As parents, Mary and Admiral James “Sandy” Winnefeld just wanted to protect their son, Jonathan. This was a job Sandy felt he should have been well equipped for as the United States’ number two ranking military officer. Yet, Jonathan’s struggles with anxiety led him to start drinking alcohol and misusing prescription medications as a teen. Sandy and Mary did everything they could to find appropriate help for their son's substance use. Still, just three days after they dropped him off at college, Jonathan died of an accidental overdose in his dorm room. 

In our 12th episode of Heart of the Matter with Elizabeth Vargas, Elizabeth reflects on her own experience growing up in a military family as she connects with the Winnefelds. Sandy and Mary also discuss the challenges they faced parenting a child struggling with his mental health, learning to live with grief and dedicating themselves to “saving a life every day” through their work with SAFE Project — the nonprofit they founded following their son’s death.

Related reading

After you listen, explore these resources from Partnership to End Addiction to learn more about the topics and themes discussed in this episode:

• How to Navigate the Addiction Treatment System
• Substance Use + Mental Health: Your Guide to Addressing Co-occurring Disorders
• Risks for Relapse, Overdose and What You Can Do

To learn more:
Partnership to End Addiction website
Donate today to help us provide free resources to families
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Just as Kristen Johnston started finding success as an actress starring in the Emmy-award winning sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun, feelings of self-doubt and panic began overtaking her life. In an unfamiliar city, without her support system nearby, Kristen found comfort in prescription painkillers – initially prescribed to her to treat migraines. Over the years her addiction worsened, turning Kristen into the self-described “Nancy Drew of painkillers.” Her persistent substance use ultimately caused an ulcer in her stomach to burst, sending her to the hospital. The events that followed led Kristen to find help, “break-up with her addiction” and even write the best-selling memoir Guts: The Endless Follies and Tiny Triumphs of a Giant Disaster.

But Kristen also knows what it feels like to love someone suffering from addiction. Just last year, she lost her sister to an accidental overdose. In this episode of Heart of the Matter, Kristen and Elizabeth reflect on the judgment they face as women in recovery, the importance of overcoming shame and the feelings that come with caring for someone struggling with substance use.

Related reading
After you listen, explore these resources from Partnership to End Addiction to learn more about the topics and themes discussed in this episode:

• Understanding Prescription & Over-the-Counter Medication
• Preparing for Life and Recovery Following Treatment
• I Know I Need to Take Care of Myself Too, but How?

Editor’s Note: The views and opinions expressed on Heart of the Matter are those of the podcast participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Partnership to End Addiction. We are also mindful that some of the personal stories feature the word “addict” and other terms from this list. We respect and understand those who choose to use certain terms to express themselves. However, we strive to use language that’s health-oriented, accurately reflects science, promotes evidence-based treatment and demonstrates respect and compassion. 

To learn more:
Partnership to End Addiction website
Donate today to help us provide free resources to families
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

He was a highly celebrated student athlete with a promising professional career ahead of him. Yet, due to his struggles with addiction, Montee Ball found himself sitting in a jail cell while his former teammates won the Super Bowl. Now in recovery, Montee has walked away from the NFL and committed himself to breaking down barriers that prevent Black and Brown people from accessing help for mental health and substance use disorders.

In this episode of Heart of the Matter with Elizabeth Vargas, learn more about Montee’s journey through addiction, how he found purpose in fatherhood, and his work as a recovery advocate for communities of color.

Related reading

After you listen, explore these resources from Partnership to End Addiction to learn more about the topics and themes discussed in this episode:

• How to Address Alcohol & Underage Drinking
• What Parents Need to Know About College Binge Drinking
• How to Encourage Your Child to Get Help for Their Substance Use or Addiction

To learn more:
Partnership to End Addiction website
Donate today to help us provide free resources to families
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Before Zac Clark was introduced to television viewers on The Bachelorette, he was considered the "life of the party" and willing to go to great lengths to achieve his “next high.” In his twenties, his addiction escalated to the point where his marriage crumbled and his friendships dissipated. His relationship with his parents was holding on by a thread. But they never gave up on him, and Zac found recovery. Ultimately, he won back his health and went on to win the heart of not only Tayshia Adams but also viewers across the country, all through his candor, compassion and commitment to a substance-free life. In the ninth episode of Heart of the Matter, listen in as Elizabeth Vargas and Zac revisit his journey, from faking illnesses to gain access to prescription medications to finding happiness in real life, making a career out of helping others with addiction, and even falling in love on reality TV.


Related reading
After you listen, explore these resources to learn more about the topics and themes discussed in this episode:

• How to Encourage Your Child to Get Help for Their Substance Use or Addiction
• Preparing for Life and Recovery Following Treatment
• Personalized Support for Parents and Caregivers

Editor’s Note: The views and opinions expressed on Heart of the Matter are those of the podcast participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Partnership to End Addiction. We are also mindful that some of the personal stories feature the word “addict” and other terms from this list. We respect and understand those who choose to use certain terms to express themselves. However, we strive to use language that’s health-oriented, accurately reflects science, promotes evidence-based treatment and demonstrates respect and compassion. 

To learn more:
Partnership to End Addiction website
Donate today to help us provide free resources to families
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

When he was 14 years old, Jeremiah Fraites of The Lumineers lost his older brother, Joshua, to a heroin overdose. He describes it as the worst thing to have happened to his family. Years later, Jeremiah is still reflecting on the monumental impact drugs and alcohol have on music, culture, families and relationships. This topic even served as inspiration behind the latest album from his band, titled III.

In this episode of Heart of the Matter, Jeremiah joins Elizabeth Vargas to share his perspective on substance use and to discuss his family’s experiences navigating addiction, giving up alcohol himself and learning to be a rock star without substances.

Related reading
 
After you listen, explore these resources from Partnership to End Addiction to learn more about the topics and themes discussed in this episode:

• Our latest campaign featuring music from The Lumineers: Start with Connection
• Is substance use a part of "normal" teen behavior?
• Understanding and addressing heroin use

Editor’s Note: The views and opinions expressed on Heart of the Matter are those of the podcast participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Partnership to End Addiction. We are also mindful that some of the personal stories feature the word “addict” and other terms from this list. We respect and understand those who choose to use certain terms to express themselves. However, we strive to use language that’s health-oriented, accurately reflects science, promotes evidence-based treatment and demonstrates respect and compassion. 

To learn more:
Partnership to End Addiction website
Donate today to help us provide free resources to families
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

For the first episode of 2021, Elizabeth is joined by Holly Whitaker, author of Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice Not to Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol and founder and CEO of the online recovery program, The Tempest. In this interview, Holly and Elizabeth discuss their experiences as women coming to terms with the impact alcohol was having on their lives, how addiction is portrayed in the media, and their perspectives on the roads they took to finding recovery.

To learn more about addiction treatment, visit drugfree.org/treatmentoptions. If you are seeking treatment for your child or a loved one, know that numerous options exist. Addiction treatment is not “one-size-fits-all” and may take place in a variety of settings, at different degrees of intensity and for different lengths of time. Partnership to End Addiction services and resources are here to help you navigate this system and identify the best options for your family. Information about providers and services on our website or podcast does not constitute an endorsement.



Editor’s Note: The views and opinions expressed on Heart of the Matter are those of the podcast participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Partnership to End Addiction. We are also mindful that some of the personal stories feature the word “addict” and other terms from this list. We respect and understand those who choose to use certain terms to express themselves. However, we strive to use language that’s health-oriented, accurately reflects science, promotes evidence-based treatment and demonstrates respect and compassion. 

To learn more:
Partnership to End Addiction website
Donate today to help us provide free resources to families
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

In this episode of Heart of the Matter with Elizabeth Vargas, TV personality, chef, writer, teacher and social justice advocate Andrew Zimmern discusses losing 15 years of his life to addiction, achieving nearly 30 years of recovery, and ultimately “writing his own syllabus for life.” While best known for traveling the world and exploring shocking cuisine as executive producer and host of the Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods franchise, Andrew’s journey through addiction to recovery is just as compelling.

Editor’s Note: The views and opinions expressed on Heart of the Matter are those of the podcast participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Partnership to End Addiction. We are also mindful that some of the personal stories feature the word “addict” and other terms from this list. We respect and understand those who choose to use certain terms to express themselves. However, we strive to use language that’s health-oriented, accurately reflects science, promotes evidence-based treatment and demonstrates respect and compassion. 

To learn more:
Partnership to End Addiction website
Donate today to help us provide free resources to families
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Since journalist and author, Beth Macy published her New York Times bestseller Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America in 2018, an additional 100,000 people have died in the U.S. due to opioid overdoses. Beth Macy is an incredible writer and champion for those who do not have a voice. Together, Elizabeth and Beth engage in an energizing and terrifying conversation about the epidemic Beth describes so poignantly in her book, as well as what more needs to be done to help the families still suffering.

Editor’s Note: The views and opinions expressed on Heart of the Matter are those of the podcast participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Partnership to End Addiction. We are also mindful that some of the personal stories feature the word “addict” and other terms from this list. We respect and understand those who choose to use certain terms to express themselves. However, we strive to use language that’s health-oriented, accurately reflects science, promotes evidence-based treatment and demonstrates respect and compassion. 

To learn more:
Partnership to End Addiction website
Donate today to help us provide free resources to families
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Jim Carroll was sworn in as the Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) in 2019. His agency’s mission: to stop the flow of illegal drugs in the United States and to connect those suffering from addiction with the tools they need to achieve recovery. On this episode of Heart of the Matter, Jim joins Elizabeth to discuss the Trump administration's response to the nation's addiction epidemic, barriers to treatment, and the prevalence of stigma towards individuals with substance use disorders. He also shares reflections from traveling around the country, meeting with people in some of the hardest-hit communities and leading discussions about the challenges they face. Hear his reflections on this issue, which is both a professional and personal passion of Jim’s, and learn more about his dedication to accomplishing the ONDCP’s goals.

Editor’s Note: The views and opinions expressed on Heart of the Matter are those of the podcast participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Partnership to End Addiction. We are also mindful that some of the personal stories feature the word “addict” and other terms from this list. We respect and understand those who choose to use certain terms to express themselves. However, we strive to use language that’s health-oriented, accurately reflects science, promotes evidence-based treatment and demonstrates respect and compassion. 

To learn more:
Partnership to End Addiction website
Donate today to help us provide free resources to families
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

We are grateful to have David Sheff on today's episode of Heart of the Matter. David Sheff is the author of Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction which inspired the film of the same name, starring Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet. David Sheff offers a unique perspective as a parent who supported a  son navigating substance use for more than 10 years. David impactfully speaks to his experience  learning to parent with compassion and understanding, not  stigma and frustration. Today, David is an advocate, an author and a champion of the recovery movement.

Learn more about David Sheff's Beautiful Boy Fund here: https://www.beautifulboyfund.org/about-us

Worried about your child or loved one? Partnership to End Addiction's helpline is here for you and anyone else playing a supportive role in the life of a person struggling with substance use. Connect by texting 55753 or visit https://helphope.net/3koi6Kh to learn more.



Editor’s Note: The views and opinions expressed on Heart of the Matter are those of the podcast participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Partnership to End Addiction. We are also mindful that some of the personal stories feature the word “addict” and other terms from this list. We respect and understand those who choose to use certain terms to express themselves. However, we strive to use language that’s health-oriented, accurately reflects science, promotes evidence-based treatment and demonstrates respect and compassion. 

To learn more:
Partnership to End Addiction website
Donate today to help us provide free resources to families
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts