When does it stop being a party and start becoming a problem? Is there a way to steer clear of addiction?
Every Wednesday, Mike McGowan explores substance use disorders with expert guests.
Episodes
Journey Out of the Bottle
Jane Musgrave grew up on the outskirts of Brisbane, Australia. She endured a troubled childhood that led her to seek an escape in alcohol. What began as a coping mechanism quickly grew into an all-consuming addiction, shaping decades of her life and leading to a series of difficult choices. She details those struggles and her recovery in her terrific book, “My Journey Out of the Bottle: Four Rehabs and a Recovery.” Visit Jane on Facebook and her book is available on Amazon.
A Recovery-Supportive Campus
As college students everywhere are returning to campus following winter break, some are struggling with substances. Those in recovery navigated the holidays soberly. And a few, like Tim Rabolt, are there to help anyone on a college campus who has substance use issues. Tim is the Program Manager for “Recovery at Marquette,” an urban university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is a Past Executive Director of the Association of Recovery in Higher Education (ARHE). Tim has 14 years of sobriety and is a proud girl dad to Nina. View Recovery at Marquette and their resources.
One Man With a Chamber — Battling CTE
William Person is a former nine-year Team USA Bobsled athlete whose career left him battling the devastating effects of CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy). At his lowest point, he could barely get up off the floor, lost in confusion, depression, intense headaches, and a deteriorating brain. Hope came when he discovered Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, which restored clarity in his thinking, color to his vision, and purpose to his life. William shares his story to raise awareness of brain damage in sports, the military, and other lifetime collisions and share the importance of protecting and healing the brain. His mission is to open a nonprofit CTE Recovery Center to help athletes, veterans, and civilians heal from brain injuries — at no cost to them. To realize this mission, he’s launched a GoFundMe, which will help him raise funds to purchase a medical grade hyperbaric oxygen chamber to open a CTE Recovery Center where anyone battling CTE and brain injury symptoms can get free treatment. Visit William’s YouTube channel.
The State of Wisconsin’s Dose of Reality campaign is at Dose of Reality: Opioids in Wisconsin.
More information about the federal response to the ongoing opiate crisis can be found at One Pill Can Kill.
Section Yellow – One Game At A Time
John Plageman wondered how, as a newly recovering person, he would navigate social events he enjoyed. Concerts, ballgames, and just going out were cause for anxiety. He discovered, however, that at every event there were folks who, like himself, wanted to enjoy themselves without alcohol and other drugs. A while later, he helped establish a welcoming non-using presence at Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers, by creating a non-drinking initiative called Section Yellow. By day, John is a social worker with the Brown County, Wisconsin, Aging and Disability Resource Center. Find out more about Section Yellow. Visit their Facebook page.
The State of Wisconsin’s Dose of Reality campaign is at Dose of Reality: Opioids in Wisconsin.
More information about the federal response to the ongoing opiate crisis can be found at One Pill Can Kill.
Parallel Recovery
People don’t have substance use disorders in isolation. Their family, friends, and colleagues all experience, as Lisa Katona Smith, M.Ed., says, “feelings of anger, fear, and shame that fracture relationships with loved ones at a time when they are needed most.” Lisa is a certified Peer Recovery Specialist, family consultant, TEDx speaker, and author of the book, “Parallel Recovery: A Guide for Those Who Love Someone Struggling with Substance Use Disorder.” Inspired by her personal experience navigating a family member’s addiction and motivated by the limitations of traditional support models, she created Parallel Recovery® — a structured, compassionate framework that gives a voice to the untold side of recovery and redefines how families support loved ones through substance use disorder. Lisa and Parallel Recovery can be reached at https://lisakatonasmith.com/.
The State of Wisconsin’s Dose of Reality campaign is at Dose of Reality: Opioids in Wisconsin.
More information about the federal response to the ongoing opiate crisis can be found at One Pill Can Kill.
Needed Angels
When people find themselves without shelter, warmth, or food, having angels on the streets helps. Eva Welch is a Co-Founder and Director of Street Angels in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. Eva is a fierce advocate, action activator, and self-described fun instigator. She studied psychology and earned her BA from Ottawa University. Together with Shelly Sarasin, Eva co-founded Street Angels and expanded the mission of feeding and assisting our neighbors without homes. Find out more about Street Angels and how to help.
The State of Wisconsin’s Dose of Reality campaign is at Dose of Reality: Opioids in Wisconsin.
More information about the federal response to the ongoing opiate crisis can be found at One Pill Can Kill.
Standby
After thirty years on television, Beth McDonough’s life unraveled in the harshest spotlight: two DUIs, a public firing, and national headlines. What the world saw was her mugshot. She talks about her fight to get sober, the years of shame and silence, and the strength it took to rebuild her life. Beth is an author and former TV crime reporter who chronicles her addiction and recovery in her memoir “Standby.” View Beth’s work, book, and links.
The State of Wisconsin’s Dose of Reality campaign is at Dose of Reality: Opioids in Wisconsin.
More information about the federal response to the ongoing opiate crisis can be found at One Pill Can Kill.
Living with Schizophrenia
There are some parenting challenges that don’t show up in the guidebooks we all consume when we have children. Chrisa Hickey ran into that head on when her son Timothy was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of eleven. She talks about the challenges of raising children with special needs, finding a healthy rest-of-life balance, and the complexities of finding quality mental healthcare in Rural America. Chrisa Hickey is an author, speaker, and advocate specializing in supporting families raising children with serious mental illnesses like childhood onset schizophrenia, childhood onset bipolar disorder, and severe depression. Chrisa can be contacted at her website.
The State of Wisconsin’s Dose of Reality campaign is at Dose of Reality: Opioids in Wisconsin.
More information about the federal response to the ongoing opiate crisis can be found at One Pill Can Kill.
Assisting Those Who Served
Veterans encounter physical, mental health, and substance use challenges at a greater rate than the general population. Rebekka Cary discusses helping them access the benefits and assistance they are rightfully due. Rebekka is a County Veterans Service Officer for Columbia County in Portage, Wisconsin. She was a First Sergeant in the Illinois Air National Guard and is a member of the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers. The Wisconsin Association of County and Tribal Veterans Service Officers website can be found at County and Tribal Veterans Service Officers (CVSO/TVSO) – Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs. The NACVSO (National Association of County Veterans Service Officers) can be reached at Organization – National Association of County Veterans Service Officers.
The State of Wisconsin’s Dose of Reality campaign is at Dose of Reality: Opioids in Wisconsin.
More information about the federal response to the ongoing opiate crisis can be found at One Pill Can Kill.
Culture is Contagious
When good leaders use powerful, positive attitudes and actions to promote healthy community building, that “vibe” is contagious and spreads. Peggy Eserkaln talks about how, as an educator and improvisational performer, she helps establish a school or workplace culture that encourages creativity, respect, and positive mental health. Peggy is a Founder of Educational Improvisation, an award-winning educator, author, speaker, entertainer, and mom with a Master’s Degree and a professionally-trained funny bone. Peggy can be contacted at [email protected]. Her book, “Sydney Owns a School,” can be ordered on Amazon.
The State of Wisconsin’s Dose of Reality campaign is at Dose of Reality: Opioids in Wisconsin.
More information about the federal response to the ongoing opiate crisis can be found at One Pill Can Kill.
