The Catalyst Podcast

Understanding Addiction: Jessica Hulsey, Founder of the Addiction Policy Forum

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Jessica Hulsey, President and CEO of the Addiction Policy Forum, joins us to discuss her advocacy work in the addiction and recovery field. Jessica was appointed by President Bill Clinton to serve on the Drug-Free Communities Commission and also served as a legislative aide in the U.S. House of Representatives, focusing on drug policy issues. In 2015, Jessica founded the Addiction Policy Forum. We discuss: 


  • Her personal experiences with her parents, who struggled with heroin use disorder, and the challenges she faced in finding appropriate treatment for her father.
  • What led to the founding of the Addiction Policy Forum,  the organization’s priorities, and goals. 
  • The importance of using health-focused, non-stigmatizing language and making content accessible to various stakeholders, including educators, healthcare professionals, and families. 
  • The 'bench to trench' gap - why addiction research doesn’t always translate into real-world practice. 
  • What made her book, 'Understanding Addiction: A Guide for Families,' which took seven years to write, necessary and important (available on Amazon as an ebook and audiobook).  
  • The personal rewards she derives from her advocacy work. 
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