Avoiding the Addiction Affliction

Westwords Consulting, LLC

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.

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310 episodes
Updated July 29

Episodes310

Newest first

Feb 15, 2023 · 20 min
"Street Angels" with Dan Grellinger
When people with mental health and substance use disorders lose their homes and find themselves unsheltered and on the street, recovery becomes difficult, if not impossible. Dan Grellinger talks about the work of Milwaukee, Wisconsin's, Street Angels. Street Angels is a program whose small staff and volunteers travel throughout Milwaukee County providing hot meals, clothing, blankets, tents, NARCAN, caring conversations, and HOPE to those who are experiencing street homelessness. Dan is a substance abuse counselor and Outreach Coordinator for Street Angels. Find out more about Street Angels and how to help at https://www.streetangelsmke.org.
Feb 8, 2023 · 30 min
"A Journey of Uncovering" with Lynn McLaughlin
Many times, before substance use, there is trauma. Confusing, and sometimes destructive, messages from others about who we are as children affect the way we develop, cope, and mature. Lynn McLaughlin talks about her journey of self discovery, which she calls uncovering. Uncovering the real you takes time, support, and self-forgiveness. Lynn is a co-owner and member of Ebb & Flow Connections Cooperative in Northeast Wisconsin. She can be reached at https://www.ebbandflowcooperative.com. Support services are available for mental health. Nationally, you can start your search at https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help.
Feb 1, 2023 · 37 min
"A Walk In Their Shoes" with Colin Hanson
If young people are going to work and live in a global society, understanding the impact of other cultures and that history takes place every day across our planet is important for them to learn. Colin Hanson, an educator in the Edgar, Wisconsin, School District, talks about A Walk in Their Shoes, a collaborative effort by north central Wisconsin educators to provide access to powerful speakers who have first-hand experience with contemporary history. The vision is to help students see the world with different eyes and give them the opportunity to look at life from a global perspective and the chance to see that one person can truly make a difference. Colin and the speaker series can be reached at https://www.awalkintheirshoes.org.
Jan 25, 2023 · 27 min
"Our Default State: Peace, Love, and Happiness" with Jason Shiers
It's not uncommon that people are drawn into a field of work because of their life experiences. We know the topic, we lived it, and we can give something back to help others. Jason Shiers talks about his personal road to recovery and the work he has done to help others undo the labels that they have put on themselves or have been given to them by others. Jason is a certified Psychotherapist and Certified Transformative Coach who has been working with addictions and mental health for over 25 years. He is also the host of the outstanding podcast "Misunderstandings of the Mind." Jason's podcast can be found at https://www.misunderstandingsofthemind.com, and he can be reached at https://www.wideworldcoaching.com.
Jan 18, 2023 · 22 min
"Under the Anger Blanket" with Lynn McLaughlin and Karen Iverson Riggers
Anger never knocks on the emotional door without company. According to numerous studies, including one from the Harvard Business Review, expressions of anger have risen dramatically across the culture, and, whether disagreements about politics, the pandemic, other social issues, or even work and personal relationships, anger seems to be the most prevalent emotion expressed. Lynn McLaughlin and Karen Iverson Riggers, consultants, co-owners, and members of Ebb & Flow Connections Cooperative in Northeast Wisconsin, talk about the rise in anger responses in our society and what lies underneath. They can be reached at https://www.ebbandflowcooperative.com. Help is available for mental health concerns. Nationally, you can start your search at https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help.
Jan 11, 2023 · 20 min
"Perceptions of Origin" with Juliana Obayashi, Maria Brunetta, and Brenda Benadiba
Are the customs and patterns around alcohol and other drug usage that much different in other places? Juliana, Maria, and Brenda talk about substance use and abuse in their native Brazil. The legal drinking age is different, and so are the consequences. Now in the United States for college, the women compare the culture they were born in with the one they moved to. Other countries and cultures address alcohol and other drug usage differently than in the United States, too. If you or a loved one has a substance use disorder, help is available. Locally, resources can be found at Crisis, 262-657-7188 or 211 Wisconsin: https://211wisconsin.communityos.org. You can also find AA meetings here: https://mtg.area75.org/meetings.html?dist=7 and NA meetings here: https://namilwaukee.org/meetings/
Jan 4, 2023 · 31 min
"The New 'F' Word" with Erin Rachwal
Like all families who have lost a child to drugs, the Rachwals were left asking, "What now?" For Erin Rachwal, her husband Rick, and their youngest son, the answer was to make sure what happened to their son Logan did not happen to another family. More than 100,000 individuals lost their lives last year to a synthetic opioid overdose in the United States. Erin discusses the fight to bring awareness to this epidemic and how they are coping with their grief and loss. The Love Logan Foundation and Erin can be reached at https://loveloganfoundation.org. If you want to know what you can do locally, get involved, support prevention activities, call or email legislators, ask your local school what they are doing to educate the students, and, most of all, talk to your children.
Dec 28, 2022 · 28 min
"I'm More Than Just Fine" with Lynn McLaughlin and Karen Iverson Riggers
Optimal mental health occurs when we are able to experience and cope with the entire range of human emotions. Lynn McLaughlin and Karen Iverson Riggers talk about why all of the messages we receive across the culture that indicate we should all exist in the "happy zone" all the time are counterproductive to our sense of well-being and mental health. Lynn and Karen are consultants, co-owners, and members of Ebb & Flow Connections Cooperative in Northeast Wisconsin. They can be reached at https://www.ebbandflowcooperative.com. If you need help for your mental health, that help is available. Nationally, you can start your search at https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help.
Dec 21, 2022 · 29 min
"Making a Relevant Connection" with Chardé Hollins
Not everyone is served equally by the mental health and substance abuse system. Chardé Hollins discusses the obstacles those of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds have accessing substance abuse and mental health treatment and what can be done to level the treatment playing field. Chardé is an independently licensed clinical social worker and the owner of Relevant Connections in Cleveland, Ohio. Ms. Hollins consults with organizations committed to increasing their cultural awareness and access to behavioral health services by naturally integrating emotional wellness supports and inclusive policies into their agencies' cultures, services, and missions. She can be reached at https://www.relevantconnections.org.
Dec 14, 2022 · 35 min
"Four Ways to Die" with Guida Brown
Alcohol is a toxin and, far and away, the most commonly abused substance. It can kill all by itself. It also doesn't play well in the sandbox with other drugs. Guida Brown talks about the potentially fatal interactions when combining alcohol with other substances. Guida is a Community Relations Consultant with United States Drug Testing Laboratories. She also is an Adjunct Faculty member with Concordia University-Wisconsin and an accomplished writer. Guida can be reached at guidaforusdtl@gmail.com; you can follow her blog here: https://4csofaddiction.com/. If you need help for your substance abuse issues, help is available. In Kenosha, contact the Hope Council on Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse; call 262-658-8166 or explore their website at https://www.hopecouncil.org. You can also find AA meetings here: https://mtg.area75.org/meetings.html?dist=7 and NA meetings here: https://sefa-na.org/meetings
Dec 7, 2022 · 20 min
"The Same Traditions, A Different Me" with Nanci Schiman
Holidays are a time of family gatherings and traditions. Nanci Schiman talks about the challenges the holidays present to people new to recovery. Nanci is a licensed clinical social worker with over 17 years of experience working with adolescents, adults, families, and couples in the mental health field. When substances are as prevalent as holiday decorations, learning to navigate a healthy path is both challenging and necessary for those in recovery. Nanci can be reached at https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/nanci-schiman-mequon-wi/720368. If you or a loved one needs help, it is available. To contact the Hope Council on Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse, call 262-658-8166, or explore their website at https://www.hopecouncil.org. You can also find AA meetings here: https://mtg.area75.org/meetings.html?dist=7 and NA meetings here: https://namilwaukee.org/meetings/
Nov 30, 2022 · 26 min
"Moving Forward, It's About Me!" with Cassondra Frisque
Not all losses are resolved; not all endings actually end. Cassondra Frisque, a therapist with Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin, talks about ambiguous loss, which is, simply, loss without closure. We experience many losses in our lifetimes, ambiguous or otherwise, from family members and friends to the substances used if we're recovering. How we handle those losses is unique to each of us. Cassondra can be reached at https://www.familyservicesnew.org/womens-recovery If you or a loved one needs help for substance abuse, help is available. Contact the Hope Council on Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse by calling 262-658-8166, or explore their website at https://www.hopecouncil.org. You can also find AA meetings here: https://mtg.area75.org/meetings.html?dist=7 and NA meetings here: https://namilwaukee.org/meetings/
Nov 23, 2022 · 24 min
"Mental Health IS Health" with Amy Herbst
We are witnessing a mental health crisis among our young people that we have never experienced before. Amy Herbst discusses the impact that social media, the pandemic, and developing life skills have played in the rise of young people's depression, anxiety, and stress. Amy is the Vice President of Mental and Behavioral Health at Children's Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We all have a role in helping our young people navigate inevitable difficult times. Information about Children's Hospital of Wisconsin's Institute for Child and Family Well-Being can be reached at https://uwm.edu/icfw/, and the Craig Yabuki Mental Health Walk-In Clinic can be reached at (414) 337-3400 or online at https://childrenswi.org/location-directory/locations/urgent-care/craig-yabuki-mental-health-walk-in-clinic
Nov 16, 2022 · 31 min
"This Isn't Pass-Fail" with Guida Brown
It is common practice for medical professionals to run tests to determine the cause and severity of a patient's condition. Guida Brown talks about why that should also be the case when it comes to persons with Substance Use Disorders. Guida is a Community Relations Consultant with United States Drug Testing Laboratories. She is also an Adjunct Faculty member with Concordia University-Wisconsin. Whether testing urine, blood, fingernails, hair, or even newborn tissue samples, the test results can be an aid in helping people come to terms with the nature and extent of their Substance Use Disorders. Guida can be reached at guidaforusdtl@gmail.com; you can follow her blog here: https://4csofaddiction.com/
Nov 9, 2022 · 22 min
"Words From a Mother in Mourning" with Phyllis Babrove
A little over two years ago, late in the evening, Phyllis Babrove got the phone call that all of us dread and none of us want. Her daughter Sara, who had struggled for most of her adult life with drugs, had died of an accidental overdose. Phyllis shares her daughter's story and her work to try to help other families understand the problems of substance abuse. Phyllis is a Clinical Licensed Social Worker and the author of Words from a mother in mourning: How to protect your child from drugs. Phyllis's book, blog, information about Sara's life, and contact information can be found at https://herstarforevershines.wordpress.com. If you need help for your substance abuse issues, help is available. In Kenosha, contact the Hope Council on Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse; call 262-658-8166 or explore their website at https://www.hopecouncil.org. You can also find AA meetings here: https://mtg.area75.org/meetings.html?dist=7 and NA meetings here: https://sefa-na.org/meetings
Nov 2, 2022 · 26 min
"Have One Beautiful Day, Then Another" with Linda Van Tol
Linda Van Tol discusses women's substance use and recovery. Linda is the Medical Assistance Residential Substance Use Disorder Supervisor with ARC Community Services in Madison, Wisconsin. Using a Relational Model of Therapy that helps women with their substance abuse, life roles, cultural expectations, and socioeconomic needs, Linda and ARC provide a safe environment for women to heal and grow. ARC Community Services programs and Linda can be reached at https://arccommserv.com. Linda can be reached at lvantol@arccommserv.com. If you need help for your substance abuse issues, help is available. In Kenosha, contact the Hope Council on Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse; call 262-658-8166 or explore their website at https://www.hopecouncil.org. You can also find AA meetings here: https://mtg.area75.org/meetings.html?dist=7 and NA meetings here: https://sefa-na.org/meetings
Oct 26, 2022 · 26 min
"Think Outside the Cup" with Kimberly Henderson
Many therapists, social workers, and even parents have to work around substance abusers' denial that they are using drugs. One of the tools often used to help break through that denial is drug testing. Kimberly Henderson discusses her company's sweat patch testing product and its effectiveness. Kimberly works in Business Development and Sales for PharmChem, Inc. With her background in child protection and education, Kimberly's role at PharmChem allows her to combine her passion for people and their well-being with a heart for service and education. Kimberly can be reached at khenderson@pharmchem.com and PharmChem, Inc., at https://www.pharmchek.com
Oct 19, 2022 · 27 min
"You're Not Supposed To Know What To Do" with Zoë Page
When someone close to us passes away, we grieve. Many times we experience that same sense of loss when someone we didn't know, except through their public persona, passes away. Zoë Page talks about the grieving process and talks about how families who lose a child cope. Zoë works as a Child Life Specialist at Baystate Children's Hospital in Springfield, Massachusetts. We all experience many losses in our lifetime, from family members and friends to the substances used if we're recovering. How we handle those losses is unique to each of us. If you have experienced the loss of a child, The Dougy Center in Portland, Oregon, https://www.dougy.org, has numerous resources for families. If you or a loved one needs help due to substance abuse, it is available. To contact the Hope Council on Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse, call 262-658-8166, or explore their website at https://www.hopecouncil.org. You can also find AA meetings here: https://mtg.area75.org/meetings.html?dist=7 and NA meetings here: https://namilwaukee.org/meetings/
Oct 12, 2022 · 17 min
"Maybe You Can Go Home Again" with Zach G.
Zach spent a long time making poor decisions in Seattle, compounding problems that began at age thirteen with a doctor's prescription for opiates. Homeless in Seattle and using the strongest street opiates he could find, hoping he wouldn't wake up, he eventually ended up in recovery and alive. Zach updates his story telling us about his trip back to Seattle for the first time since he stopped using drugs and began recovery. Recovery is possible. If you or a loved one needs help, it is available. To contact the Hope Council on Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse, call 262-658-8166, or explore their website at https://www.hopecouncil.org. You can also find AA meetings here: https://mtg.area75.org/meetings.html?dist=7 and NA meetings here: https://namilwaukee.org/meetings/
Oct 5, 2022 · 25 min
"No. You Don't Drive Better Stoned" with Veronica King
Veronica King finishes our discussion about people cited for Operating While Impaired. The push for decriminalization and legalization of marijuana has resulted in a significant increase in automobile accidents and fatalities involving cannabis. Countering the often-repeated myths about substances and breaking through the denial is just part of the task all substance abuse counselors have to overcome to help clients. Veronica does so as a Social Worker and Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor who instructs Group Dynamics classes at Gateway Technical College for those who have been convicted of Operating While Impaired (also known as Driving Under the Influence). Veronica holds a Master's of Science degree from Chicago State University, is a Doctoral candidate, and is the President of the Kenosha NAACP. If you need help for your substance abuse issues, help is available. To contact the Hope Council on Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse, call 262-658-8166 or explore their website at https://www.hopecouncil.org. You can also find AA meetings here: https://mtg.area75.org/meetings.html?dist=7 and NA meetings here: https://sefa-na.org/meetings