Knowing about the dangers of addiction is just as important as talking about the birds and the bees, according to Dr. Rajy Abulhosn, a medical provider at Confirm BioSciences. When nearly 2.3 million adolescents ages 12-17 admit to using alcohol in the past month and 1.9 million adolescents admit to using drugs, school districts should be at the front-lines of combating the addiction crisis. As part of the same courses that teach comprehensive sex ed, he believes schools should be talking about the intersection with drugs and alcohol. 

Dr. Raiy is challenging people to consider this argument, why not include this information? Kids are being taught sex ed in school, why would it be more shocking to present real conversations in schools to kids about addiction? The answers may surprise you!

Only 57% of Parents in America tell their kids about drug and alcohol addiction, how it may relate to their families etc. This number must come up, there must be a better way to at least encourage parents to open up about this subject to their kids. As long as this stat stays true, we will never accomplish anything.

Dr. Raiy is an experienced Medical Director with expertise in Corporate Wellness, Travel Medicine/Counseling, and also as a Medical Review Officer. I am very comfortable in non-clinical medical roles, including leadership roles, management/administrative roles, and public speaking. I have a Bachelor of Arts (Communications), with a Medical Degree from the University of Washington School of Medicine. I am board-certified in Family Medicine, and am also a member of the American Association of Medical Review Officers and the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners. 

In this episode we cover:

• Addiction and mental health’s portrayal in the media
  • HBO’s show Euphoriadid a great job of not glamorizing drug and alcohol use in Season One.
  • People struggling with mental illness, such as bipolar disorder, are more likely to develop substance use disorder to help deal with the associated symptoms.
  • In the depressive phase, people may turn to alcohol or other substances to help ease depression, sadness, loneliness, and/or associated anxiety.
  • For those in the manic phase, their hyperactivity may lower inhibitions and impair judgment, leading them to use or abuse substances when they normally wouldn't.

• There’s a specific scene in Euphoria where the main character cheats on a urine test while she is in “recovery.” If the main character had taken a hair test, it would have shown that she indeed had not stopped using.
• Opting to perform drug testing on your child or teen can greatly reduce the likelihood of them trying drugs or succumbing to peer pressure.
• It is important to let them know your reasons and listen to their opinions and concerns, as your child may be hurt or upset by your decision, even if it is made with their best interests in mind.

• How parents can talk to their kids about substance use
  • Teens who say their parents would strongly disapprove of them trying marijuana are much less likely to use an illicit drug than those who think their parents would not strongly disapprove.
  • A necessary part of preventing drug use in the home lies with drug testing. Sometimes verbalizing a no drug policy isn’t enough.
  • At-home drug testing kits don’t have to be an intimidation method but rather a conversation-starter to ask questions and understand the consequences of drug addiction – in turn helping parents take back control of what is perceived to be an uncontrollable situation.

Mike Dayton has lived, at time out on the edge of life. Coming for a complicated home life Mike had to really raise himself, due to his Mom's mental illness challenges while Mike was young. Growing up without a Father is also a tough situation, all boys need a Father figure in their lives, but Mike made the best out of a bad situation.

In this interview, Mike discusses his addiction challenges and how it effected his ability to be a good Father and a Husband. Mike also goes deep into his drug of choice which was something called flacca. Truly terrible drug.

In this episode we talk about:

- Growing up in a hoarded house with his Mom who was suffering with mental illness. 
- Mike's slide into his addiction as his desire to work harder became destructive. 
- Becoming a Father, the family dynamic as it was while Mike was using vs. living clean
- Hitting his lowest point, making a life changing decision

Much of what Mike discloses with me is unknown to many people close to him. It takes courage to invite people in and disclose details of your life at the risk of judgement.

Jean-Francois (J.F.) Benoist has been counseling people struggling with addiction, mental health, and relationship issues for over twenty years. He co-founded The Exclusive Hawaii, a non-12-step residential addiction treatment center, with his wife, Joyce, in 2011.

Benoist is a Certified Option Process Mentor/Counselor. He is an internationally certified leader in The Mankind Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting men’s personal growth. He began his studies in human development and empowerment with Robert Hargrove and Relationships Inc. in 1980 and has been deeply involved in facilitating change in others ever since.

Addicted to the Monkey Mind 2.0 is a recent conversation with JF, diving deeper into just what the Monkey Mind means?

How does it happen? How do we kno

Brian Holloway was selected by the New England Patriots in the first round (19th overall) of the 1981 NFL Draft out of Stanford University. As a rookie in 1981 he started 5 of 16 games. In the strike-shortened 1982 NFL season, Holloway started 9 of 9 games as he became the starting left tackle.

After beating the New York Jets in a wild-card game of the 1985-86 NFL playoffs, the Patriots beat the Los Angeles Raiders on the road in the divisional rounds and the division. However, they could not run over the legendary Chicago Bears defense of 1985 in Super Bowl XX.

After Football Brian started traveling the country speaking at 100’s of corporate events through the country talking about the “Mind of a Play Maker” a very effective motivational and self help approach to life. Brian has been endorsed by some of the biggest profiles in politics and in sports.  

Brian was very clear when he described addiction and recovery. He really feels that there is a softening of people, the character of people especially young people. Brian is not a man who has ever made excuses for his losses or has gloated on his wins. Brian was very clear in this interview about what he feels is the best approach to recovery, and how to get to recovery and keep it.

People in recovery must focus not only on the mind, but also the body. This not the time to abuse your body any more than you have over the years of your addiction. Recovery about progress, small steps but always making gains. There is not quitting if you are trying to save your life. If you do not act against your addiction, you will never recovery properly. You will hurt, you will hate life, you will be physically and mentally sick, but the day will come when you make a breakthrough and you will see the true light of recovery and feel peace inside your heart.

Brian takes on the subject of recovery head-on, like he used to take on opponents on the football field. His opinions are strong and worth hearing.

In this episode we talk about:

• Levels of action to success
• Brian real thoughts on addiction
• Mind over matter
• There is nothing you can accomplish

Show Notes:

www.brianholloway.com

Meet Maria Rosario, survivor...

Maria has experienced one of the most horrific experiences any parent could have, a death of a child. Maria experienced this not only once but twice, but she still is able to rise..listen to her story and go tell someone that its going to be ok.

Maria;s story is unfortunately not out of the ordinary as we have seen the destruction of so many young lives to opioids and mental illness. This disease is truly cunning and baffling.

Maria's youngest Daughter struggled with mental illness and chemical dependency. Maria fought to keep her Daughter alive for several years. Every phone call had a different meaning then, is it the Police? EMT? a Doctor? what.

Finally that horrific call came one day... her youngest Daughter had committed suicide.

Carrissa has dedicated the last decade of her life on inner growth. In 2011 she chose a path of celibacy in order to better understand herself and the world around her.

Carrissa has spent literally thousands of dollars on renowned master healers, intuitives and highly trained shamans from around the world. She strongly feels the way out of the never-ending human struggle is through constant self-transcendence. She hopes to inspire her audience to find the love and light of God within.

I AM THE LIGHT OF GOD, a 2-year self help course to enter the spiritual heart of God channeled by Glen Russell This is a course in training the mind to be disciplined. You will be meditating twice a day and writing letters to God. And silently repeating affirmations such as "I am the Light of God, consuming the seed of discontent." It is extremely powerful.  

"The build-up of emotional pain in our heart center is comprised of 12 parts of the ego. These 12 ego parts were each created within our mind using our Free Will and are distortions of the 12 aspects of our Higher Self Consciousness. The energy of each of these 12 parts of the ego must be transmuted by the Light of God, in order for us to ascend into our Higher Self state of consciousness." ~ Glen Russell

"...walking the spiritual path is not easy, but choosing not to walk the spiritual path is much harder. I have seen so many so-called 'spiritual people' who are in a state of still-stand who refuse to tackle their inner fears and inner pain on a daily basis. What I have discovered is that if you want to truly progress spiritually you have to prioritize healing your emotions as the number one daily activity of your life." ~ Glen Russell

Imagine having a best friend who is also married like you, when suddenly you both get divorced at the same time? And you are about 23 years old? Yep, it’s time to get wasted, and often…

And so it began, weekend benders started bleeding into the week days until all was a blur. Nothing good happened. Paul did manage to find love again and got married for the second time. He was controlled for awhile but drinking eventually became his priority. When Paul saw his Wife moving out of their house with only the cloths on her back, with the dog, he knew this was serious, this felt different.

This was the turning point for Paul, his Wife gave him one more shot and that was all it took for Paul.

Paul challenges were just beginning. During the year Paul has been sober, his Grandma has passed away, his dog of 14 years was put down and his best friend, and roommate was shot and killed by Police on Pauls property.

I believe that many of us know others who have gone through similar experiences as Paul, but to add the stress of staying sober which is a life and death outcome for him added a giant stress layer to his life, he had no choice but to beat this, to continue to push and stay sober. 

We end with Pauls advise to those who still struggle and his generous offer to help in any way he can.

In this episode we talk about -   

• Chef Life and the people in the service industry
• The fall and the decision to get sober
• Final word with Grandma
• The death of his best friend at the hands of the Police
• Straight edged advise to all who struggle

Show Notes

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Michael Collins is a former sugar addict and takes this addiction very seriously. For the past 25 years, he has not consumed sugar in any form- at least not intentionally. His interest in sugar addiction began in the early days of his 12-step recovery from substance use disorder. As he weaned himself off other substances, he noticed that his relationship to and his consumption of sugar was beginning to resemble his other addictions. Curious and concerned, Mike started to talk about this with his recovery buddies. This led him to decide to quit sugar with the help of some amazing mentors.

This was over Two decades ago.

After many years of successfully starting and scaling online businesses, Mike decided that what really made him happy was helping people break their addiction and come out the other side happier and healthier.

This is the 4th annual Kick Sugar Summit, a Five-day event featuring 42 speakers, some of the top authorities on health and addiction, over the 5 days event, over 50 hours of content!

In this episode we talk about –

• How sugar addiction and drug & Alcohol recovery link.
• Is sugar the new gateway drug?
• Natural sugars Vs. Processed
• Urgency of the new science that their findings
• Kick Sugar Summit

  Michael Collins is a former sugar addict and takes this addiction very seriously. For the past 25 years, he has not consumed sugar in any form- at least not intentionally. His interest in sugar addiction began in the early days of his 12-step recovery from substance use disorder. As he weaned himself off other substances, he noticed that his relationship to and his consumption of sugar was beginning to resemble his other addictions. Curious and concerned, Mike started to talk about this with his recovery buddies. This led him to decide to quit sugar with the help of some amazing mentors.

  This was over Two decades ago.

  After many years of successfully starting and scaling online businesses, Mike decided that what really made him happy was helping people break their addiction and come out the other side happier and healthier.

  This is the 4th annual Kick Sugar Summit, a Five-day event featuring 42 speakers, some of the top authorities on health and addiction, over the 5 days event, over 50 hours of content!

  In this episode we talk about –

  • How sugar addiction and drug & Alcohol recovery link.
  • Is sugar the new gateway drug?
  • Natural sugars Vs. Processed
  • Urgency of the new science that their findings
  • Kick Sugar Summit

Show Notes:

Kicksugarsummit.com                                                                                           http://kicksugarsummit.com/?afmc=6i

Facebook                                                                                            https://www.facebook.com/thekicksugarsummit/

Sugaraddiction.com                                                                                   https://sugaraddiction.com/