"Jon and Abby go behind the headlines to explore the hot topics of the month.  This week they tackle teen vaping, substance abuse amongst baby boomers, talking to your kids about drugs, and chocolate (yes, chocolate!)"

What is self-injury and what causes it?  What can families do to help?  Dr. Barry Walsh, author of "Treating Self-Injury: A Practical Guide" and a Lecturer on Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, joins us to talk about self-harm and it's impact on the person suffering and their loved ones.

Tom Harrison, author of "The Complete Family Guide to Addiction", shares his practical and authoritative guide for families and friends looking to better understand addiction and how to get help for themselves and their loved ones.

This week we talk to psychiatrist Himal Mitra about demystifying mental health treatment today.

Dr. Zev Schuman-Olivier, Executive Director and Research Director of the Center for Mindfulness and Compassion, joins us to talk about mindfulness - what it means, and why it's so important.

Jon and Abby go behind the headlines to explore the hot topics of the month.  This week they tackle driving under the influence of cannabis, everyday treatments for anxiety, and concerns about the drug Kratom and its misuse.

Dr. Mark Albanese, an addictions psychiatrist and Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry Harvard Medical School, joins us to talk about identifying and treating disorders that co-occur with opioid use disorder, especially trauma.

Jon and Abby go behind the headlines to explore the hot topics of the month.  This week they tackle Section 35, the public health approach to treatment, and the debate surrounding cannabis as a treatment for opioid use disorder.

Personal stories of addiction and recovery touch us the most and have the greatest potential to heal and educate.  Lisa S. joins us to share her recovery journey in the seventh installment of our series "Recovery Stories."

Harvard seniors Kailash Sundaram and Eana Meng discuss their recent push to make naloxone available across Harvard’s campus.  We're also joined by Domenic Esposito, the artist who famously dropped an 800lb heroin spoon sculpture on the steps of Perdue Pharma, as he takes his art and activism across the country.

When talking about the opioid epidemic, the overdose reversal drug Narcan (naloxone) is often credited with bringing the death rate down significantly.  Even though it's a life saver, there are people opposed to its use.  Sarah Mackin and Devin Larkin from the Boston Public Health Commission join us to explore all aspects of this medication.

Maureen Cavanagh joins us to talk about her devastating new memoir "If You Love Me:  A Mother's Journey Through Her Daughter's Opioid Addiction", a deeply moving mother-daughter story about love, strength, and hope.

Though anxiety has risen among young people overall, recent research studies confirm that it has skyrocketed in girls.  As a clinical psychologist who specializes in girls, Lisa Damour, Ph. D., has watched this rising tide of anxiety in her own research, private practice, and in the all-girls' school where she consults.  Dr. Damour joins us to talk about her new book UNDER PRESSURE. 

Mike Ferullo began running to help his personal recovery. Before he knew it, he was running the New York City Marathon and getting his Social Work degree.  In 2008 he brought running to a treatment program to inspire others the same way and the non-profit, Boston Bulldogs was born. The only requirement is that you "just show up." Coach Mike, and Bulldog program coordinator Meaghan O'Sullivan, join us.

The voices of drug users are usually not heard in substance use policy discussions. Michael Galipeau, co-founder of the Rhode Island Users Union, describes the difficulties he has encountered in getting them heard and some of his unexpected allies.

Jon and Abby talk about Medication Assisted Treatment or MAT. MAT is part of a evidence-based approach to treating those with opioid and alcohol use disorders and is gaining wider acceptance by behavioral health care providers.  But the practice is sometimes misunderstood by the public and even some members of the recovery community.

Shaleen Title, Commissioner of the Cannabis Control Commission, joins us to break down the recently enacted laws enabling medical and adult use marijuana in the Commonwealth.

As a global C-Suite level marketing star at 35yrs old, Annie Grace found herself drinking almost two bottles of wine a night.  Her life had become a daily battle for sobriety.   Her first book, "This Naked Mind", broke down how alcohol changes us physically and mentally and how she was able to find freedom from alcohol.  Her latest endeavor, "The Alcohol Experiment", aims to change problem drinking by teaching why we drink more than we want, how to change the expectations of drinking, and how to shift your mindset to control your drinking - if not alleviate it all together.

70-80% of people who stop using drugs will experience a lapse or relapse during their recovery. Abby and Jon talk about relapse prevention and why a relapse can be the jarring event that reinforces long-term recovery.

Graphic novelist Jarrett Krosoczka (author of the beloved "Lunch Lady" series) joins us to talk about his profound new graphic memoir "Hey, Kiddo: How I Lost My Mother, Found My Father, and Dealt With Family Addiction."  Kroscozka's memoir is a raw and honest portrayal of addiction through the eyes of a child, and shines a light on how love, family, and art helped him survive.

Jon and Abby are joined by some special musical guests, and they’ll also discuss the challenges faced by people in recovery during the holidays and talk about proven strategies for surviving the season.

Family Addiction Specialist Diana Clark, talks about how the shift in parenting methods has affected how families approach the addiction of their children and what families can do to get their loved ones help.

The story of America’s "War on Drugs" usually begins with Richard Nixon or Ronald Reagan. Matthew R. Pembleton, author of "Containing Addiction", argues that its origins instead lie in the years following World War II.  Matthew joins us in an upcoming podcast to discuss how U.S. policymakers had long viewed addiction and organized crime as profound domestic and trans-national threats, and how's America's application of a foreign policy solution to a domestic social crisis. The result is a drug war that persists into the present day.

Personal stories of addiction and recovery touch us the most, and have the greatest potential to heal and educate.  Join us for the fourth installment of our series "Recovery Stories".