High Truths on Drugs and Addiction

Dr. Karl Hill directs the Prevention Science Program and is a professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder, and is co-director of the prevention registry, Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development. Over the last thirty years he has focused on two key questions:  What are optimal family, peer, school and community environments that encourage healthy youth and adult development?  And How do we work with communities to make this happen?  In addition, he has focused on developing and testing interventions to shape these outcomes, and on working with communities to improve youth development and to break intergenerational cycles of problem behaviorincluding addiction and crime. Institute of Behavioral Science Outcomes of Childhood Prevention Intervention Across 2 Generations - JAMA Article 

Dr. Lynn Silver talks to High Truths about the history of marijuana legalization and best practices for policies that protect public health. Lynn Silver, MD, MPH, FAAP Pediatrician, public health researcher and advocate, Silver is Senior Advisor at the Public Health Institute (PHI) and Clinical Professor at University of California San Francisco. She directs PHI’s Prevention Policy Group, including Getting it Right from the Start, a project of PHI founded in 2017 to support adoption of cannabis policies to better protect youth, public health and equity. Silver is an expert on the use of policy and law to prevent chronic disease, its risk factors and inequitable impact, including unhealthy diet, tobacco, and physical inactivity.  She is an NIH supported researcher evaluating chronic disease prevention policy and cannabis regulatory policy. Silver was Assistant Health Commissioner of New York City under Mayor Bloomberg, where she led groundbreaking policy initiatives including the nation’s first trans-fat ban, calorie labeling law, and the National Salt Reduction Initiative. In California, she served as county health officer in Sonoma County, and has contributed to the passage of the first successful U.S. soda taxes in the Bay Area and many local cannabis laws. She serves on the CA Advisory Group for the Proposition 64 cannabis tax revenue, the Board of the Center for Science in the Public Interest and chairs the CA Alliance for Prevention Funding which fights for health equity investments. Silver was previously Visiting Scholar of International Health at the Karolinska Institute, Dean and Associate Professor at University of Brasilia’s School of Health Sciences,  and taught at Brazil’s National School of Public Health. She has worked widely on health policy as a researcher, educator, government official, consultant and advocate. She has served as consultant to the World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, the World Bank, the Low Income Investment Fund, hospitals and foundations. She received her MD and MPH degrees and pediatric training from the Johns Hopkins University. Silver has published widely and was honored to be the recipient of the 2011 Wavemaker Award of the Campaign for Public Health.   SB1097, Cannabis Right to Know Act - Torpedoed by Cannabis Industry Power

Preventing youth from using marijuana is key in preventing drug addiction and psychosis. Laura Stack has practical and life saving advice for parents and those interested in drug prevention. Do you have a code word with your kids? The code means come get me wherever I am, no questions asked. Laura Stack is Johnny Stack’s mom and the Founder & CEO of Johnny’s Ambassadors. In the business world, Laura was better known by her professional moniker, The Productivity Pro®. She is a Hall-of-Fame Speaker and corporate spokesperson for many major brands. Laura is a bestselling author of eight books on productivity and performance topics with a large social media following, and she has given keynote speeches and training seminars to major corporate, association, and government audiences for over 30 years. On November 20, 2019, Laura suddenly acquired the undesired wisdom of knowing what it’s like to lose one’s child, when her 19-year-old son, Johnny, died by suicide. He became psychotic after dabbing high- potency marijuana concentrates and thought the mob was after him. Laura’s world took a 180. She filed for and received 501c3 nonprofit status for Johnny’s Ambassadors, Inc., with the mission to educate parents and teens about the dangers of today’s high-THC marijuana on adolescent brain development, mental illness, and suicide. She wrote the blockbuster book, The Dangerous Truth About Today’s Marijuana: Johnny Stack’s Life and Death Story, with 300 pages about what happened. Described as a woman with unstoppable drive and unwavering purpose, Laura hopes to help other parents, grandparents, teachers (and frankly all adults with teens in their lives) by honestly and boldly sharing Johnny’s story of his high-potency marijuana use, psychosis, and suicide. The devastating loss of her child gives Laura a powerful voice and a platform for change. Laura sees it as her responsibility to share Johnny's warning to prevent other families from having to go through what she did and save other young lives. Laura’s platform now brings marijuana education, awareness, and prevention curriculum around the U.S. to raise awareness of THC use, mental illness, and suicide. She presents live and virtual keynotes, breakout sessions, and training for parents, teens, schools, healthcare, anti-drug coalitions, community- based prevention organizations, corporate wellness programs, and government agencies. Laura is the recipient of the Drug-Free America Foundation’s Moxie Award for protecting youth from substances, as well as the Leadership in Advocacy Award from the National Speakers Association. By sharing Johnny’s own warning about marijuana, Laura is determined to start a movement to bring teen marijuana use, mental illness, and suicide into the spotlight and get them to #StopDabbing. Laura lives with her husband near Denver, Colorado and has two surviving adult children, ages 26 and 20. “Forge ahead despite your pain and give meaning to your loss.” – Laura Stack

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.

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.

HIDTA published its 2025 Marijuana's Impact on California Report. In 2022, 43% of suicides among individuals 25 and under in San Diego County involved THC. Emergency visits due to marijuana rose by 521% in California from 2008 to 2022. Youth aged 12–17 accounted for nearly 38% of marijuana treatment admissions in 2023. High-potency cannabis is increasingly linked to psychosis and cannabis use disorder. Executive Director David King join High Truths to discuss HIDTA and the report. David King was appointed Executive Director of the San Diego Imperial Valley HIDTA ni 2017 after 28 years of law enforcement service with the California Department of Justice/ Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement (DOJ/BNE) and San Diego Harbor Police Department. Mr. King is a graduate of the University of San Diego with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Political Science, and he attended the FBI National Academy (FBINA) 240th Session in Quantico, Virginia. Mr. King began his law enforcement career with the San Diego Harbor Police Department in 1989 where he worked a variety of patrol assignments before being selected as the first task force officer ni the department's history to investigate narcotic and bulk currency smuggling at the San Diego International Airport. Mr. King received state and federal recognition when he was named by Harbor Police, Peace Officer of the Year, in 1995. Mr. King was hired by the California Department of Justice/ Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement ni 1997, and he served on the Clandestine Laboratory Program, Special Operations Unit and supervision of multi-agency narcotic task forces. Mr. King promoted to Special Agent in Charge where he expanded wire intercept capabilities and mission readiness for federal, state and local law enforcement agencies combating drug trafficking organizations operating along the U.S./Mexico Border. During Mr. King's tenure with the California Department of Justice he served as Senior Special Agent ni Charge of regional offices located ni San Diego, Riverside, Orange and Los Angeles before retiring as the Executive Director of L.A. IMPACT comprised of 50 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and is credited with being the largest domestic task force in the United States. During Mr. King's tenure at L.A. IMPACT, his teams were the recipient of three national HIDTA Awards, and he is the recipient of the California Attorney General's Award for Excellence as a Team. Mr. King is a lifetime member of the California Narcotic Officers Association (CNOA), National Narcotic Officers Association Coalition (NNOAC), currently serves as an elected member of the National HIDTA Directors Association (NHDA), and he is honored to work with over 800 dedicated federal, state and local law enforcement officers, intelligence analysts and prosecutors who are assigned to HIDTA task forces in San Diego and Imperial Counties.

Mar-Anon is an important support group for people who have loved ones addicted to marijuana. Mar-Anon is based on the same concept of Al-Anon for alcohol. While AA and MA are for people with a substance use disorder, Al-Anon and Mar-Anon are for families. In keeping with the anonymous aspect of the organization, I am just using Bart's first name. Bart was a summer camp counselor, camp director and teacher, earning his Teaching credential from Chapman University.  After retiring from teaching he started volunteering with Mar-Anon, Every Brain Matters and other educational non-profits.  Bart used to think marijuana was harmless. “When I was smoking weed in my 20’s I used to say stuff like, “it’s just pot, it’s not a big deal.” Marijuana was a very big deal for his son, Kevin. Bart witnessed his son experience many episodes of Cannabis Induced Psychosis.  Kevin died by suicide in 2018 at 29 years old.  The last articulate words Bart heard him speak were, “Cannabis has ruined my life.” Resources:  Mar-Anon - for supportive meetings Every Brain Matters - for facilitated meeting

Marijuana is addictive, especially with the high potency products. And with addiction come withdrawal. Withdrawal of THC is not like withdrawal from fentanyl or alcohol. It is more like withdrawal from nicotine - insomnia, anxiety, headaches. The symptoms last about 2 weeks and there are no medications to help. However, going up the FDA rapid approval pathway is a new medication. We talk about this treatment in this podcast. Ginger Constantine, M.D. is the Chairperson, Co-Founder & CEO of PleoPharma. Ginger Constantine, MD – Chairperson and CEO - with over 25 years of pharmaceutical regulatory and clinical development experience with the approval of more than 15 products filing numerous INDs, NDAs, and MAAs. Previous Vice President of Women's Health & Bone Repair Clinical Research at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals through its acquisition by Pfizer in 2010. Expertise in Phase 1 through 4 clinical development strategy and execution.  ​ Founded EndoRheum Consultants in 2010, a successful clinical development consulting firm. Member of multiple scientific advisory boards. Has planned, authored and presented numerous scientific studies. PheoPharma was granted fast-track designation for PP-01, a new investigational drug for cannabis withdrawal syndrome. 

Jamie Ross wears many hats.  She is Executive Director of the PACT Coalition, coordinator for the Nevada Statewide Coalition Partnership and sits on too many boards and committees to count. Jamie Ross has been the Executive Director of the PACT Coalition since 2011. She has been involved with substance misuse prevention from a young age, and took that passion into a career creating system wide change to reduce substance misuse.  The PACT Coalition is a substance misuse prevention coalition in Las Vegas with diverse funding focusing on the spectrum of prevention including mental health, primary and tertiary substance misuse prevention, and the intersection of prevention into all aspects of community building.   Jamie believes in the power of community to change itself for the better. When a community comes together to solve its own problems, the result is transformative.  As Sam Quinones says, ‘the solution to the opioid crisis isn’t naloxone, it’s community.’ 

Communities can and should lead in creating an environment that prevents addiction. It is much easier to prevent a problem than treating a problem. One high level prevention initiative is fixing the Farm Bill that opened up the door to a new type of poison on Americans. The various intoxicating Hemp products, Delta-8, Delta-10, and others, have never been tested on rats, let alone kids. Sue Thau has been leading the charge in fixing the Hemp loop hole. Sue Thau is a Public Policy Consultant representing Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA). She is nationally recognized for her advocacy and legislative accomplishments on behalf of the substance abuse prevention field. She has an extensive background in public policy and has held high positions at the federal, state, and local levels. She was a Budget Examiner and Legislative Analyst at the Office of Management and Budget, in the Executive Office of the President for over ten years. Sue was a driving force behind the passage, reauthorization and full funding of the Drug-Free Communities Act. In addition, Sue has worked to save and enhance funding for all federal substance abuse prevention and treatment programs over the last two decades. She is highly respected as an expert on demand reduction issues by members of Congress and staff on both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill. Sue has an undergraduate degree from Cornell University in Human Development and Family Studies and a Master’s Degree from Rutgers University in City and Regional Planning.

Sean Hemeon is an actor (911, Criminal Minds, True Blood, CW’s the Husbands), writer and artist. Originally from Northern Virginia, he now lives in Los Angeles with his husband and two Bostons. Sean will have his debut memoir The Good Little Druglord, the inspirational story of a (former) Mormon drug dealer who found redemption as a narc for the federal government—confronting the Russian Mafia, his darkest self, his mother, and the mother of a young man who died because he failed to act.  The Good Little Druglord is an ode to redemption, recovery, and the mother/son bond—an ultimately UpLit memoir about a gay Mormon drug-dealing narc for the federal government.            As a drug-dealing meth addict, I embraced my “darkness,” claiming my place among the worst of God’s beasts until my deeper humanity was challenged, when someone died because I failed to act. It was the call from the dead boy’s mother, begging to know what happened, that shattered me.           I wrote this book to let that grieving mother know what happened to her son, and to let my own mother know what happened to her son. I also wrote this book for those struggling with identity, and for those who care about them.  I believed I was a decent human, until I was confronted with the reality I was not. I believed I deserved every horrible thing that had happened in my life: abandonment, molestation, and beatings. I deserved to go to prison or be murdered by the volatile Russian Mafia meth supplier to whom I owed thousands of dollars.           Like many others, maybe you, I spent too many years of my life engaged in a futile battle for self-love and acceptance. As long as I believed I was the cause for the lack, it would always feel like chasing rainbows (or running from them in my warped Mormon case). I picked up beliefs in my childhood from my parents, society, and religion that shaped a false identity.  It was my fault my depressed mother didn’t love me, so I tried to be the best little Mormon boy I could be. When that failed, I became her worst fear: a hedonist, raging faggot, drug-dealing narc. I rejected the authentic parts of myself, and forced the “acceptable” to be effective until it wasn’t, leading to an implosion.           It took me nearly twenty years to get here, journaling to find my way as I fought to be loved. I wore this story like a badge of honor in recovery, like a masturbatory glory piece. I wallowed in victim-y stuff, abating shame, but now, the shame is healing.  I’ve shared my narrative, not just for the collective but to remember myself. It has become my superpower: Never forgetting my addiction makes whatever happens today a bonus, no matter how low I feel.           There are other accounts of addiction, religious abuse, sexuality, and even gay boys and mothers, but few are wrapped in a riveting tale about a drug-dealing narc for the federal government evading the Russian Mafia. It’s identity and acceptance wrapped in a thriller. Perhaps by the end, there may be hope for a drug-addicted loved one, or yourself if you need the help. I hope this story helps you see that you and those you care about can live through your worst fears and nightmares. You, too, can be a mother-effing dandelion fighting to grow through the cracks. You, too, can also make peace with your mother, or her memory.             My mother proudly walked me down the aisle at my very gay wedding and applauded when I kissed my new husband.             By the end of this, you’ll want to hug your mother, too.

Lori Jane Gliha is an award winning investigative reporter with Scripps News. She is also the nation's expert in tracking pediatric fatalities due to fentanyl. She joins us to share her experience. This is an episode you may want to watch on You Tube to view some of Lori Jane's video clips. The show notes have links to reports. Lori Jane Gliha is an ethical, enterprising, award-winning national investigative reporter for Scripps News. She is known for her exclusive, national, in-depth investigations, hard-hitting interviews, and continuous coverage of important issues including the use of ketamine - by paramedics -to sedate agitated people; fentanyl poisonings among babies, toddlers, and young children; and gun violence. In 2025, she was awarded the prestigious duPont-Columbia Award for her investigation into the deadliest mass shooting of 2023 in Lewiston, Maine. She has received two national Edward R. Murrow Awards and has been awarded the highly competitive IRE award for longform video journalism, a national recognition for investigative reporters and editors. She received a degree in Broadcast Journalism at the University of Southern California, and graduated, Summa cum Laude, as the Outstanding Broadcast Journalism Undergraduate. She minored in Spanish. Scripps News Investigates: The silent toll of the fentanyl epidemic. Nov 2023 How a 5-year-old ingested fentanyl in her kindergarten classroom Poisoned: Fentanyl's Child Victims march 2025 He was gasping for air: How witnesses describe child fentanyl poisonings Colorado Gov Jared Polis 'disheartened by communication gaps in child fentanyl cases Twin babies and parents saved following hospital fentanyl test States push for life saving fentanyl testing laws amid rising opioid concerns - April 2025 Many Child fentanyl deaths remain uncharged, Scripps News review finds