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.

HELP SUPPORT OUR FIGHT AGAINST ADDICTION. DONATE HERE: https://www.patreon.com/theaddictionpodcast

PART OF THE GOOD NEWS PODCAST NETWORK.

AUDIO VERSIONS OF ALL OUR EPISODES: https://theaddictionpodcast.com

CONTACT US: The Addiction Podcast - Point of No Return [email protected]

Intro and Outro music by:

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

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100756

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

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.

HELP SUPPORT OUR FIGHT AGAINST ADDICTION. DONATE HERE: https://www.patreon.com/theaddictionpodcast

PART OF THE GOOD NEWS PODCAST NETWORK.

AUDIO VERSIONS OF ALL OUR EPISODES: https://theaddictionpodcast.com

CONTACT US: The Addiction Podcast - Point of No Return [email protected]

Intro and Outro music by:

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

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100756

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

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

HELP SUPPORT OUR FIGHT AGAINST ADDICTION. DONATE HERE: https://www.patreon.com/theaddictionpodcast

PART OF THE GOOD NEWS PODCAST NETWORK.

AUDIO VERSIONS OF ALL OUR EPISODES: https://theaddictionpodcast.com

CONTACT US: The Addiction Podcast - Point of No Return [email protected]

Intro and Outro music by:

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

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100756

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

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.

HELP SUPPORT OUR FIGHT AGAINST ADDICTION. DONATE HERE: https://www.patreon.com/theaddictionpodcast

PART OF THE GOOD NEWS PODCAST NETWORK.

AUDIO VERSIONS OF ALL OUR EPISODES: https://theaddictionpodcast.com

CONTACT US: The Addiction Podcast - Point of No Return [email protected]

Intro and Outro music by:

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

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100756

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

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.

HELP SUPPORT OUR FIGHT AGAINST ADDICTION. DONATE HERE: https://www.patreon.com/theaddictionpodcast

PART OF THE GOOD NEWS PODCAST NETWORK.

AUDIO VERSIONS OF ALL OUR EPISODES: https://theaddictionpodcast.com

CONTACT US: The Addiction Podcast - Point of No Return [email protected]

Intro and Outro music by:

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

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100756

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

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.

HELP SUPPORT OUR FIGHT AGAINST ADDICTION. DONATE HERE: https://www.patreon.com/theaddictionpodcast

PART OF THE GOOD NEWS PODCAST NETWORK.

AUDIO VERSIONS OF ALL OUR EPISODES: https://theaddictionpodcast.com

CONTACT US: The Addiction Podcast - Point of No Return [email protected]

Intro and Outro music by:

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

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100756

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

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+.

HELP SUPPORT OUR FIGHT AGAINST ADDICTION. DONATE HERE: https://www.patreon.com/theaddictionpodcast

PART OF THE GOOD NEWS PODCAST NETWORK.

AUDIO VERSIONS OF ALL OUR EPISODES: https://theaddictionpodcast.com

CONTACT US: The Addiction Podcast - Point of No Return [email protected]

Intro and Outro music by:

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

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100756

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

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.

HELP SUPPORT OUR FIGHT AGAINST ADDICTION. DONATE HERE: https://www.patreon.com/theaddictionpodcast

PART OF THE GOOD NEWS PODCAST NETWORK.

AUDIO VERSIONS OF ALL OUR EPISODES: https://theaddictionpodcast.com

CONTACT US: The Addiction Podcast - Point of No Return [email protected]

Intro and Outro music by:

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

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100756

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Leeann Blaskowsky is a board-certified neonatal nurse practitioner. In her words: since 2009 I have been living and working in Colorado, and I am faced, almost daily, with counseling families about marijuana use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. My nursing education began with an Associates degree waaay back in 1984, continuing to a Bachelors and Masters in Nursing more than twenty-five years later, finally finishing with a Doctorate of Nursing Practice in 2020.

With more than 40 years in healthcare beginning as a bedside nurse in the ICU/CCU, Emergency Department and Neonatal ICU settings, I have had the opportunity to interact with patients and families with varying opinions and practices regarding the use of marijuana. These interactions have expanded in scope and increased in number as medical marijuana and legalized recreational use arrived in Colorado.

I have also cared for many patients struggling with addiction to various substances including mothers and newborns.

Optimizing outcomes for our patients has, and always will, remain my driving force in practice when a clear need to continue educating providers and families in our communities arises. And now I have a personal stake.

References for listeners: https://drugfree.org/article/marijuana-and-pregnancy/

HELP SUPPORT OUR FIGHT AGAINST ADDICTION. DONATE HERE: https://www.patreon.com/theaddictionpodcast

AUDIO VERSIONS OF ALL OUR EPISODES: https://theaddictionpodcast.com

CONTACT US: The Addiction Podcast - Point of No Return [email protected]

Intro and Outro music by:

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

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100756

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Lunden Roberts is a mother, author, and financial officer from Batesville, AR. Her all-star basketball career culminated at Arkansas State University, where she was a McDonalds All-American Nominee shooting guard and studied criminal justice and psychology. Roberts went on to Washington, D.C. for the most prestigious CSI training in the country, where she met and began a relationship with Hunter Biden. She served as Biden’s executive assistant at Rosemont Seneca and other business entities, and now serves as the financial controller for her family-owned business, Rob Roberts Custom Gunworks. She is the mother of Navy, President Biden’s seventh grandchild, she is in the process of launching a new fashion line, and serves as an advocate for women in unplanned pregnancies.

She is the author of the book “Out of the Shadows - My Life inside the Wild World of Hunter Biden” - available where books are sold.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/151078229X/

HELP SUPPORT OUR FIGHT AGAINST ADDICTION. DONATE HERE: https://www.patreon.com/theaddictionpodcast

PART OF THE GOOD NEWS PODCAST NETWORK.

AUDIO VERSIONS OF ALL OUR EPISODES: https://theaddictionpodcast.com

CONTACT US: The Addiction Podcast - Point of No Return [email protected]

Intro and Outro music by:

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

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100756

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Jim Willfred is a man with extensive life experiences that have fueled his insatiable passion to help those afflicted with substance use disorders and to support other parents in avoiding the pain of losing a child as he has. Jim struggled with substance use disorder for 20 years until he broke free in 2004. He was honored with the Individual Achievement Award by Governor Bond for his ability to utilize help from government agencies to rebuild his life. Jim was invited to speak before 500 government agency workers, emphasizing the importance of their work.

Additionally, Jim was asked by the HeadStart organization to attend a weekend conference in Kansas City and then return to St. Louis to run a mentoring program, teaching fathers how to be effective parents. In 2005, he joined the Carpenters Union, spending 20 years as a Millwright. In 2006, just two years after overcoming substance use disorder, Jim purchased his first home and, for the next 16 years, housed people with substance use disorders in his own home.

In 2018, Jim founded "A Second Chance at Life." However, this endeavor faced significant challenges, including financial devastation and the loss of five immediate family members within a year. 

On June 20, 2023, Jim's son, Austin, was poisoned by fentanyl. This tragedy, combined with his life experiences and immense passion, led Jim to reinstate "A Second Chance at Life." He completely revised the company’s vision, now working not only for sober living homes but also for advocacy, legislative change, drug prevention education, and coalition building and collaboration. 

Though it is too late to save his own child, Jim dedicates his efforts to saving other children.

https://asecondchanceatlife.org/

HELP SUPPORT OUR FIGHT AGAINST ADDICTION. DONATE HERE: https://www.patreon.com/theaddictionpodcast

PART OF THE GOOD NEWS PODCAST NETWORK.

AUDIO VERSIONS OF ALL OUR EPISODES: https://theaddictionpodcast.com

CONTACT US: The Addiction Podcast - Point of No Return [email protected]

Intro and Outro music by:

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

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100756

Artist: http://incompetech.com/