What happens when a veteran police commander discovers both his sons are addicted to heroin? Kim Humphrey, Executive Director of Parents of Addicted Loved Ones (PAL), takes us on a deeply personal journey through the darkest valleys of family addiction and into the light of recovery and hope.

Despite three decades in law enforcement, Kim never saw addiction coming to his own home. When a concerned parent called to warn that his teenage son might overdose, Kim and his wife initially denied the possibility. "You called the wrong house," his wife insisted. This moment began a decade-long nightmare of treatments, relapses, homelessness, and criminal charges that nearly destroyed their family.

Through raw, honest storytelling, Kim reveals how addiction shatters the foundations of family life and how the stigma surrounding substance use disorders often leaves parents isolated and blamed. "We started thinking we must be awful parents," he shares, highlighting how society misunderstands addiction as purely a moral failing rather than a complex brain disorder.

The conversation explores how PAL's unique approach combines education with peer support, helping parents distinguish between healthy support and unhealthy enabling. Kim explains the organization's remarkable growth from a local Phoenix support group to a national network operating in all 50 states and nine countries, serving families dealing with everything from marijuana and alcohol to fentanyl and other synthetic drugs.

Perhaps most powerfully, Kim offers genuine hope. His sons, once at death's door, have maintained sobriety for over a decade. One now works full-time helping others overcome addiction, and Kim proudly anticipates his younger son's upcoming wedding. "I never thought they would even survive," he reflects. "Not everybody's story ends that way, but lots of them do. There is hope and there is a way out."

If you're struggling with a loved one's addiction or know someone who is, visit palgrouporg to find support meetings, resources, and a community that understands the journey ahead.

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America stands at a crossroads in our battle against addiction, facing the deadliest drug crisis in our nation’s history. With over 100,000 overdose deaths annually, the devastation is undeniable—but so are the solutions. In this special episode, you’ll get an exclusive first look into Kevin’s groundbreaking new book, One Nation Under the Influence.

Kevin reveals how proven prevention strategies could slash regular drug use by two-thirds and highlights innovative criminal justice programs like Hawaii’s Project HOPE, which has successfully reduced methamphetamine use by 70%. He explores lessons from America’s dramatic reduction in cigarette smoking and Portugal’s compassionate yet accountable drug policy, illustrating how strategic public policies, social shifts, and accountability can transform addiction outcomes.

This episode tackles the harmful false dichotomies holding back progress—treatment vs. harm reduction, criminalization vs. legalization, moral failing vs. medical condition—and demonstrates how embracing comprehensive, evidence-based strategies can create real change. The solutions exist; what’s needed now is the courage to implement them. Join us for this critical conversation about how America can finally turn the tide against addiction.

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https://thedrugreport.org/

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Drug policy in America is at a critical inflection point. Following a period dominated by extreme harm reduction approaches, we're witnessing a significant shift back toward accountability-based treatment models. This transformation comes as cities like San Francisco and states like Oregon roll back failed experiments that provided tools for addiction without addressing its root causes.

Dr. Kevin Sabet joins us fresh from United Nations meetings in Vienna, where American representation was noticeably diminished – a symptom of the current administration's still-developing drug policy strategy. Together, we analyze Dr. Nora Volkow's recent Stat News interview, where the longtime NIDA Director expressed skepticism about universalizing 12-step approaches despite compelling research supporting their effectiveness. As Sabet points out, studies from leading institutions demonstrate that 12-step programs often outperform traditional psychotherapy while lowering healthcare costs.

The encouraging decline in opioid overdose deaths presents a complex puzzle we attempt to unravel. Is it increased naloxone availability? Greater public awareness of fentanyl dangers? The tragic reality that many vulnerable users have already died? The answer likely combines these factors, highlighting why comprehensive approaches that blend harm reduction tools with accountability-focused recovery pathways remain essential. As America recalibrates its drug policy strategy, this conversation offers crucial context for understanding what works, what doesn't, and why the pendulum is swinging back toward treatment models that emphasize personal responsibility alongside compassionate care.

Follow the work of SAM and FDPS below:

https://learnaboutsam.org/
https://gooddrugpolicy.org/
https://thedrugreport.org/

On X:
https://twitter.com/learnaboutsam
https://twitter.com/GoodDrugPolicy
https://twitter.com/KevinSabet
https://twitter.com/LukeNiforatos

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/learnaboutsam