Dedee Pfeiffer, celebrated actress and younger sister of Michelle Pfeiffer, is known for her roles in hit shows like *Cybill* and *For Your Love* and her recent return to television as Denise Brisbane in ABC's *Big Sky.* But Dedee's journey is far more compelling than her screen credits alone. After stepping away from Hollywood for a decade to confront her alcohol addiction and raise her children as a single mom, she emerged not just as a survivor but as an advocate for recovery.

During her hiatus, Dedee earned a master’s degree in social work from UCLA and worked hands-on with the homeless and those battling mental health challenges. Her recovery journey was marked by courage and resilience, and she’s since become a powerful voice for addiction recovery, encouraging others to “recover out loud” and break the stigma around substance abuse.

Today, Dedee blends her revitalized acting career with her passion for helping others, sharing her story on platforms like the Betty Ford Center’s 40th anniversary event and advocating for the power of support systems and self-healing. Her story isn’t just about survival—it’s about transformation. Join us as we delve into Dedee Pfeiffer's extraordinary journey on this episode of our podcast.

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Jackie Siegel is best known for her role in the award-winning documentary feature, Queen of Versailles (Magnolia Pictures), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2012.

A little back story: Jackie earned the "Queen" moniker when a decade ago, she and husband, David Siegel, began an extravagant project to build the largest private residence in the U.S.—named Versailles—and the ambitious construction ground to a halt as the '08 recession dented their fortune. The rise and fall of their grand ambitions were captured in the critically acclaimed 2012 documentary based on their plans for the 90,000-square-foot behemoth near Orlando, FL.

In 2016, the Siegel’s world changed forever when their then 18-year-daughter, Victoria, died of a drug overdose. This tragedy has trajected them into a new life purpose: to save lives through drug prevention programs. As a result, the Siegels have created a foundation in Victoria’s memory called Victoria’s Voice. Its purpose is to bring drug prevention education into the schools, offer healthy social media opportunities for young people, and assist first responders in receiving and administering Narcan (Naloxone) to an overdose victim, which has proven to save lives. When Victoria was discovered, she still had a heartbeat. It’s possible she could have been saved if the first responders had been equipped with Narcan.

In 2019, Siegel released a profoundly personal book, “Victoria’s Voice,” compiled from the pages of her late daughter’s journal. 

The Siegels decided to leave it just as Victoria had left it with drawings, poems, heartfelt feelings of loneliness and sadness. It is a very emotionally-charged read that all need to take heed of. It is a glimpse into the heart of a hurting teen that reveals to parents not uncommon struggles of their children. “If only one life can be saved through our efforts,” says Mrs. Siegel, “it will have been worth all of the time, effort, and money.”

Later that year, Siegel also released The Princess of Versailles documentary on the fourth anniversary of Victoria’s passing. The documentary aimed to bring awareness of America’s opioid crisis to another level. In 2020, Siegel published a children's book “Oliver Uncollared” with her twin teen daughters to help kids cope with loss and grief. Mrs. Siegel continues to schedule a full calendar as a model, actress, and philanthropist, but since Victoria’s loss, more priority is now given to Victoria’s Voice Foundation as she and her husband tirelessly work to bring local communities, state legislatures and even the federal government in agreement to do more about the opioid epidemic and its often tragic results.

The former Mrs. Florida America is also actively involved in the national Mrs. America organization and now many of the beauty queens have become outspoken advocates of Victoria’s Voice and saving lives. Most recently, Siegel welcomed cameras back into her life and the Versailles mansion with the Discovery+ original series, Queen of Versailles Reigns Again, released in March 2022. 

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Denise Barnes is a devoted mother of three, married to a wonderful Christian husband, and a proud native of San Diego, California. Her family, deeply rooted in their love for surfing and faith, faced an unimaginable tragedy this year when her youngest son was found overdosing on a Xanax laced with fentanyl. Despite Narcan being administered, 911 was not called—a critical misstep that cost her son his life. This devastating loss has left an irreplaceable void in their hearts and a profound sense of purpose in Denise’s life. 

 Determined to prevent other families from enduring similar heartbreak, Denise is now on a mission to raise awareness about the life-saving importance of combining Narcan (naloxone) with an immediate 911 call. She emphasizes that while Narcan can restart the heart, only medical professionals can provide the necessary care to keep it beating. 

Denise is passionate about educating schools, the media, and the public about this crucial message: Narcan alone is not enough—it must be paired with a 911 call to save lives. Time is of the essence in an overdose situation, and spreading this knowledge is her way of honoring her son’s memory and protecting others from the same tragic outcome.

Through platforms like podcasts, Denise shares her story and advocates for change, hoping to spare other mothers, fathers, siblings, and loved ones the pain her family endures. She finds comfort in her faith and the hope of being reunited with her son in heaven one day.

 NARCAN+911 - check it out on Instagram - denise.barnes37 on Instagram

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Melissa Hayward-Tucker was caught in the grip of addiction for years, a victim of drugs and alcohol from her early teens. Growing up in a turbulent world of abandonment, domestic violence, and abuse, she faced trauma most never know. By age fourteen, she was using crack cocaine, and her life spiraled into darkness on the dangerous streets of Houston and Los Angeles, where she was left homeless, addicted, and surrounded by violence.

But on January 29, 2001, in her darkest hour, she heard a voice that sparked hope—a call to begin a journey of healing. Against all odds, she broke free from the chains that bound her and found purpose. In her powerful new book, *Caught Up: The Story of a Drug Addict’s Return to Her Roots*, Melissa recounts every raw, harrowing detail of her life in addiction, sharing the pain, trauma, and the profound resilience it took to overcome.

Today, Melissa is a wife, mother, grandmother, author, speaker, and the founder of God’s Vessel Ministries. As a gospel artist signed with Genesoul Entertainment, she has won awards for songs that inspire and uplift, including the London MP3 Music Award for “Praize Praize” and the Indie Music Channel Award for “Transformed.” Her latest single, *Freedom Ring*, is available on all platforms, celebrating her liberation and calling others to find theirs.

With a deep passion for faith, Melissa is devoted to helping women transform their lives through God’s truth and power. She believes wholeheartedly in the power of prayer and lives as a testament to God’s ability to restore and redeem.

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In 2012, 14-year-old Dakota Dyer tragically took his own life after trying a synthetic drug. His father, Lance Dyer, was determined to prevent other families from experiencing this devastation. Confronted with the growing scourge of synthetic drugs - marketed as "safe" alternatives to marijuana - Lance fought back.

Using investigative skills honed as an Army Ranger, Lance tracked down the manufacturing company responsible for his son's death. His efforts led to the arrests and lengthy prison sentences of those involved in the drug's production, distribution, and marketing.

But justice for Dakota could not undo the unimaginable loss. Resolved to change the future, Lance began speaking out to educate young people, parents, and authorities about the dangers of synthetic drugs. He partnered with the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, finding their factual, non-judgmental educational materials to be a game-changer in reaching youth.

Through the Dakota Dyer Foundation, Lance has now reached over a quarter of a million people, contributed to banning synthetic drugs nationwide, and continued his fight to protect young people from this deadly threat. His unwavering determination in the face of personal tragedy serves as an inspiration.

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Lauren Sisler is an Emmy Award-winning sports broadcaster, ESPN sideline reporter, author, and keynote speaker known for her sideline shimmy. After landing her dream career with ESPN, reporting on college football and gymnastics, she began to open up about a story she once kept hidden: losing her parents to opioid addiction. Through sharing her story, she’s been able to shed light on the stigma of addiction. Now, whether she’s on the sidelines or on stages, her purpose lies in helping people tell (and love) their own stories, live more courageous, resilient lives, and find their own sideline shimmies.

Lauren lost both parents to opioid addiction - At just 18, while most kids are learning how to navigate college life, Lauren faced a life-altering tragedy: the sudden and unexpected loss of both parents due to a hidden prescription drug addiction. Her parent’s death left her grappling with grief, shame and countless unanswered questions. As she struggled to understand their addiction and its ripple effects, Lauren’s life seemed shattered. Her new memoir "Shatterproof" - In her powerful memoir, Lauren shares her story of finding strength, redemption and a commitment to breaking the stigma of addiction. By openly discussing her family’s experiences with opioid addiction, Lauren hopes to offer support and inspiration to others dealing with similar struggles—proving that in the face of trauma, it’s possible to become shatterproof. The power of falling in love with your story.

https://www.amazon.com/Shatterproof-Overcame-Parents-Addiction-Sideline/dp/1962802078

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Decisions by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Marcel Gemme is a Drug and Alcohol Treatment Specialist (DATS) and a member of NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals who concentrates on helping families find help for their loved ones. He is the founder and CEO of DRS, which includes Addicted.org and Drugrehab.ca, two websites that have helped thousands of people find treatment for substance use disorder in the United States and Canada. Marcel is also a member of International Society of Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Professionals (ISSUP).

Marcel started as an intake counselor for a drug rehabilitation center in 2000. During his five years as an intake counselor, he helped many addicts get the treatment they needed. He also dealt with the families and friends of those people; he saw first-hand how much strain addiction puts on a family and how it can tear relationships apart. With drug and alcohol problems constantly on the rise in the United States and Canada, he decided to use the Internet to educate and help many more people in both countries.

For the past 17 years, Marcel has been working with his family and other addiction professionals to build two of the largest substance use resource websites in the U.S. and Canada. These websites help millions of people each year by providing listings for every type of drug rehab service available in the country. To complement this, Marcel is constantly writing helpful tips and providing resources to keep individuals updated with the ever-evolving subject of addiction recovery. The quality of his work has not gone unnoticed, and the Government of Canada has recently included his Canadian website, Drugrehab.ca, on a short list of country-wide resources for getting help with substance use.

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Decisions by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Thaddeus’ service to this country began its course while proudly serving in the United States Air Force. He served on the Terrell County Independent School District School Board for eight years and as the Board President four of those years.

His viewpoint: “Students and our school's educators are at the forefront of our nations foundation. Texas must lead the nation by adapting our approach to doing what is best for the students first and foremost so we as Texans and parents promote the most effective solutions to prepare future leaders of Texas and our nation with what they need to reach their full potential.” 

Currently Thaddeus C. Cleveland is the Sheriff for Terrell County, Texas. He was appointed as Sheriff on May 17, 2022. Prior to his appointment, Sheriff Cleveland spent just over 26 years in the United States Border Patrol and the last 11 years of his career as the Patrol Agent in Charge of the Sanderson Border Patrol Station. Sheriff Cleveland entered on duty with the U.S. Border Patrol on February 26, 1996, as a member of Class 300. His first duty assignment as a Border Patrol agent was at the Nogales Border Patrol Station in the Tucson Sector. Since his entry into the U.S. Border Patrol, Sheriff Cleveland served as a Border Patrol Agent at Sierra Blanca, Texas, a Senior Patrol Agent at Eagle Pass, Texas, a Supervisory Border Patrol Agent at Douglas, Arizona and Artesia, New Mexico.

He has also served as a Field Operations Supervisor at Naco, Arizona and Alpine, Texas. Sheriff Cleveland served as an Assistant Chief in Washington, D.C. at the Office of Border Patrol as well as Customs and Border Protection’s Commissioner’s Office of Anti-Terrorism and Office of State, Local and Tribal Liaison.

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Decisions by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Dr. Tracy Strawberry is an international speaker, published author, CEO, and wife of baseball legend Darryl Strawberry. After many years of battling addiction, alcoholism and other life controlling issues, Tracy surrendered her life to Jesus Christ and experienced a radical life transformation through the power of God and the process of change. By sharing her testimony openly, with biblical solutions and practical application, Tracy is a highly sought after international speaker with requests to deliver her powerful messages of how to experience lasting change, re-inventing yourself, experiencing God in the most difficult of times, overcoming your past, and becoming the very best "you" that God created you to be, and much, much more! Tracy now holds a Doctorate Degree in Theology, with a focused study in Cultural Restoration and Leadership. She holds her Masters Degree in Business Administration and Management, with a Bachelors in Ministry Leadership. Dr. Strawberry is the Author of several publications including, Clean Sober & Saved, a Christ-Centered Recovery Curriculum that is established globally. In her weekly programs and traveling ministry, she teaches biblical truth with practical application to deliver a message of faith, redeeming hope, restoration and freedom in Jesus Christ. Tracy believes that those who are lost will be found and those who are bound will be free! Alongside her biblical teaching and preaching platform, she is an international business consultant with a specialty in assisting Pastors, Governments, and other Leaders with infrastructure and organizational development, strategic planning, and the creation of innovative solutions needed to reach culturally diverse demographics and territories.

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Andrew Zimmern knew from a young age he wanted a career in food. After attending The Dalton School and Vassar College, he cooked in New York City restaurants for Anne Rosenzweig, Joachim Splichal and Thomas Keller, amongst others. Andrew helped open and run a dozen restaurants, and at the same time was also an addict spiraling out of control. After a year spent living on the streets, an intervention by close friends brought him to the Hazelden Foundation in Minnesota. Transforming his life around sobriety, Andrew took a job washing dishes at Minneapolis’ Café Un Deux Trois. In 1992, he was named executive chef and during his six-year tenure, turned Un Deux Trois into an awarded, national caliber restaurant. An Emmy-winning and four-time James Beard Award-winning TV personality, chef, writer and teacher, Andrew Zimmern is regarded as one of the most knowledgeable personalities in the food world. As the creator, executive producer and host of Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods franchise, Andrew Zimmern’s Driven by Food and Emmy-winning The Zimmern List, he has devoted his life to exploring and promoting cultural acceptance, tolerance and understanding through food. In 2020, Andrew returned to television with the MSNBC series What’s Eating America. His latest series, Family Dinner, airs on Chip & Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Network and steams on Discovery+.

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Brace yourself for a fascinating episode of **The Addiction Podcast - Point of No Return**, featuring the Pulitzer Prize winning investigative journalist, **Barry Meier**, as we peel back the layers of the opioid crisis, examining its roots, aftermath, and the unsettling role played by the Sackler family and their empire, Purdue Pharma.

Meier also discusses how he ventured into investigative reporting and provides context for his journey in creating the book that started it all – **"Pain Killer: An Empire Of Deceit And The Origin Of America’s Opioid Epidemic" In this groundbreaking book, Meier exposes the chilling truth behind the creation of OxyContin and its devastating impact on countless lives. The Netflix limited series, based on his work, thrusts viewers into the epicenter of the crisis, spotlighting the Sackler family's sordid connection to Purdue Pharma and their undeniable role in the nationwide tragedy.

As you listen to/watch this interview and read the book, you'll gain incomparable insights into the opioid crisis that has ravaged America. Meier's narrative explores the origins and aftermath of this epidemic, giving voice to the perpetrators, victims, and those determined to uncover the truth.

The Netflix series not only chronicles the haunting stories of those affected but also introduces us to the relentless truth-seekers whose lives have been forever altered by the invention of OxyContin. The Netflix series boasts a star-studded cast that brings this gripping narrative to life. **Matthew Broderick** takes on the role of Richard Sackler, the scion of the billionaire Sackler family and a senior executive at Purdue Pharma. **Uzo Aduba** from "Orange Is The New Black" embodies Edie, the investigator leading the case against Purdue, while **John Rothman** and **West Duchovny** portray Mortimer Sackler, co-owner of Purdue Pharma, and Shannon, a new recruit to the Purdue sales team, respectively. Additionally, **Dina Shihabi** steps into the shoes of Britt, a seasoned sales representative for Purdue.

Tune in to our website or YouTube Channel - **The Addiction Podcast - Point of No Return** - to gain a deeper understanding of the opioid crisis, the role of the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma, and the riveting personal stories that have shaped this tragic narrative. Subscribe now and be prepared to be both informed and moved by the revelations that unfold in this unmissable podcast episode.

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Decisions by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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