The Number One Drug? Alcohol.
When people think of drugs, they often think of the headline drugs: opiates, cocaine, meth. They rarely think of the drug they have at home in their refrigerators. Maureen Busalacchi discusses the number one drug in the country, alcohol. Maureen is the Director of the Wisconsin Alcohol Policy Project (WisAPP) and has decades of experience in…
Read MoreDrunk on Your Dollars
A drug is a drug is a drug, unless that drug is alcohol, in which case it is, or is not, considered a drug, depending on where you live, how you grew up, and what part of the family you come from. Guida Brown discusses the difficulty in diagnosing Alcohol Use Disorder and the ongoing…
Read MorePost Traumatic Growth
How does a mother recover from the loss of a child? Felicia Labatore talks about losing her son Clay, who took his own life at age sixteen, and her emotional recovery from that trauma. Professionally, Felicia is a police officer, speaker, and mental health advocate. Felicia can be reached through The Clay Davison Legacy Scholarship…
Read MorePeaceful Confidence
Growing up isn’t easy. With so many social messages and daily reminders that you aren’t a finished product, it’s difficult to keep the negative messages out of your head. Jacqui Letran discusses her early-life obstacles and the work she has done to help young people find a positive path in their own lives. Jacqui is…
Read MoreWhat We Don’t Know Can Kill Us
Fentanyl and fentanyl analogues (FFAs), like all opioids, cause respiratory depression, but FFAs also cause a phenomenon called wooden chest syndrome (WCS). Dr. Torralva (Randy) discusses his research to reverse FFA overdose. Dr. Torralva is a board-certified anesthesiologist and specialist in Addiction Medicine with over 30 years in clinical medicine. He has extensive expertise in…
Read MoreStepping Up, Being a Father
James Murdock, Jr., talks about his experience being part of the DAD Project, a City of Milwaukee Health Department program that works to strengthen the bonds between fathers and their children. Through weekly in-home visits and group sessions, the program supports Milwaukee fathers in engaging in early literacy activities, tracking their child’s development, and building…
Read MoreDevelop Healthy Relationships in Recovery
Substance use disorders and dysfunctional relationships often go hand in hand. In recovery, learning new, healthy relationship patterns is essential for long-term recovery and mental health. Mark Sanders discusses the trauma caused by toxic relationships and the healing that can — and must — take place. Mark is an international speaker, trainer, consultant, and the…
Read MoreTrauma. It Helps to Share
Trauma is a word used a lot today. Whether caused by events that happen naturally or through human ineptitude and cruelty, studies show an increase in people dealing with trauma. Jim Scarpace is the Chief Clinical Officer and Interim Community Division President at Gateway Foundation, one of the nation’s largest providers of behavioral health services for…
Read MoreTrying All of That (and then some) in a Small Town
Substance use and misuse and mental health issues within a rural community can present many problems. From lack of available services and resources to economics and privacy issues, working in small towns and rural areas presents many challenges. Rachel Stankowski and Danielle Luther discuss those challenges and what the Family Health Center of Marshfield, Wisconsin, is…
Read MoreNever Too Old to Get Help
Substance Use Disorders affect every demographic, but the impact on some groups has received less attention. An estimated one million older people in the United States have a substance use challenge. Alexandra Plante discusses her article “Substance Use Challenges in Older Adults” and the substance use issues facing older adults. Ms. Plante is a Senior…
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