Understandably, discussions about problematic alcohol use have taken a backseat as the opioid overdose crisis made headlines several years ago and continues to impact our country in profound ways. That said, many people don't realize just how common alcohol use disorders are, and considering the fact that there are 7 times more people affected by alcohol use disorders than opioid use disorders, drinking is the "unofficial" public health crisis that needs both attention and innovative solutions. In this episode I discuss our understanding of alcohol misuse and addiction, how much alcohol is "too much," and why women are especially vulnerable to developing problematic alcohol use and alcohol-related health problems.

Can the experience of stigma be tied to adverse outcomes - including mortality - for people who are fighting a chronic illness?

Gary Mendell, Founder and CEO of Shatterproof, shares his personal story about the loss of his son, Brian, who suffered from mental health difficulties and addiction. The genesis of Shatterproof was the outcome of Gary's quest to make sense of the unfathomable.

Join me in this heartfelt and informative discussion with Gary about how he came to understand stigma as the core struggle that led to Brian's death, how this informed the mission of Shatterproof, and what Gary and his team are doing to change the public's attitudes and understanding of addiction as a treatable chronic illness.

#endthestigma #addictionrecovery #opioidcrisis #mentalhealthmatters