According to SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, nearly 24.6 million Americans were illicit drug users in 2013. Now just for a moment, take that number and try to imagine the number of people that were impacted by that illicit drug use. Think about the families. Think about the number of mothers, fathers, cousins,…

According to SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, nearly 24.6 million Americans were illicit drug users in 2013. Now just for a moment, take that number and try to imagine the number of people that were impacted by that illicit drug use. Think about the families. Think about the number of mothers, fathers, cousins,…

According to SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, nearly 24.6 million Americans were illicit drug users in 2013. Now just for a moment, take that number and try to imagine the number of people that were impacted by that illicit drug use. Think about the families. Think about the number of mothers, fathers, cousins,…

In 2014 approximately 5.2 million people in the U.S. suffered from Alzheimer’s, a number that is expected to triple by 2050. There is growing evidence that diet and lifestyle can affect the brain, impact cognitive aging, disrupt hormone production in the body and in some cases even spawn preventable diseases such as: cardiovascular disease, strokes…

According to SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, nearly 24.6 million Americans were illicit drug users in 2013. Now just for a moment, take that number and try to imagine the number of people that were impacted by that illicit drug use. Think about the families. Think about the number of mothers, fathers, cousins,…

According to SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, nearly 24.6 million Americans were illicit drug users in 2013. Now just for a moment, take that number and try to imagine the number of people that were impacted by that illicit drug use. Think about the families. Think about the number of mothers, fathers, cousins,…

On February 22nd 2013 Henry Maybury lost his brother Tom Maybury to alcoholism. Although Henry was ultimately destroyed by his brother's passing he decided to use the heartbreaking experience to raise awareness about alcohol abuse. So what did he do? He picked up his guitar and used his song writing talents to create a tribute video,for his brother…

It was on a cold January day, after downing three beers, two shots of Southern Comfort and a glass of White Zinfandel that Amy Baumgardner got behind the wheel with two of her children in the back seat and crashed her car nearly killing her five year old daughter, Madison. Today Amy is here with us to share her amazing story of addiction and recove…

She's Back! Today, it's with great pleasure that I welcome back to GUC (for the fourth time), author and family counselor at Edgewood Treatment Center in Nanaimo, British Columbia - Lorelie Rozzano. Today Lorelie is here with us to share both her personal insights and professional perspective on the big debate around Abstinence and Harm-Reduction B…

Based on a true story, Girl on the Edge is a powerful drama from the co-writer of Blue Valentine, Joey Curtis and the Executive Producer and Co-Creator of A&E’s The Cleaner, Jay Silverman. Girl on the Edge follows the journey of a young girl struggling with the aftermath of a horrific trauma, the toll that it takes on her family, and the last chanc…

Today it's with great pleasure that I welcome to the show director, editor, producer and creator of Little Birdie Films, Angelica Hester. Angelica is here with us to talk about her latest project, an feature length documentary film called CUFFED? a film that's meant to explore the most important questions about addiction, recovery and life. CUFFED?…

Today on GUC, I am joined by Lorne Hildebrand, Executive Director of the Edgewood Addiction Treatment Center in Nanaimo, British Columbia. Lorne, along with his clinical and professional expertise, is here to walk us through the differences as well as the pros and cons associated with both Abstinence-Based and Harm-Reduction based treatments. For m…

"But the idea behind ChronicleMe wasn't to make a better way to gossip. Richichi wants people to post worries, cries for help and deep secrets without fearing the social media shaming and bullying that can accompany public posts on other sites." syracuse.com Today on GUC, I'm talking with AJ Richichi, the founder and CEO of ChronicleMe.com, the pos…

What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think about a relapse? Do you see it as a major dissapointment? Do you think of it as a moral failing? Do you see it as a dead end? Well what if I told you that a relapse doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing? What if I told you that a relapse can actually be an amazing opportunity for growth …

"If you put the films Once, Crazy Heart and Leaving Las Vegas into a blender, you'd get a movie cocktail called Stones." Don & Roydon “A kid once said to me “Do you get hangovers?” I said, “To get hangovers you have to stop drinking.” Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister, Motorhead Today's episode of GUC, is all about the exciting upcoming film, Stones - a true l…

"Many people are now finally recognizing that addiction to alcohol and other drugs is a terrible disease. Heroin and prescription painkillers are destroying many families. More people now die of overdoses than in traffic accidents. Overcoming this epidemic requires decisive solutions. The Recovery Book offers a clear path to a lifetime of sobriety,…

It is with great pleasure that I welcome to the show Raeanna Johnson, the reigning Miss Wisconsin. Back in August of 2005 Raeanna lost her older brother, Tyler, to a methamphetamine-induced suicide. Since losing her brother Raeanna has made it her platform and her mission to start honest conversations about substance abuse, in the hopes of one day …

On November 10th, 2014 New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton announced a new pot policy that would no longer allow the NYPD to arrest people caught with less than 25 grams of marijuana in their possesion. Although, some would agree that this new pot policy, which went into effect on November 19th, 2014 is a step in t…

If you or a loved one is recently sober or working hard at maintaining sobriety, figuring out how to fun without drugs or alcohol can be a daunting task but it's not an impossible one. Today on GUC, graduates Amanda Sashion and Brittaney Williams of the New Roads Behavioral Health Treatment Center in Sandy Utah are going to show you how fun is done…

Before Jesse Schenker became a James Beard Rising Star semifinalist, before he beat celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian in an Iron Chef battle, before he was voted Best New Chef by New York magazine and way before he developed menus for his restaurants Recette and The Gander, two incredibly successful hot spots in New York City, Jesse was a full-blown…

"Why not say the truth? They didn’t do their best! I got the shaft!" Amy Eden Our special guest on this episode of GUC is Amy Eden, creator of the outstanding blog, Guess What Normal Is. GWNI caters specifically to the needs of people who grew up in a chaotic childhood environment caused by chronic inconsistency, stress, emotional or physical aband…

Today we welcome Cathy Taughinbaugh to the show. After discovering substance abuse had become an issue with her children, she decided to support other parents and share information about addiction, treatment and recovery through her site cathytaughinbaugh.com. Although there are tuns of interesting topics, resources, support and advice available th…

Today on GUC, I am sitting down with Jake Marcus and Ray Russo, graduates of the New Roads Behavioral Health Treatment Program in Sandy, Utah. New Roads specializes in providing affordable drug rehab programs for young adults. Jake and Ray will be walking us through everything that we need to know about young adults and recovery. Nothing is off lim…

Today we welcome Beau Mann to the show. Beau is the President and creator of the soon to be released, Sober Grid app. Sober Grid is a free app for Android and iPhone users that will allow people, who are dedicated to their sobriety, to connect with an encouraging sober community, whenever they need some support and no matter where they are in the w…

"Deaths from drug overdose have been rising steadily over the past two decades and have become the leading cause of injury death in the United States. Every day in the United States,113 people die as a result of drug overdose." CDC The facts don't lie and losing lives to unnecessary overdoses is beyond tragic. Which is why, providing overdose preve…

I am excited to introduce to all of you one of the co-founders of Too Apparel, Kevin Goryl. On the surface, Too apparel is a company that designs, develops and sells women's underware. But there's actually so much more to this company than that and here's the cool bit. Underware (believe it or not) is the most needed and most under-donated article …

In today's episode of GUC we welcome back, Dr. Nicole Kosanke the director of family services at the Center for Motivation and Change. Previously, Dr. Kosanke was on the show to talk about the book she co-authored titled, Beyond Addiction: How Science And Kindness Help People Change. You can listen to that episode by clicking here. Dr. Kosanke also…

"Children of addicted parents are the highest risk group of children to become alcohol and drug abusers due to both genetic and family environmental factors." NACOA Today I welcome back to the show, for the third time, author Lorelie Rozzano. Lorelie is back to discuss and celebrate her third book called, Gracie's Secret. "Gracie's Secret is the pe…

"I am absolutely living proof, that no matter how badly you mess up your life - there is always a way back." Jeanne Heaton. In today’s episode, we are talking all things addiction, recovery and Bikram Yoga with Bikram Yoga instructor and recovering addict, Jeanne Heaton. Jeanne's journey to Bikram Yoga began with a deep realization that if she were…

In today's episode of GUC, I am delighted to have the opportunity to be speaking with the FED UP! rally’s Steering Committee Chair, as well as the President of the Steve Rummler Hope Foundation, Judy Rummler. Judy is the fire behind the 2nd annual FED UP! rally and march to the White House taking place this September 28, 2014 on the Mall in Washing…

Operating around the clock, seven days a week, confidential and free of cost, the National Domestic Violence Hotline provides lifesaving tools and immediate support to enable victims to find safety and live lives free of abuse. Callers to the hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) can expect highly trained experienced advocates to offer compassionate sup…

Today’s guest psychotherapist and author Carolyn Hannan Bell, is here to talk about the - Helping Children Understand Series - a collection of books that she has created in an effort to help children understand and live with the intricacies of alcoholism and substance abuse. Currently, there are two books available in this series titled, Mommy’s Di…

In today's episode of GUC we welcome back to the show, Dr. Nicole Kosanke the director of family services at the Center for Motivation and Change. Previously, Dr. Kosanke was on the show to talk about the book she co-authored titled, Beyond Addiction: How Science And Kindness Help People Change. You can listen to that episode by clicking here. Toda…

I am both honored and thrilled to have Audrey Mabrey, domestice violence survivor and advocate, on today's episode of GUC. In November of 2009, Audrey Mabrey's estranged husband attempted to viciously murder her by bludgeoning her with a hammer four times in the head and then doused her with gasoline and set her on fire. Audrey suffered severe burn…

"When you're living close to someone with an addiction, you're likely to develop your own ways to deal with the pain. Sometimes, the whole family can change in an unhealthy way. Unless you take action, that change can persist long after treatment and recovery." Edgewood. That's why the Edgewood Treatment Center in Nanaimo, BC, Canada created the IN…

This episode of Growing Up Chaotic features an in depth look at the devastating effects addiction can have on children with Nicole Sartore-Babuin ofEdgewood Treatment Center in Nanaimo, Canada. These children, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, often suffer from a variety of emotional problems, including anxiety, …

It is with great pleasure that I welcome back to the show, Shannon Trainor, Executive Director at Crossroads, a treatment facility that provides gender-responsive addiction treatment to individuals and their families. To listen to Shannon's interview on Gender-Specific Therapy click here. Shannon is back with us to discuss the opening of Maine's pr…

My guest Dr. Nicole Kosanke is here to talk about the book - Beyond Addiction: How Science And Kindness Help People Change. "Beyond Addiction eschews the theatrics of interventions and tough love to show family and friends (of those with substance abuse problems) how they can use kindness, positive reinforcement, and motivational and behavioral str…

In this special episode of Growing Up Chaotic we welcome back author Lorelie Rozzano. Lorelie is here to discuss, share and celebrate the release of her second novel, Jagged Little Lies, available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, OmniLit and BookStrand. "Lorelie Rozzano is dedicated to helping others with their lifelong struggle against ad…

We all need somebody to lean on every now and then - especially when we have been affected by a friend or family member struggling with addiction. This GUC series features- Conversations With Family And Friends Of Addicts - which provides a safe platform for us to share our personal addiction experiences. It is through these conversations that I ho…

We all need somebody to lean on every now and then - especially when we have been affected by a friend or family member struggling with addiction. This GUC series features- Conversations With Family And Friends Of Addicts - which provides a safe platform for us to share our personal addiction experiences. It is through these conversations that I ho…

We all need somebody to lean on every now and then - especially when we have been affected by a friend or family member struggling with addiction. This new GUC series features- Conversations With Family And Friends Of Addicts - which provides a safe platform for us to share our personal addiction experiences. It is through these conversations that …

My guest, Lorelie Rozzano, exemplifies what Growing Up Chaotic is all about! In this special episode we will be speaking with her about how she took her own life experiences shackled by the chains of addiction and turned them into a series of compelling fictional novels. "Lorelie Rozzano is dedicated to helping others with their lifelong struggle a…

We all need somebody to lean on every now and then - especially when we have been affected by a friend or family member struggling with addiction. This new GUC series features- Conversations With Family AndFriends Of Addicts - which provides a safe platform for us to share our personal addiction experiences. It is through these conversations that I…

"Addiction is a family disease. It affects our friends and family as much as it does us." As a recovering addict, Anna Deeds, LPC, knows this painful truth first hand. In this episode we continue our conversation with Anna regarding her tips for the family and friends of addicts. In case you missed it, you can listen to the previous interview by cl…

Finding out that a friend or family member is struggling with addiction can stir up a thousand seemingly unanswerable questions. In this week's episode I will be talking with Chris O'Connor of Rebound Brooklyn, an abstinence based recovery program in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Chris, a returning guest to the show, will once again draw upon his persona…

The Urban Resource Institute (URI) of New York in conjunction with The Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals recently announced the launch of New York City's first-ever co-sheltering program (PALS - People and Animals Living Safely) which enables domestic violence survivors and their pets to reside together in shelters. Join me and my special guest, N…

"A suicide attempt is made about once every 40 seconds, and a suicide is completed once every 15 seconds. That breaks down to about 2,160 attempts, 96, completions, and 23 attempts per completion in a single day." Live Through This Suicide is not only an epidemic but it is also preventable if we are willing to humanize the subject by putting faces …

Join me and my guest Linda Fiske as we discuss Yoga and addiction. According to Caron, relapse rates for addictive diseases are usually in the range of 50% to 90%. Don't you think that it's time we expand our recovery palettes so that we can decrease the likelihood of relapse in the addiction community? Certified in Naam Yoga and Kundalini Yoga, Li…

Do you struggle with forgiving the people that have hurt you the most? Could forgiveness provide the healing that you need to move forward? All of these questions and more will be answered by my guest - Sharisa T. Robertson Sharisa is a Forgiveness Facilitator and the founder of Lilies of the Field. Her mission is to assist women emotionally and me…