September is National Recovery Month, and in this episode we’re taking a closer look at addiction and recovery.

We talk about what science tells us about addiction and the changes it can make in the brain, how the United States’ approach to addiction has evolved from punishment toward a greater focus on treatment and public health, and how stigma can make it harder for people and families to seek help.

Zack also sits down with Morgan Thompson - Youth/Young Adult Recovery Program Director at Youth Voices Matter, as well as Cortney Hinson, an expert with lived experience who is a Senior Advisor of Practice Improvement at the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.

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Morgan's Linktree!

Sources
SAMHSA: National Recovery Month
NIDA: Drugs, Brains, and Behavior
SAMHSA: Stigma and Language
CDC: Understanding the Opioid Overdose Epidemic

National Academies / NCBI: A Century of American Narcotic Policy

National Academies / NCBI: Pain Management and the Opioid Epidemic

NIH: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) History

In this episode we celebrate pride month 2026! We talk about how LGBTQ+ populations intercect with the peer space in New York and interview a few special guests who share their experience working with, and as, LGBTQ+ people.

The Stonewall Riots: https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/stonewall-riots/

LGBTQ+ Identity and Mental Health Diagnoses: https://www.nami.org/community-and-culture/lgbtq/

LGBTQ+ Youth in the Foster Care System: https://chci.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/FINAL.Gutierrez-Eduardo.pdf

Policy Policy Policy. Zack explains and reviews government and civics 101 and then has a discussion with our Policy Team about what, and how, we fight for systemic change that will benefit the youth and families of New York State.

Register for Family Empowerment Day!: https://www.ftnys.org/fed/

Our Policy Agenda: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kFpcg90QhCvYsKOkvf0s5szX3WMN8c9FmIsNkgYDHuM/edit?usp=sharing

Info about the queer men blood ban: https://chprc.org/news/fdas-blood-ban-reversal-for-gay-men-explained/

Peer support! From the humble beginnings in 18th century France to today in New York State, we explain what peer support is, how it relates to mental health, and have a conversations with some professional peer advocates working in the field!

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Sources!

https://mhanational.org/resources/what-peer-support/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22654945/

https://www.loveandrespectcommunityforrecoveryandwellness.org/blog/history-of-peer-support

https://www.ffcmh.org/

https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/about/

https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:738da849-b78d-4429-b174-1eb894b814f6

The title theme featured is Inner Light by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1300021

Artist: http://incompetech.com

Zack Kilmer introduces the Peercast, the premiere podcast from Families Together in New York State. We explain who we are, what we do, and have a discussion with our fearless leader and CEO, Paige Pierce.

Music in this episode:

Inner Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1300021

Artist: http://incompetech.com

Light Expanse by the Unicorn Heads