Sprinting towards life after loss.

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In this episode of Resilience Unravelled, Jess Keefe, a writer and advocate for mental health and substance use disorders, discusses her personal experience with the issue after losing her younger brother to addiction. She highlights the need for science-based addiction treatment and challenges the stigma surrounding it. The conversation also touches on societal factors that contribute to addiction, including glamorisation of drug use in American culture and unfettered capitalism.

Jess and Russell discuss the conflicting messages in American society, where people are expected to be moral and responsible while being bombarded with toxic advertising. They debate the effectiveness of 12 step programs for addiction treatment, highlighting that it works best when individuals actively choose to participate and the lack of access to addiction treatment options is due to a complex system that prioritises profit over patient care. Effective addiction treatment involves ongoing support, medications, therapy, and social supports such as housing and jobs. The stigma surrounding drug use makes it difficult for people to seek help when they need it most.

Main topics:

  •  The issues related to high overdose rates in the US.

  • Why early intervention is important to prevent drug abuse.

  • Jess own experiences with drug abuse.

  • Why traditional forms of therapy, such as the Twelve Steps, are only effective for those who actively consent and want to participate.

  • The different forms of talk therapy and medication that can be used to treat addiction.

  • Why additional support such as career counselling and housing assistance is also important for sustained recovery.

  • Why the current healthcare system is not well-equipped to handle addiction treatment.

 Timestamps:

1. Introduction - 00:00-00:25
2. Personal Experience with addiction - 00:30-03:02
3. Early signs and coping mechanisms - 04:50-10:21
4. Treatment options and efficacy of Twelve Steps - 15:14-17:04
5. Challenges in getting help and support - 21:13-25:04
6. Writing a book and target audience - 26:19-30:18
7. Conclusion and contact information - 30:52-31:52

Jess also discusses her new book "Remind Me 30,000 Steps," which follows her journey through grief after losing her brother. The book is for people who have experienced addiction or know someone who has, explores the psychosocial factors of addiction and drug use while also providing a human story that people can relate to. She hopes the book will help others who have experienced loss or are curious about the issue of addiction.

Action points:

    You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
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