Let's Talk Addiction & Recovery

Psychologist Michael Tkach, director of recovery management for the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, joins host William C. Moyers to discuss the latest research and science on what it takes to stay sober. Three factors seem to make the biggest difference in building lasting recovery from addiction: meaningful engagement with a supportive community, healthy new routines and structure, and enough self-compassion to overcome negative emotions and thought patterns that can lead to a setback.

A car accident left Josh C. paralyzed at age 18, crushing his plans to play college football along with his sense of self and purpose. Listen in as Josh shares his story of opioid addiction, treatment and recovery with host William C. Moyers. Josh explains how years of heroin use did a number on his physical, mental and emotional health and undermined his attempts to stay clean, and he describes how a comprehensive, medication-assisted treatment program helped him get into long-term recovery.

Psychiatrist and author Joseph Lee, MD, medical director of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation's Youth Continuum, joins host William C. Moyers to discuss what puts young people at risk for substance use and what parents can do to minimize the probability of addiction. By modeling certain values in the home, parents can create a culture that encourages children to develop the communication, relationship and resiliency skills they need to make healthy choices in adolescence and beyond.

The faster, smarter, more mobile technologies used by teens are changing so rapidly that the impact on adolescent development isn't fully understood. But there are plenty of early warning signs—from an increased risk of sleep disorders and anxiety to a greater susceptibility to drug addiction. Prevention expert Jessica Wong joins host William C. Moyers to look at emerging research around risks associated with too much tech use and to discuss practical ways parents can foster healthier behaviors.

Researchers are beginning to identify how the use of smartphones, computers and other technology changes the way the adolescent brain develops—especially areas of the brain responsible for decision-making, risk assessment, impulse control and processing emotions. Prevention expert Jessica Wong joins host William C. Moyers to discuss the potential consequences of overuse and overreliance, including feelings of isolation, anxiety or depression.

In the midst of the nation's opioid addiction epidemic, advancements in treatment that combine evidence-based psychotherapies along with use of certain medications offer patients and families cause for real hope. As a clinical innovator in the field of addiction treatment, psychiatrist Marvin D. Seppala, MD, joins host William C. Moyers to explain why medication alone isn't an effective solution in treating such a complex, chronic condition.

From insurance fraud to deceptive marketing to patient brokering, the largely unregulated field of addiction treatment is rife with unscrupulous and unethical—even illegal—business practices. Mark Mishek, JD, president and CEO of the nonprofit Hazelden Betty Ford treatment centers, and Marvin D. Seppala, MD, chief medical officer, join host William C. Moyers to discuss the need for industry reforms, professional standards and consumer protections.

Millions of women in the U.S. engage in drinking behavior that poses a substantial risk to their health and well-being, particularly young women in their late teens and early twenties. Addiction researcher Audrey Klein, PhD., joins host William C. Moyers to take a closer look at what's behind the increased rates of binge and heavy drinking among women, why addiction progresses more rapidly for women than men, and what complications are associated with hazardous drinking for women.

Comparing addiction treatment success rates across different care providers and approaches might seem like an apples-to-apples assessment, but it's not. The addiction treatment field lacks consistently reported—and, in some cases, scientifically valid—ways of measuring the impact of treatment services. Psychiatrist Marvin D. Seppala, MD, and addiction researcher Audrey Klein, PhD, join host William C. Moyers armed with key questions consumers should ask treatment providers about their results.

Why are opioids so addictive? What makes opioid drugs so lethal? Is rehab effective for opioid addiction? From the frontlines of the nation’s opioid epidemic, psychiatrist Marvin D. Seppala, MD, joins host William C. Moyers to discuss the role of science and compassion in responding to the opioid addiction crisis.