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Greg interviews Clay Stamp, the Executive Director of the Opioid Operational Command Center in Maryland. Established under the Interagency Heroin and Opioid Coordinating Council in January 2017, the Opioid Operational Command Center works to collect, analyze, and facilitate data-sharing with State and local sources to create better strategies in their fight against the opioid epidemic. Listen to the podcast to discover how the Opioid Operation Command Center is working to develop better, more balanced strategies in their fight against the opioid epidemic.

Greg interviews Matthew Eacott, the Vice President of Aware Recovery Care in North Haven, Connecticut. As someone that struggled with addiction and its resulting side effects, Matt has utilized his 19 years of recovery experience to help others in their fight against substance abuse disorder. Listen to the podcast to discover how Aware Recovery Care is working to expand and make their approach to treatment more accessible to those affected by the opioid epidemic.

Greg interviews Johann Hari, bestselling author of the book Chasing the Scream, in the third episode of a three-part series. They explore the strategies belonging to other countries that have had success with helping addicts overcome their addictions, including Sweden, Portugal and Britain. In Britain, for example, the government drew on lessons learned from dealing with a large alcoholism problem during the Industrial Revolution which displaced many citizens through job loss. This led people to feel deprived and their lives became unbearable, a common theme among drug users. Join Greg as he engages in a meaningful conversation about the needs of those suffering from addiction and how they can be addressed.

Greg interviews Darshan Shah, the Chief Data Officer of the State of Indiana and the Executive Director of the Management and Performance Hub (MPH). He also speaks with Doug Huntsinger, the Special Assistant for Drug Prevention, Treatment, & Enforcement at Governor Holcomb’s Office. Through the MPH, Darshan, Doug, and the rest of the Indiana State government are able to utilize big data and analytics to make data-informed policy decisions. Listen to the podcast to discover how the MPH gets agencies to continually work together and contribute to the system in their fight against substance use disorder.

Greg interviews Johann Hari, bestselling author of the book Chasing the Scream, in the second episode of a three-part series. Since only 10% of drug users becoming addicts in the present reality where the most potent drugs are widely available in the form of oxycontin/oxycodone, how do we account for such a small minority succumbing their effects? The massive gap in what might be expected calls for an explanation, and Hari is able to offer one. Join Greg in this exploration of some new thinking regarding what’s possible when it comes to addressing successful methods to help users overcome their addiction.

Greg interviews Michael H. Robertson, a prosecutor with the Somerset County’s Prosecutor’s Office in New Jersey. Michael and his team recently repurposed an anti-bullying app called STOPit Solutions to help members in their community anonymously report crimes, drug related and otherwise. Listen to the podcast to discover how the Somerset County’s Prosecutor’s Office hopes this app will encourage community members that are unlikely to speak out finally report what they see; enabling law enforcement to be proactive rather than reactive.

Greg interviews Johann Hari, bestselling author of the book Chasing the Scream, in the first of a three-part series. Hari advocates for an end to punishing and shaming addicts, and he believes that treating them like criminals only exacerbates the problems. In this episode, they explore the history of drug laws and the consequences of them. Listen to the podcast to discover how the past is bearing on the present, and how the right solutions have not yet presented themselves and why this is the case.

Greg interviews Dr. Jamie Marich, the founder of the Institute for Creative Mindfulness. The institute offers training in the areas of mental health, trauma, addiction, mindfulness, and clinician development through programs like the EMDRIA program, which focuses on EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy. Listen to the podcast to discover how this approach is being used to help those suffering from substance use disorder shift their own mental processes.

Greg interviews Dr. Kathryn Hawk, an emergency physician and assistant professor at Yale University’s Department of Emergency Medicine. The Yale University Department of Medicine currently has a program aimed at breaking the cycle of use and reducing opioid overdoses in high risk populations. Listen to the podcast to discover how the Yale University’s Department of Medicine utilized a study of 329 patients in their pilot program to help them develop a full-blown program that is better able to treat those afflicted with substance abuse disorder.

Greg interviews Dawn Scherma and Tammy Laurer, the founder and the president of Dawn’s Early Light. Dawn’s Early Light is an assistance program that aims to provide financial help and guidance to those suffering from substance abuse disorder. Listen to the podcast to discover how Dawn and Tammy managed the opioid dependence of their children and then channeled that energy and knowledge into helping others.

On January 6th 2017, Greg interviewed Lenny Bernstein, a journalist for the Washington Post. Lenny discussed the force behind the opioid epidemic ravaging rural American communities. During his investigation, his team discovered that multiple drug distribution companies were giving rural pharmacies far more pills than they could possibly sell or store. But how could this happen unchecked? “As we dug into these cases,” Lenny explained, “we found that the DEA, their own employees, state boards and pharmacies had warned them… It was very obvious that [the companies] had to know, because these emails were going up to their headquarters.” On Sunday October 15th 2017, 60 Minutes released a joint broadcast with the Washington Post, where they interviewed former DEA agent Joe Rannazzisi. In the interview, Rannazzisi revisits Bernstein’s initial finds, revealing the behind the scenes battle between the DEA, Congress, and large pharmaceutical distributors that’s enabled the opioid epidemic to continue sweeping the na

Greg interviews Katie Park, the Ashtabula County Prevention Coalition Coordinator, as well as two clinical supervisors – Matt Butler from Community Counseling and Jennifer Simpson from Signature Health. Katie, Matt, and Jennifer have been working within Ashtabula County to help treat those affected by the opioid epidemic. Listen to the podcast to discover how the Prevention Coalition is evaluating actual data from their community and using it to develop strategies to better educate, prevent, and treat those hit by the opioid crisis in Ashtabula.

Greg continues his interview with Maurice Clarett, the former Ohio State running back who led the team in 2002 to an undefeated season and their first national championship in 36 years. Following his first year at OSU, Maurice struggled with substance abuse, eventually culminating in imprisonment. He now educates and empowers others to achieve their goals through public speaking. Listen to the podcast to discover how the Red Zone also works to get patients involved in the community so they can integrate their everyday life into their treatment.

Greg interviews Kristen Schenker, a licensed social worker and the current clinical supervisor at Glenbeigh. Glenbeigh is a drug and alcohol rehabilitation specialty hospital following the philosophy that those suffering from substance abuse disorder can develop a lifestyle outside of their chemical dependence. Listen to the podcast to discover how Glenbeigh’s programs offer highly specialized and individualized care, giving patient’s the skills to support themselves and transform their lives.

Greg interviews Maurice Clarett, the former Ohio State running back who led the team in 2002 to an undefeated season and their first national championship in 36 years. Following his first year at OSU, Maurice struggled with substance abuse, eventually culminating in imprisonment. He now educates and empowers others to achieve their goals through public speaking. Listen to the podcast to discover how Maurice handled his time away from the sport as well as his time in prison, and how both events shifted his priorities.

Greg interviews John Stuckey, the President of ARCHway Institute. ARCHway is a non-profit whose vision is to bring the treatment of mental health and addictive orders into the realm of mainstream medicine - similar to the treatment of other chronic lifestyle diseases such as obesity and diabetes. Listen to the podcast to discover how self-medicating and consistent opioid use can re-wire the brain and lead to substance abuse disorder. As well as how drugs like Vivitrol can help those suffering from opioid dependence reclaim their lives.

Greg interviews Dr. Darin Neven, an emergency department physician practicing at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Washington. Dr. Neven explores the need to change the culture and practice in terms of treatment for substance use disorders in general and opioid addiction in particular. He points to one effective method to identifying a problem is through Washington’s state-wide tracking of patients’ ED visits, following their appearance pattern and history Listen to the podcast to discover how the issue of opioid addiction treatment is shifting and success is being found with Suboxone.

Greg interviews Nicole Lewis, Washington Post reporter for the Fact Checker feature. In an article she bylined that was published 9/11/2017, she responded to President Trump’s claim that drugs would stop pouring into this country if we built a border wall, which was one of his campaign’s signature promises. She begs to differ. “A wall won’t stop them – flat out, wrong.” Listen to the podcast to discover how the issue of drugs finding their way into the U.S. will not be obviated by the construction of any variety of border wall, according to Nicole’s extensive research and reporting.

Greg interviews Keary McCarthy, the Executive Director of the Ohio Mayors Alliance. The Ohio Mayors Alliance is a coalition of mayors from Ohio’s 30 largest urban and suburban communities, which works to advance priority policies, strengthen economic vibrancy, and better advocate for local communities through collaboration and communication. Listen to the podcast to discover what the Mayors Alliance learned from this report and how they are utilizing that information to improve policy and combat the growing epidemic sweeping through Ohio communities.

Greg interviews Dr. Jay Butler, the Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Division of Public Health at the Alaska Department of Health and Human Services. He is also the Chairman of the Alaska Opioid Policy Task Force, a partnership between the Alaskan Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, Mental Health Trust, and the Department of Health and Social Services, aiming to combat the rising incidence of heroin and opioid abuse in Alaska. Listen to the podcast to discover how this state of emergency declaration works and how it has enabled Alaska to develop and carry out programs to help fight the opioid epidemic throughout the state.