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
No More Victims: Mothers Against Drunk Drivers
Since the inception in 1980, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) has worked tirelessly to end impaired driving. In 2022 almost fourteen thousand people were killed by an impaired driver. Erin Payton and Karl Krull discuss MADD’s mission and work. Erin is a Director of Mission Operations for MADD, providing support and guidance to about twenty percent of the country. Karl is a Program Specialist for MADD in Madison, Wisconsin. Mothers Against Drunk Drivers’ national website is at Home – MADD. Walk Like MADD, Madison, Wisconsin, registration is at: 2024 Walk like MADD Madison
Learning Gratitude
Saturday, September 21, is World Gratitude Day. The benefits of expressing gratitude for our physical and emotional well being are many, but how do children learn gratitude, especially when so many are surrounded by negativity? Jacqui Letran, Author, Speaker, Nurse Practitioner, and Teen Confidence Expert discusses her latest book, Have You Ever Thanked Your Nose, a work geared towards helping young children, and their parents, begin to express appreciation for all that surrounds them. Jacqui’s multi-award-winning Words of Wisdom for Teens book series is considered a go-to resource for teens, parents of teens, and anyone working with teens. Jacqui’s contact information, socials, and many books, including her new series about gratitude, can be accessed at Your Mind. Your Life.
Survive & Thrive
Indigenous educator and mental health advocate Tim Decorah discusses coping with undiagnosed mental health issues and his dedication to helping others. Tim is a Coach, Teacher, Husband, Father, Grandfather, and Mentor. He is a former University of Wisconsin-Platteville basketball player who played under Hall of Fame Coach Bo Ryan. As a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, Tim hopes to serve as a face for those within indigenous communities who are struggling with mental health issues. He can be reached at https://www.coachdecorahllc.com/. The 2024 Wisconsin Alcohol Policy Seminar where Tim will be a keynote speaker can be found here: https://www.wisconsinconnect.org/2024aps.html
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 public health policy. She works at the Medical College of Wisconsin and is currently President-elect for the Wisconsin Public Health Association, having served as Chair of the ad hoc Workgroup on Alcohol Prevention for the Wisconsin State Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse. The purpose of the Council was to develop evidence-based recommendations to reduce excessive alcohol use. Maureen can be reached at Wisconsin Alcohol Policy Project (WisAPP) | Medical College of Wisconsin. Information for the upcoming Alcohol Policy Seminar can be found at Alcohol Policy Seminar
Drunk 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 efforts to treat it as a disease. Guida is the Principal for Guided by Guida and serves as the Community Relations Consultant for the US Drug Testing Laboratories in Des Plaines Illinois. She has served as adjunct faculty for Carthage College, University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Concordia University, and Gateway Technical College. Guida is certified by the State of Wisconsin as a Substance Abuse Counselor, a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder trainer, and an Intoxicated Driver Program Assessor. She is also a Kenosha, Wisconsin, County Board Supervisor. Guided by Guida
Post 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 Fund at http://www.kenoshafoundation.org/scholarship-information/the-clay-davison-legacy/. Felicia’s YouTube video, “Fighting It’s in your DNA,” can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiPebVybkf8 and the YouTube video from the Los Angeles Dodgers in memory of Clay Davison at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw7cDJLKHE8
Peaceful 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 an Author, Speaker, Nurse Practitioner, and Teen Confidence Expert. She blends over twenty years of experience working with teens in the medical and holistic settings to provide time-tested, practical guidance to help teens embody Peaceful Confidence™. Her multi-award-winning Words of Wisdom for Teens book series is considered a go-to resource for teens, parents of teens, and anyone working with teens. Jacqui’s contact information, socials, and many books can be accessed at Your Mind. Your Life.
What 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 pharmacology, invasive monitoring, and CNS drug delivery of potent opioids and anesthetic agents, specifically fentanyl and its analogues. In 2018, seeing the need for new responses to fentanyl and fentanyl analogue overdose treatment, he started TORRALVA MEDICAL THERAPUETICS LLC (TMT-rx) and began self-funded, contract research work with the Portland VA to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms of fentanyl toxicity. Dr. Torralva can be reached at Phillip R. Torralva, MD — tmt-rx.com.
Stepping 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 a community of fathers. James is, as he says, a father, his most important job. The DAD Project can be accessed at DAD Project
Develop 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 author of numerous books on behavioral health, including Relationship Detox: Helping Clients Develop Healthy Relationships in Recovery. Mark has been a certified addictions counselor for over three decades and has received numerous awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Illinois Addiction Counselor Certification Board. Mr. Sanders can be reached at On The Mark Consulting.
