Addiction Talk

Cara Santana is an actress, activist, designer and digital influencer known for her starring role in the Starz series “Vida” and her upcoming role in the film “Daughter of the Bride” out Feb. 3.

Cara’s experience with addiction took place in her teens, when she left her hometown of El Paso, TX, to pursue a career in acting in Los Angeles. It wasn’t long after her arrival that she encountered cocaine for the first time and it quickly turned into an addiction. At age 18, Cara experienced an overdose, and it was this event that led her to sobriety – a journey that not many people were aware of because she kept it under wraps; Cara’s parents had no knowledge until she informed them years later.

Today, Cara has been sober for 18 years and her career is thriving: she’s currently working on a film about the lives of New Yorkers with addiction and will be appearing in the upcoming comedy, “Daughter of the Bride.” She joins Addiction Talk to discuss her unique path to recovery that began early in her life and career, and the advice she has for others who may be facing a similar situation.

Actor and comedian, Tom Arnold, has had a well-publicized journey with addiction. Arnold’s drinking and substance use began years prior to him leaving the Midwest, where he was born and raised, and where his sister became one of the most prominent drug dealers.

In the late ‘80s, Arnold arrived in LA – with his substance use under wraps – to pursue a career in comedy and soon after was brought on as a writer for the sitcom “Roseanne.” After marrying the show’s star and gaining significant popularity and success, he decided he needed treatment.

Throughout the ‘90s, Arnold maintained his sobriety, his career flourished, and he even served as sponsor to late comedian Chris Farley. But in 2008, Arnold was involved in a motorcycle accident. The crash resulted in him breaking his scapula and he was prescribed pain medication for the injury. Despite his years in recovery, Arnold again experienced addiction.

In 2010, a health scare and close call was the catalyst for seeking treatment once again. Due to his continued substance use, Arnold’s colon ruptured, he became septic and spent three weeks in a coma. Since that time, he has experienced a few relapses, but has now been sober for more than five years.

Danny Trejo is one of the most recognized character actors known for roles in films such as “Desperado,” “From Dusk Till Dawn,” “Machete,” and the sequel “Machete Kills.” But, what many may not know is that he has been in recovery for more than 54 years.

Trejo’s history with substances and encounters with law enforcement began at a very early age: When he was seven, he participated in his first drug deal, at 10, was arrested for the first time, began using substances at age eight and by 14, he was addicted to and selling heroin. He had many stints in jail throughout his adolescence, and by 22, he was a prisoner at San Quentin.

It was in 1968, while in solitary confinement, that he found faith, became a member of the prison’s 12-step program and began a life in sobriety. He was released from custody for the last time in 1969.

Trejo began his unique path to acting in 1985. He was working as a substance use counselor and his assistance was needed by someone on the set of the film “Runaway Train.” While on the set, he was recognized by the screenwriter, who served time at San Quentin with Trejo. Knowing his history and expertise in boxing, this connection led him to become the personal trainer and boxing advisor to actor Eric Roberts.

In the decades since, Trejo has appeared in more than 300 films and television shows, is the owner of eight restaurants, and is a New York Times best-selling author with his memoir, “Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption and Hollywood.” Danny Trejo joins “Addiction Talk” to speak about his inspirational 50+ year journey in recovery.

Joining "Addiction Talk" is TikTok influencer Ariana Ruiz. Ariana has gained a massive following on the platform primarily because of her relatability - the cooking content she's known for is simple and straightforward, she's a young parent of two daughters, and like many people across the country, stressors during the pandemic caused her to relapse. Ariana's marijuana use began at 11 and at 14, she was drinking and experimenting with other drugs. By 16, she was addicted to cocaine. After becoming pregnant with her first child at 19, she was able to stop her use, but an event during the pandemic changed everything. In 2020, her daughter suddenly developed a neurological problem and could no longer speak. Her child's condition in addition to abuse she was experiencing in a relationship at the time led her to turn to cocaine once again. It wasn't until she overdosed in 2021 that she decided to seek help. In November 2021, Ariana removed cocaine from her life and her work has flourished. In just over a year, she's gained nearly three million followers. Now, her daughter has fully recovered and is often featured in her videos.

Army Capt. Ryan Griffis is a TikTok influencer who has amassed more than a million followers on the platform due to his transparency about his struggles with addiction and mental health. Alcohol use was something very familiar to Griffis. He and his younger brother were exposed to its use through their father’s alcohol use disorder. This experience later influenced both of their drinking habits. It wasn’t until returning home in 2020 after a deployment to Iraq that he began to take a look at his relationship with alcohol and came to the realization that his drinking was problematic. As a result, he made sobriety his New Year’s Resolution. He was fortunately able to influence his brother as well, and both are nearing their second year in recovery and will be celebrating the accomplishment just 10 days apart. Ryan joins this episode “Addiction Talk” to speak about life in recovery as an active duty Army Captain and how he maintains his journey through trying times.

Jillian Barberie is an artist, actress, host and radio personality who is best remembered for her time as the co-host of Good Day LA and its national counterpart Good Day Live. For nearly two decades, Jillian was a Los Angeles morning news staple and her popularity eventually led to roles in TV shows like Clueless and Melrose Place, Fox NFL Sunday, where she presented the national weather segment, and a few stints in reality TV. But behind the scenes, Jillian battled an addiction to alcohol for many years. In 2018, Jillian was diagnosed with breast cancer, but it wasn’t until three years later when she decided to get her life and health back. Today, she is a proud mother of two and an artist who recently celebrated her first year of sobriety.

Wes Geer’s substance use as a teen ended up getting him kicked out of both high school and his home; by 18, he was living in his car and working at Domino’s. Eventually, he was able to get a better job and continue playing in local bands, which led to the creation of Hed PE at the age of 21. For eight years, the band toured the world, but Geer’s feelings of loneliness made him turn back to alcohol. He began to drink excessively and progressed to harder substances like meth: at the time, he accredited the high from the substance as the reason for his songwriting success. The severity of Geer’s addiction intensified, and after nine years with the band, he quit. After leaving the band, he reached the point where he felt his life was imploding and he decided to seek help.

Though he relapsed after three years of sobriety, Geer immediately went back to working his steps, and after 10 days of prayer and meditation, he received an offer to be the touring guitarist of the band Korn.

It was after touring with the band that he formulated a way to give back and to do so through music, and in 2012, he founded Rock to Recovery – a music therapy program that helps people heal and transform their lives through the powerful experience of writing, playing and performing as a group.

Now, more than 15 years sober and with Rock to Recovery in its 10th year, he is the host of the top-rated Rock to Recovery Radio show, and a highly sought-after speaker on the topics of personal growth, spirituality, addiction, mental health, harm reduction and music therapy.

Joining “Addiction Talk” to wrap up Recovery Month is “Below Deck Mediterranean” star Captain Sandy Yawn, where she’ll be speaking about her history with addiction. Alcohol and addiction have been present in Yawn’s life for quite some time. Her mother was addicted to alcohol and addiction issues run in her family; she lost a niece in 2020 due to addiction. Her drinking began at a young age in what she believes as a form of self-medication while struggling with her sexuality. By the age of 17, her drinking resulted in a court-ordered detox after an arrest for drinking and driving, a charge that has sent her to jail multiple times. Alcohol routinely led to unpredictability and dangerous scenarios, and seeing friends pursue careers, get married, have children and reach other milestones encouraged her to change. One morning, Yawn decided that she wanted her life to be different. That day was August 29, 1989, and soon after, she began her career in yachting.

Yawn recently celebrated her 33rd year in recovery and regularly speaks about continuing to take her sobriety one day at a time. She also encourages other to live their truth – former “Real Housewives” star and “Addiction Talk” guest Braunwyn Windham-Burke credits Yawn with helper her in her sobriety journey and encouraging her to open up about her own addiction. In the years since she’s eliminated alcohol, Yawn is living her dreams and “Below Deck Mediterranean” is currently airing its seventh season on Bravo.

Many may remember Chef Chris Scott as a finalist on the show “Top Chef,” a platform that showcased is unique take on Southern cuisine. As he excelled through the competition, Chef Scott also used this newfound platform to raise awareness about substance use in the restaurant industry and addiction.

Alcohol and substances were freely available and often given to those in the kitchen, according to Chef Scott, and use was rampant. Alcohol and drug use were so commonplace, there was a mix known as the ‘trinity’: alcohol to get intoxicated, cocaine to balance it out, and marijuana to ‘deflate’ while working. Eventually, his drinking increased, and when he experienced the death of his mother, combined with a difficult workload and his own mental demons, he became a recluse and was reliant on alcohol. After finally getting serious about recovery, he found that his cooking improved because he was now able to focus and cook with a clean spirit. Now, approaching a decade in recovery, he’s recently opened Butterfunk Biscuit Co. in New York City and will soon release his book Homage: Recipes and Stories from an Amish Soul Food Kitchen.

This episode of “Addiction Talk” will feature former child actor Shaun Weiss, who many may remember as goalie Greg Goldberg from “The Mighty Ducks.” Shaun initially began drinking heavily after the death of his mother in 2008. Over the next decade, after experiencing unsteady work, growing frustration about his career, failed friendships and the death of his father, Shaun became homeless and addicted to heroin and methamphetamine.

In 2020, after a story about Shaun’s situation went viral, and with some encouragement from another former child actor, Shaun sought treatment. Now, he’s more than two years sober and has landed his first role in a film in 14 years. On this first episode during Recovery Month, Shaun will discuss his early career, what led to his addiction, and his passion to inspire others after all he’s been through.