Don’t Hide The Scars. Presented By PAIN: Parents & Addicts In Need – Détails, épisodes et analyse

PAIN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ @painnonprofit ⁠⁠⁠Founder Flindt Andersen and Media Director Jason LaChance sit down Thomas McCollum for a fact based discussion around addiction, recovery, harm-reduction and the addiction crisis.

Thomas McCollum is a passionate advocate for recovery, punk rock enthusiast, and the Executive Director of Discovery Place, a 12-step spiritual retreat for men in Burns, TN. With over nine years of experience in the recovery field, Thomas brings a unique perspective, having walked a similar path. Before dedicating his life to helping others, he spent twenty years in active addiction, eventually becoming an IV heroin user. 

After finding sobriety at Discovery Place nine and a half years ago, Thomas has built a fulfilling life as a husband, father, and community leader. He is grateful for the opportunity to share his experiences and support others on their journeys to recovery. Thomas, Flindt and Jason discuss the following and more. Intro 00:00 RFK & Russel Brand Stopped By Discovery Place 02:29 What is Thomas' history of addiction recovery? 04:15 How did Covid-19 effect family support meetings around the country? 12:43 What are the potential health risks of medication assisted harm-reduction? 23:00 Why is it vital to address underlying issues to achieve lasting sobriety? 37:00 What is the difference between a slipup and a relapse? 44:30 What is Discovery Place, and how are the staff helping many people recover from addiction? 53:41 For more on the Granville Home Of Hope: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://gvhomeofhope.com/⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ or call our office at 559-579-1551

For more on Discovery Place: ⁠https://discoveryplace.info/⁠ For more on Parents & Addicts In Need: If you or a loved ones need our services, to follow on social media, the Don't Hide The Scars Podcast, to get involved, or to donate ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/painnonprofit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For more on Flindt Andersen, to have him speak at your organization visit⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.flindtandersen.com/⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

PAIN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ @painnonprofit ⁠Founder Flindt Andersen and Media Director Jason LaChance sit down Charlotte Bismuth the author of Killer in a White Coat: The True Story of New York's Deadliest Pill Pusher and the Team that Brought Him to Justice.

Charlotte served as an assistant district attorney in Manhattan for seven years. Assigned to the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor (“OSNP”), she launched an investigation into the illegal prescription sales of a Queens physician. In partnership with two legendary veterans of the office, Senior Investigator Joe Hall and Special Assistant District Attorney Peter Kougasian, as well as other devoted professionals, Ms. Bismuth steered the Li case from a civilian tip into a three-year investigation, culminating in two grand jury proceedings and a four-month trial in 2004. The case resulted in a landmark conviction, as Dr. Li was the first physician in New York State to be charged and convicted for the overdose deaths of his patients. In 2014, after the Li trial, Ms. Bismuth served as the OSNP’s Director of Training. Ms. Bismuth left the practice of law at the end of 2015 to spend time with her family and publish a book, now available in paperback from Simon & Schuster: "Killer in a White Coat: The True Story of New York's Deadliest Pill Pusher and the Team that Brought Him to Justice."Ms. Bismuth works with the families of overdose victims to educate the public about the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy, and co-hosts the podcast "Bankruptcy for Billionaires." In 2021, she co-authored an article with PCE entitled “Seeking Justice and Solutions: A Prosecutor’s Guide to Opioid Overdose Investigations." She is honored to serve on the Opioid Industry Archive's National Advisory Committee. Charlotte, Flindt and Jason discuss the following and more. Intro 00:00 Did we learn anything from the opioid crisis? 01:40 What is the overdose fatality initiative? 07:40 Why should we highlight the work that has been done in helping suffering addicts? 16:00 What types of things can trigger a recovering addicts thoughts of use? 26:30 Who are some of those in Charlottes book that were most effected by the opioid crisis? 36:16 Is Europe being targeted by opioid producing pharmaceutical companies like the USA is? 45:00 Are medical doctors gaining a greater understanding of addiction? 56:37 For more on the Granville Home Of Hope: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://gvhomeofhope.com/⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ or call our office at 559-579-1551

For more on Charlotte and her writing: www.charlottebismuth.com For more on Parents & Addicts In Need: If you or a loved ones need our services, to follow on social media, the Don't Hide The Scars Podcast, to get involved, or to donate ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/painnonprofit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For more on Flindt Andersen, to have him speak at your organization visit⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.flindtandersen.com/⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

PAIN ( @painnonprofit ) Parents & Addicts in Need’s⁠⁠Founder Flindt Andersen and Media Director Jason LaChance sat down with Dino Miliotis.

Dino is a celebrated entrepreneur known for his innovative spirit and impactful message of hope. He gained prominence for creating Bug-Ban, an all-natural insect repelling bracelet, which he launched in Chicago in 1996. His entrepreneurial success has been featured on Oprah, Forbes, Entrepreneur, and People Magazine.

Miliotis's personal journey includes overcoming a more than 20-year battle with alcohol and substance use. He shares his story and road to recovery in his memoir, “There Is No Box” advocating for recovery and supporting others facing similar challenges.

Currently, he serves as a spokesman for OpiAID, a data science company leveraging AI to tackle the opioid epidemic. Renowned for his advocacy and speaking engagements, Miliotis is considered one of the leading recovery speakers in America, embodying his mantra of changing the world one person at a time.

For more on Dino Miliotis https://bookdinonow.com/

For more on OpiAID https://opiaid.ai/

For more on Parents & Addicts In Need: If you or a loved ones need our services, to follow on social media, the Don't Hide The Scars Podcast, to get involved, or to donate ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/painnonprofit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For more on Flindt Andersen, to have him speak at your organization visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.flindtandersen.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Please share your thoughts with us and topics you'd like to see discussed on PAIN's Don't Hide The Scars Podcast by leaving a comment or emailing⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠jason@painnonprofit.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Intro 00:00

How can we help the loved ones of a a suffering addict understand addiction more? 02:17

Why is it so important for an addict to get the help they need immediately when they know they want the help? 08:43

Why is it so important for the family of a recovering addict to also seek help within the recovery community? 12:37

How is the flood of fentanyl into the US intentional and who is behind it? 24:26

What is Dino's personal experience with MAT (Medication Assisted Treatment) ? 29:00

Overdose rates may be down, but does that mean addiction rates are as well ? 39:00

What is the OpiAID technology and how is it going to revolutionize the way people recovery from addiction? 57:00

For more on Parents & Addicts In Need, to follow on social media, the Don't Hide The Scars Podcast, to get involved, or to donate https://linktr.ee/painnonprofit  

Parents & Addicts in Need’s Founder Flindt Andersen and Jason LaChance sat down with Dai Manuel. We discuss integrity and its value in mastery of self, communicating with you children about the dangers of substance use with the fentanyl crisis, steps he took for personal change in his sober journey to establish trust and connectivity with his family. As well as lots of laughs.   

Dai speaks openly about early on in his adult life, Dai started to mask his insecurities and anxieties with alcohol, and this led to dramatic mood swings and personality traits that he didn't like.  It went from a socially fun thing to actually try to escape his emotions that he couldn't deal with sober.  This started a destructive path that eventually started to get out of hand.  

One of the lowest points in his life was coming home after drinking way too much, waking up late and his wife asked him "Are you being the kind of man your daughters want to marry?"  That was the turning point for Dai, and since that day, he hasn't had a drink.  Now, Dai is living his best life.  He's found clarity, faith, and purpose in his life that he didn't have before.  He hasn't had a drink in over 11 years.  He quit his oppressive job of 17 years and now travels the world with his wife and kids.  He does his work online now and finds it makes more time for his family as well as his sanity.  

For more on Dai please visit https://www.daimanuel.com/

For more on Parents & Addicts In Need, to follow on social media, the Don't Hide The Scars Podcast, to get involved, or to donate https://linktr.ee/painnonprofit

Parents & Addicts in Need’s Founder Flindt Andersen and Jason LaChance sat down with Love and Light Founder Sandra Lee RN. Sandra went through a hard time in her life struggling with PTSD, leading to an addiction. When she stepped out of that dark time and began recovery, she found a life coaching challenge that changed her life. Sandra joined the coaching group and gained a supportive family. When Sandra regained HOPE again her love for helping people and saving lives was reignited.

Sandra shared her dream of founding a non-profit organization. Her coaching family was inspired by her journey and joined her as supporters, volunteers, co-founders, and directors of her board. They cheered Sandra on every step of the way supporting her recovery journey as well as the journey of building the organization.

Sandra began making shirts in her friend’s garage and sending them out to people that supported her. Recovery is a harrowing journey; every time Sandra wanted to quit or give up on herself, she saw a yellow shirt or her hashtag on social media. That visible support is what kept Sandra going.

That became the birth of the Light it up project which has saved multiple lives. It took Sandra around two years to build everything and put everything together for the non-profit as she was also healing and growing in her recovery journey. Sandra gained many supporters along the way, gathered partners, and kept building because she believed in the dream, and had hope and faith that one day Love and Light to the World would help people and save lives.

For more on Sandra Lee

https://www.loveandlighttotheworld.org/

https://www.sandraleespeaks.com/

For more on Parents & Addicts In Need, to follow us on social media, the Don't Hide The Scars Podcast, to get involved, or to donate https://linktr.ee/painnonprofit

Parents & Addicts in Need’s Founder Flindt Andersen and Jason LaChance sat down with Baylor University graduate and award-winning 10-year veteran of the NFL who crawled on his hands and knees into treatment for an opioid addiction that developed while treating career-related injuries Randy Grimes. Randy spent 10 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. We wanted to speak with Randy who recently published his autobiography Off Center, and is the founder of Pro Athletes in Recovery. Randy Grimes played in the era of the NFL in which he quickly learned one important truth as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ top draft pick: play through pain, or get cut.

In his professional career, football turned into a job.  The skill level increased dramatically in the NFL.  He first signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a second-round draft pick.  One of the main unspoken rules of the game was to do anything necessary to get back out on the field.  That turned into taking handfuls of pain pills at practice, eventually turning into a full-blown addiction.  He was also taking handfuls of Benzo’s at night, to make him sleep.

His prescription medication use eventually started to get out of control.  No one would question why he was slurring his speech, showing up late, and nodding off during meetings. He did his own research, and it turned out it was linked to the Benzo’s he was taking to go to sleep.  He knew he had a problem, but didn’t know how to deal with it.  His professional career ended in ’92 and was an unexpected and abrupt end to what he thought was going to be a lifetime career.  This compounded his addiction dramatically throughout the next decade.

He didn’t really fully deal with this issue until 18 years later, in 2009.  His wife moved out, his kids couldn’t stand him and was barred from seeing his newly born grandchild, because of his addiction.  He was sleeping on the floor of his vacant house with no utilities, no job, no car, no money.  This was the rock bottom that he built back up from.  He got into 90-day treatment on September 22nd, 2009.

Since then, he has focused on getting his story out there in hopes of changing other people’s lives for the better. Back when Randy was active in the NFL, there were no resources for addiction and treatment.   Because of this, Randy founded Athletes in Recovery, which focuses on other professional athletes that are struggling through the same things. Even through all the hardships, problems, and major championships during his stint in the NFL, tackling recovery was the toughest battle of his life.

For more on Randy Grimes

https://randygrimesspeaks.com/

https://proathletesinrecovery.org/

https://offcenterthebook.com/

For more on Parents & Addicts In Need, to follow on social media, the Don't Hide The Scars Podcast, to get involved, or to donate https://linktr.ee/painnonprofit

Parents & Addicts in Need’s Founder Flindt Andersen and Jason LaChance sat down with Mark Gantt. We wanted to speak with Mark about not only his substance addiction recovery but also finding Debtors Anonymous. Mark is married to former Don’t Hide The Scars guest Brianne Davis who is in recovery from Sex and Love Addict and how their recovery has helped in parenting their son & improved relationship communication.

Mark Gantt - Whether he’s working on commercial or branded films, award-winning director Mark Gantt is in the business of authentic, creative visual experiences. With a diverse, 20-year career in the industry, he has learned the company from the ground up and had the good fortune of collaborating with top directors, including Steven Soderbergh, David O. Russell, Sam Raimi, and Robert Rodriguez.

Mark is A multi-medium visual and performance artist, Mark integrates his talents as a painter, photographer, actor, and graphic artist into each production’s look and style. He utilizes technical expertise, a keen eye for detail, and a genuine love of storytelling to transform words from concepts into visual realities.

As one of the early pioneers of the digital era, Mark is best known for co-creating, writing, producing, and starring in Crackle’s groundbreaking, Streamy award-winning series, The Bannen Way. Mark’s feature directorial debut, Murder In Mexico, was based on the actual events of Bruce Beresford-Redman and premiered on Lifetime. Last year, he directed Model Citizen and The Surrogate, both premiered on Lifetime in 2020.

For two years running, Mark has created successful spots for ESPN and Nissan’s Heisman House campaign and popular and effective branded campaigns for GMC, AOL, Capital One, Kohl's, Fox, and Lifetime.

As a writer, Mark’s Audible Original True Crime books, Injustice Collector and Contra Costa, are available now. He is currently pitching two tv-series with his wife, actress, writer, and director, Brianne Davis. The two produce the popular personal journals podcast, Secret Life. They live in Los Angeles with their son Davis.

For More On Mark Gantt and the Secret Life Podcast: https://secretlifepodcast.com

Mark Gantt Website: https://markgantt.com

IG/Twitter: https://instagram.com/markgantt | https://twitter.com/markgantt

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialmarkgantt

For more on Parents & Addicts In Need, to follow on social media, the Don't Hide The Scars Podcast, to get involved, or to donate https://linktr.ee/painnonprofit

Parents & Addicts in Need’s Founder Flindt Andersen and Jason LaChance sat down with Toni Becker. We wanted to speak with Toni, who lives in South Africa if there are any similar issues that she faces in helping families with the recovering addict. This area has become a great passion for her as she is now over 10 years sober. 

Growing up, Toni Becker felt intimidated by her family. They were all so beautiful, and Toni felt the pressure to live up to those standards. She always felt like the black sheep & this led to her body dysmorphia & eating disorders early on in her life.

Things started getting out of control in high school, where she felt pressured by her classmates and the media for encouraging the super-thin supermodel look of the early 2000s. She was young & seeking attention, and this naivety fueled her desire to look attractive at all costs. She thought that she could control it, but quickly she realized she couldn't & needed help.

In college, she started experimenting with meth and a drug called "cat" After trying to run her friends over & ending up on a golf course, she went into rehab for the first time. She thought she had it handled, but her father knew she wouldn't commit. He sent her to a real rehab, where she couldn't leave, and finally accepted it and got some help. She lived in a halfway house, and a sober living facility for 2 years, and this really helped her stay sober. Now, she's become a sponsor herself & is taking it one day at a time, wanting to share her story to help others.

She realized one day while getting coffee with her friends, "Why don't we start a YouTube channel & share our stories?" And since then, she has been on a mission to destigmatize anorexia, body dysmorphia, bulimia & all the disorders associated with it. She wants to start a discussion & get help for whoever may need it.

For more on Toni Becker visit

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Toniquinne

LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/toniquinne

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toniquinne/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@toniquinne

For more on Parents & Addicts In Need, to follow on social media, the Don't Hide The Scars Podcast, to get involved, or donate https://linktr.ee/painnonprofit

Parents & Addicts in Need’s Founder Flindt Andersen and Jason LaChance sat down with Skinny Vinny Imperati. Known for his work on America's Got Talent, working with Steve-O of Jackass Fame, Our Show, Your Stunts with Zackass and many other great projects.

Skinny Vinny Imperati opens up about his traumatic childhood, which began with losing his father, who was hit and killed on his motorcycle. His relationship with his mother who struggled with addiction and still uses methadone. As well as his family history of addiction. 

Skinny Vinny started using marijuana and eventually sold it to generate an income. Finally, he began to go down a dark road that led him to use the gambit of substances. After a dentist visit that caused a significant amount of pain, a friend gave him his first opioid.  Vinny was hooked and that took him from prescription medication to snorting heroin and quickly moved to shooting up heroin.  During one of his lowest points of addiction, Vinny shares how he was homeless and living in a Porta-Potty for over two years. During times of hard weather, he would use the water and snow that accumulated below the Porta-Potty to mix with his heroin so that he could shoot up.

Vinny would eventually hit his rock bottom and seek the help he needed for sobriety to stick finally. After spending time in a sober living facility, Vinny went on to be in charge of the facility that he lived in. However, he knew he needed to pursue his passion for videography. Vinny has gone on to work and developed close friendships with the likes of Steve-O, Bam Margera, Dalton Dern, Zackass, and many others from the skate community. Now a champion for sobriety and substance abuse prevention, this is Skinny Vinny Imperati.

For more on Skinny Vinny and all of his projects including Your Pranks, Our Show: 

https://www.instagram.com/skinnyvinny/  

https://twitter.com/imperativinny

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Your+Pranks%2C+Our+Show

For more on Parents & Addicts In Need, to follow on social media, the Don't Hide The Scars Podcast, to get involved and donate https://linktr.ee/painnonprofit

Parents & Addicts in Need’s Founder Flindt Andersen and Jason LaChance sat down with Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp and Fresno Police Officer Dino Cee Head of F.O.R.T Fentanyl Overdose Response Team 

We here at PAIN wanted to get first-hand knowledge from those in law enforcement on the most significant challenges they're with not only the Fentanyl Crisis in the Central Valley but what actions are being taken to raise awareness and educate the general public.

Lisa Smittcamp brought fantastic insight and perspective on what is actually occurring with laws preventing prosecution of drug dealers as well as her perspective on things we can do in our own homes and communities to lessen the effects of these perpetrators that target our youth with illegal substances. 

Dino Cee of the Fresno Police Department F.O.R.T (Fentanyl Overdose Resolution Team) division.  Dino shares how Fresno has become the nationwide model for tackling this crisis and that there is more to come. As he is traveling around the country sharing his knowledge and empowering other law enforcement officers with tactics to combat the deadly impact that Fentynal is having on the United States Of America.