a happy life.

Make sure you are sitting down and are prepared for an emotional roller coaster ride with Micheal DeLeon's story.  The story of addiction and crime and redemption doesn't get any more astounding than this.  Pot, heroin, cocaine, opioids, prison, gangs, rehab, it's all here. And here is a man who has not only turned his own life around but who is using his experience to change the lives of thousand...