Advertise on podcast: High Truths on Drugs and Addiction

We have standards unit amounts for tobacco and alcohol, what for THC and marijuana? Is it time. Dr. Tom Freeman is a Reader in Addiction Psychology at the University of Bath, UK. He directs the Addiction and Mental Health Group, an interdisciplinary group bridging Psychology, Life Sciences, Health, Management, and the Institute for Policy Research. He is currently funded by a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship. He also leads the Substance Use and Addiction work package of the NIHR Bath Mental Health Research Group, and is deputy lead of the Drugs theme of the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Addictions. His research has generated impacts with the National Institutes of Health, the European Union Drugs Agency, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence, and the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.  Dr. Freeman is internationally known for his research on cannabis and cannabinoids. In this podcast he will discuss his work developing new approaches to help people experiencing problems with cannabis use. These include trials for the treatment of cannabis use disorder, and novel strategies for reducing harms such as the standard THC unit. Disclaimer:  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views, policies, or positions of the United States Government or any of its agencies. The content was recorded prior to the speaker's current federal service and is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only.  No agency endorsement or approval should be inferred.

Can't Look Away is one of Amy Neville's documentaries showing a case against social media. Her son Alex was killed by a pill bought on Snapchat at the age of 14. Amy Neville is the President of the Alexander Neville Foundation (ANF), an organization her family founded after the tragic loss of her 14-year-old son, Alexander. A drug dealer on Snapchat convinced Alex to buy a pill that killed him. This heartbreaking experience pushed Amy to dive deeply into understanding the fentanyl crisis and the role social media plays in it. The work of ANF is rooted in collaboration with young people, aiming to educate and raise awareness about the new drug landscape and social media harms. ANF is now a guiding voice in the effort to curtail substance misuse and redefine the influence of social media on youth today. As a representative for ANF, Amy has shared her families story and insights on CNN, FOX, CBS, and ABC. To learn more about Alexander's story and the critical issues ANF is addressing, you can visit their website and read Rolling Stone's "Inside Snapchat’s Teen Opioid Crisis,” chronicling their journey and work. Disclaimer:  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views, policies, or positions of the United States Government or any of its agencies. The content was recorded prior to the speaker's current federal service and is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only.  No agency endorsement or approval should be inferred.

Is social media safe? What protections do our children deserve? Alexander Neville died at 14 years old after buying what he thought was oxycodone on Snap Chat.  A 12 year old boy died after doing a Tik Tok choking challenge. Amanda Todd died by suicide at age 15 after cyberbullying and blackmail. Molly Russell was 14 years old when she died by hanging herself after she binged graphic and romanticized self-harm content up to 2 minutes before she died. Marc Berkman serves as the CEO of the Organization for Social Media Safety (OFSMS), which he has grown into the world's preeminent consumer protection organization focused on social media. As a globally recognized expert in social media safety, Marc has testified before Congress and been featured in notable publications like the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and the Los Angeles Times. Previously, Marc served for over a decade as a senior advisor to members of the United States Congress and the California State Assembly. Marc received his JD from Columbia Law School and his BA from UC Berkeley. He lives with his wife and two children in Los Angeles, CA. Organization for Social Media Safety, OFSMS is the first and leading nonprofit (501c3) consumer protection-organization focused exclusively on social media. Through advocacy, education, and technology development, OFSMS protects against all social media- related dangers including cyberbullying, suicide, human trafficking, and more. OFSMS has taught essential safety skills to hundreds of thousands of students, parents, and educators across the world; has passed groundbreaking social media safety legislation like Jordan’s Law; and has conducted groundbreaking with research in partnership with U.C.L.A.'s School of Education. Disclaimer:  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views, policies, or positions of the United States Government or any of its agencies. The content was recorded prior to the speaker's current federal service and is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only.  No agency endorsement or approval should be inferred.

The association of mass casualty violence and THC is growing. Dr. Ken Finn has been following these cases. Kenneth Finn, MD practiced Pain Medicine in Colorado Springs from 1994-2024.  He moved to Prescott, Arizona in 2025 to continue practicing comprehensive Pain Medicine.  He is Board Certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (1995), Pain Medicine (1998), and Pain Management (2000).  He is certified in Cannabis Science through the University of Colorado (2022).  He was a associate professor for the University of Colorado Medical School, Colorado Springs branch (2018-2024).  He is former President (2022-24) of the American Board of Pain Medicine and has served on their Exam Council for over 25 years. He served on the Colorado Governor’s Task Force on Amendment 64, which legalized marijuana for recreational use, Consumer Safety and Social Issues Work Group (2012) and served 4 years on Colorado’s Medical Marijuana Scientific Advisory Council (2014-18). He was an invited speaker to the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna, March 2023.  He testified to the Canadian Senate on their marijuana bill (2018) as well as New York General Assembly (2019), and speaks internationally on the health impacts of marijuana, including being an invited speaker to the Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, UCLA VA Medical Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston) and the Texas Medical and Pain Societies, among many others. He works nationally with other state legislators considering legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational purposes. Dr. Finn was selected to testify to the Department of Justice on the rescheduling of marijuana (2024). He is editor of Cannabis in Medicine: An Evidence-Based Approach (2020) and currently the Co-Vice President (2021) of the International Academy on the Science and Impacts of Cannabis (https://iasic1.org) which is now a member of the Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs (2023).  Disclaimer:  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views, policies, or positions of the United States Government or any of its agencies. The content was recorded prior to the speaker's current federal service and is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only.  No agency endorsement or approval should be inferred.

Positive Directions, Drug Free Side-walks, Drug-Free Housing and Recovery. San Francisco activists give hope to people with addiction. Cedric Akbar is a San Francisco-based community leader and a passionate advocate for recovery and prisoner reentry. With over 25 years of leadership, particularly in San Francisco’s Bayview Hunters Point, Cedric serves as the Director of Forensic and Recovery Services at Westside Community Services. He is a founding member of Positive Directions Equals Change, an advisor to Drug-Free Sidewalks, and was elected to the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee in 2024. Feb 2025 BayView Black Newspaper Muck Rack Articles Positive Directions Equals Changes Disclaimer:  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views, policies, or positions of the United States Government or any of its agencies. The content was recorded prior to the speaker's current federal service and is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only.  No agency endorsement or approval should be inferred.

Julie Dreifaldt is a nationally recognized expert and speaker for One Chance to Grow Up, where she educates communities about the dangers of today's high-potency THC marijuana and hemp products that pose risks to children and teens. Julie regularly presents to policymakers, regulators, school organizations, parents, youth-focused coalitions, and trusted community leaders. Her work highlights how these products are fundamentally different from the marijuana of past decades and equips adults with actionable strategies to protect kids from harm. Since 2018, Julie has been a tireless advocate for youth, empowering families with tools and language to have honest conversations about marijuana’s risks. Her work reflects a deep commitment to safeguarding the health and development of the next generation. Julie holds a BA in History and English from Mount Vernon Nazarene University. THC photos Why it matters- call to action  Disclaimer:  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views, policies, or positions of the United States Government or any of its agencies. The content was recorded prior to the speaker's current federal service and is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only.  No agency endorsement or approval should be inferred.

Faith is an important tool in recovery. Not everyone has is, but if you do, you should tap into this magical source. Globally, about 70-75% of the population believe in God or a higher power and faith traditions represent about 84% of the population. There are about 20 -25 organized religions and over 4,000 faith groups worldwide. The Faith Leaders have an important role in the issue of drugs and are underutilized group in drug prevention, treatment, and recovery. Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman is the founder and director of Chabad Intown - Atlanta. Chabad Intown is now a full-service provider for Jewish Life in Atlanta whose offerings include; Mommy and Me, Intown Jewish Preschool, Intown Hebrew School, C-Teen, Young Jewish Professionals, Intown Jewish Academy, JBN, Jeff’s Place Recovery Center and the Shul @ Chabad Intown. From its inception in 1997 Chabad Intown has grown exponentially and currently serves over 2,000 Jews of all backgrounds throughout the year. In addition, Rabbi Schusterman is a consultant for many Chabad Centers in fundraising and organization management. One of his passions is utilizing technology and business technique to better impact the Jewish world and increase Jewish involvement. He received ordination from the Central Chabad Yeshiva in Brooklyn. He and his wife Dena, Executive Director of the Intown Jewish Preschool, have 8 children, and 2 grandchildren. https://www.clintonfoundation.org/programs/education-health-equity/clinton-global-initiative/overdose-response-network/engaging-community-leaders Disclaimer:  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views, policies, or positions of the United States Government or any of its agencies. The content was recorded prior to the speaker's current federal service and is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only.  No agency endorsement or approval should be inferred.

Canada is number one in marijuana consumption and is also producing large population based public heath research on pot. Dr. Daniel Myran is a public health and preventative medicine physician, a family physician and researcher. He holds a Canada Research Chair in Social Accountability at the University of Ottawa and is an assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine. He practices family medicine with an interest in addiction medicine.  Dr. Myran’s research uses health administrative data to track healthcare visits for mental health and substance use at the population level and investigate the impact of alcohol and drug policy including the legalization of non-medical cannabis on these outcomes. His work also focuses on understanding risks and downstream health outcomes associated with substance use disorders.  Dr. Myran's publications can be found here. Disclaimer:  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views, policies, or positions of the United States Government or any of its agencies. The content was recorded prior to the speaker's current federal service and is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only.  No agency endorsement or approval should be inferred.

Does Snapchat have blood on their hands? You decide after listening to what happened to Sammy and other kids who got pills from drug dealings using Snapchat. If pornography can be censored on social media, why can't the sensor or at least curb illegal and killer drug sales? Samuel P. Chapman is CEO of The Parent Collective Inc, a California non profit operating in the areas of social media harm and fentanyl poisoning education and activism. Also providing grief support for those left behind. He has done over 160 media appearances warning the nation about the fentanyl crisis. He speaks to law enforcement groups, does grand rounds at hospitals and gives talks to children and their families warning of dangers online for children. He has written Op Eds for major newspapers and is a regular guest on Fox News nationally and locally in California. He has testified before legislatures around the country and participated in Congressional hearings. He is currently sponsoring a bill in Congress named after his deceased son, Sammy's Law (HR 2657,) and is actively promoting bills by the same name in legislatures around the country. Sign Petition for Sammy's law -  Dr. Laura Berman - Sammy's mom, relationship therapist, provides grief counseling Bark - parental controls for your kid's devices Disclaimer:  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views, policies, or positions of the United States Government or any of its agencies. The content was recorded prior to the speaker's current federal service and is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only.  No agency endorsement or approval should be inferred.

Hope vs Handcuff is what Judge Linda Davis recommends for people with a substance use disorder. Judge Linda Davis was appointed to the bench on March 27, 2000, by Michigan Governor John Engler. Prior to her judgeship, she spent 13 years as an Assistant Prosecutor with the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office. Davis played a crucial role in the creation of Face Addiction Now, formerly Families Against Narcotics and has been instrumental in the success and growth of the organization. She has received several prestigious awards from organizations such as the FBI, Care House, and the Girl Scouts of America. Among the awards she has been given are the Macomb Community College Outstanding Alumna Award; the Michigan Association of Treatment Court Professionals President’s Award; the Macomb Bar Distinguished Public Service Award; and the Macomb County Humanitarian of the Year Award. She has also been named the Henry Ford Hospital Woman of Excellence and Influence and the 2019 Community Star for the state of Michigan in conjunction with National Rural Health Day. Judge Davis served on Michigan Governor Rick Snyder’s Opiate Task Force and later was appointed to chair the Governor’s Commission for the Prescription Overdose and Opiate Response Team. In addition, she was invited to consult with President Donald J. Trump’s Opiate Task Force and First Lady Melania Trump’s roundtable discussion on how the opioid epidemic is affecting families. Davis’ expertise was also called on by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, resulting in a spot on the state’s Opioid Task Force Advisory Board. Davis is currently FAN’s Executive Director and primary speaker and presents multiple times a week to groups—both statewide and nationally—on the opioid crisis and the stigma associated with addiction. A frequent plenary speaker at conferences, she works tirelessly to educate doctors, nurses, dentists, law enforcement, lawyers, and legislators about substance use disorder. Davis’ recent presentations include those made to Impact100; the Michigan Association of Treatment Court Professionals Conference; the Michigan Rural Health Conference; the Michigan Department of Corrections; the Opioid and Substance Use Disorder Virtual Summit; the Police Treatment and Community Collaborative’s Pre-Arrest Diversion Summit (Chicago); the CDC/HIDTA Overdose Response Strategy Conference (Salt Lake City); and the Southern Nevada Substance Misuse and Overdose Prevention Summit (Las Vegas), Keynote speaker for National Rural Health conference (Washington D.C.  Presently working on an initiative to take FAN’s programming to rural areas of Michigan, Davis was recently appointed as a voting member of the new Opioid Advisory Commission in Michigan, which will determine how funds from the National Opioid Settlement will be spent in the state. Disclaimer:  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views, policies, or positions of the United States Government or any of its agencies. The content was recorded prior to the speaker's current federal service and is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only.  No agency endorsement or approval should be inferred.

There has been a complete reorganization of the Health and Human Services Department.  What has remained, what has been DOGED?  What happened to SAMHSA, CDC, NIDA, FDA and key agencies that are important to the prevention, treatment, and recovery of drugs. What about payment for addiction services and medical care? How does all that affect the average American or organization that deal with drug issues. To learn more about the reorganization of HHS I reached out to Jeffrey Davis. Jeffrey Davis is a skilled healthcare executive with substantial knowledge of regulatory advocacy and healthcare policies. Jeffrey’s work focuses on issues tied to provider payment and reimbursement as well as quality reporting. He also has significant experience with recent regulatory developments such as the implementation of surprise billing rules. Jeffrey is the primary author of Regs & Eggs, M+’s weekly regulatory affairs blog. To browse blog entries and subscribe to updates, click here. Prior to joining McDermott+, Jeffrey served as the director of regulatory and external affairs at the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). In that role, Jeffrey managed ACEP’s formal response to federal policies and worked with federal agencies and other stakeholders to help advance ACEP’s federal affairs agenda. Jeffrey also spent eight years working with the US Department of Health and Human Services, where he advised senior officials on major budgetary and policy considerations within Medicare and prepared detailed analyses of Medicare regulations and legislation. *** Disclaimer:  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views, policies, or positions of the United States Government or any of its agencies. The content was recorded prior to the speaker's current federal service and is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only.  No agency endorsement or approval should be inferred.

iPill - a devise to ensure medication compliance. Is this something that methadone clinic patients can use to ensure safety? Dr. John Hsu has practiced anesthesia, chronic pain management, addiction medicine for 31 years.  He is now on a quest to address the opioid epidemic. He has started three companies, including: IPill Dispenser - a medical device for remote medication adherence monitoring. It is a FDA breakthrough designated product and holds six patents for it. Quivive Pharma - drug development company that has combined opioids with a respiratory stimulant. He is running a clinical trial at the Cleveland clinic and a supported by a $1.9 million NIDA/NIH grant.  He holds three patents for this company. Fentavive - a drug development company that has combined Narcan with a respiratory stimulant to address dosing ambiguity with Narcan. He holds one patent for this company. 

Drug Endangered Children - 1 in 8 children live with one or more caregiver with a substance use disorder in the United States. Millions of children and families are affected by parental or caregiver legal and or illegal substance misuse today.  759,000 children experienced a parental death due to drugs from 1999-2000. Dr. Lev discussed drug endangered children and solutions with Eric Nation. National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children Executive Director Eric Nation spent over 20 years in the field of law enforcement where he worked his way up to Lieutenant. As a Lieutenant, he led a large successful drug task force and started a countywide Drug Endangered Children Alliance. Mr. Nation came to National DEC to have a greater impact on law enforcement and other professionals by training and educating them on substance misuse and the impact to children. Mr. Nation was the Director of Training and Development where he helped develop curriculum and materials, worked with agencies across the country to provide trainings and technical assistance to professionals. Mr. Nation is also a national trainer on various topics including substance use, law enforcement, building multidisciplinary teams, capacity building, and drug trends. Mr. Nation is currently National DEC's Executive Director impacting change at a different level. Mr. Nation is very passionate about helping children and brings passion to every part of the work he does across the country.

Unspeakable violence happened in 2018, when a 28 year old professional audiologist, Bryn Spejcher, was on a date with a 26-year-old accountant, Chad O'Melia. Chad was a regular marijuana user with a large bong displayed on his coffee table.  Bryn inhaled the THC from the bong and within minutes developed cannabis induced psychosis. Having severe hallucinations, Bryn stabbed Chad 108 times, using kitchen knives. She also stabbed her beloved service dog and then repeatedly stabbed herself in the neck, nearly killing herself. Bryn is doing community service for involuntary manslaughter. She joins High Truths with her mother and Aubree Adams. Aubree Adams is the founder and director of Every Brain Matters, a nationally trusted educational resource formed by families with loved ones whose lives were damaged or ended by marijuana. Every Brain Matters has a memorial to the many lives lost to marijuana. She hosts her own podcast, "It's Just pot, what's the problem?" She returns to High Truths from Episode # 170.   High Truths discussed the Bryn Spejcher manslaughter case of Chad O'Meilia on previous episodes on High Truths. On episode #163 we spoke with Heidi Swan and Dr. Christy Brown who attended Bryn's trial and discussed the trial. On episode #172 we spoke with Eve Simmon, a reporter from the Daily Mail who reported on the trial. She empathized with Bryn.

Hello again High Truths Listeners. Get ready for a special podcast. It’s special... and a little emotional. Because I have some big news to share with you. So let’s start with the tough part first. The bad news is... I’m going to need to hit pause on the High Truths podcast for now. High Truths is one of my most favorite projects.  I love talking to you and I learn so much from my guests. We learn together and inspire action to make things better around us. I will really miss you and High Truths. But here’s the good news — and it’s really good: I’ve been offered — and accepted — a position back at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, ONDCP. Listen to my special message.