Gretchen Bergman's guest appearances

Gretchen Bergman

Sober Conversations

Drugs and Stuff: A Podcast from the Drug Policy Alliance

Narcotica Podcast 

George Bryant

Mark Sisson

Chris Harrison

John Kelly

Ben Westhoff

Marvin Washington

Maia Szalavitz

Joe Schrank

Tripp Lanier

Ro Khanna

Joe Rubin

Kellyanne Conway

Bill White

Troy Casey

Tony Newman

OwlTail

The War on (People who Use) Drugs has claimed over a million victims in the last two decades, every fatal overdose representing deep policy failures that attempt in vain to control normal human behavior: self-medicating and inducing euphoria. None of this wonky policy bullshit matters much when you’re the parent of a child who dies from an overdose. Few things in life are as devastating as losing your kid. It stirs up some of the deepest, darkest emotions humans are capable of and when drugs are involved, that typically turns into a thirst for retribution. That can mean demanding stricter penalties for drug use, like so-called drug homicide laws, or calls for increased police surveillance. But we have over a century of data proving that prohibition doesn’t work. More cops, more draconian drug laws — it all just backfires. We have more police, more prisons and yet more drug overdose deaths than ever before. That’s why it’s such a breath of fresh air when parents whose children struggle with drug use or addiction advocate for harm reduction and sensible drug policy. Narcotica co-host Troy Farah spoke with Gretchen Burns Bergman, whose two grown sons who are in long-term recovery from heroin addiction, and Tamara Olt, M.D., who lost her 16-year-old son Joshua to an accidental heroin overdose in 2012. Both strongly advocate for a more rational approach to how we treat substance use in the U.S. They discuss everything from safe supply, to the myths of “tough love” and “enabling” to buprenorphine access to the ridiculous (but trending) idea that fentanyl is a weapon of mass destruction. This interview, which was conducted last November, was also featured in Salon. Read Tamara’s essay in Elle here: https://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/a29036663/syringe-exchange-grief-recovery/ Lear more about GRASP (Grief Recovery After Substance Passing) here: https://grasphelp.org/ Learn more about A New PATH (Parents for Addiction Treatment and Healing), a non-profit organization that works to reduce the stigma associated with substance use disorders through education and compassionate support at https://www.anewpath.org/ Learn more about Moms United at: https://www.momsunited.net/ Also, Narcomedia is excited to announce a new project, all from the perspective of people who use drugs: Naturally Noncompliant is a new podcast all about people who use methadone. Listen to the first episode here or on iTunes or Spotify: https://rephonic.com/podcasts/naturally-noncompliant If you liked this episode, here are others you might enjoy: Episode 62: Policing Pleasure — The Intersection of Sex Work and Drug Use with Tamika Spellman and Caty Simon Episode 56: Drug Use During Disaster with Aaron Ferguson Episode 67: Methadone in the Time of Covid with Danielle Russell Follow Narcotica on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and support us on Patreon. We just opened a shop where you can order Narcotica merch: narcocast.myshopify.com Help keep this podcast ad-free! Your support is appreciated! We’re on Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher and more. Tell your friends about us! Rate us! And thanks for your support! Producers: Christopher Moraff, Troy Farah, Zachary Siegel, Aaron Ferguson Music: Glass Boy / Nomad1 Image: Image via The Noun Project // edit: Troy Farah Intro voice: Jenny Schaye The post Episode 83: The Parents Who Oppose The War on Drugs with Tamara Olt and Gretchen Bergman appeared first on Narcotica.

The War on (People who Use) Drugs has claimed over a million victims in the last two decades, every fatal overdose representing deep policy failures that attempt in vain to control normal human behavior: self-medicating and inducing euphoria. None of this wonky policy bullshit matters much when you’re the parent of a child who dies from an overdose. Few things in life are as devastating as losing your kid. It stirs up some of the deepest, darkest emotions humans are capable of and when drugs are involved, that typically turns into a thirst for retribution. That can mean demanding stricter penalties for drug use, like so-called <a href="https://narcocast.com/episode-45-overdose-is-tragic-not-murder/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">drug homicide laws</a>, or calls for <a href="https://narcocast.com/episode-75-copaganda-the-favorite-tool-of-drug-warriors-with-alec-karakatsanis/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">increased police surveillance</a>. But we have over a century of data proving that prohibition doesn’t work. More cops, more draconian drug laws — it all just backfires. We have more police, more prisons and yet more drug overdose deaths than ever before. That’s why it’s such a breath of fresh air when parents whose children struggle with drug use or addiction advocate for harm reduction and sensible drug policy. Narcotica co-host Troy Farah spoke with Gretchen Burns Bergman, whose two grown sons who are in long-term recovery from heroin addiction, and Tamara Olt, M.D., who lost her 16-year-old son Joshua to an accidental heroin overdose in 2012. Both strongly advocate for a more rational approach to how we treat substance use in the U.S. They discuss everything from safe supply, to the myths of “tough love” and “enabling” to buprenorphine access to the ridiculous (but trending) idea that fentanyl is a weapon of mass destruction. This interview, which was conducted last November, was also <a href="https://www.salon.com/2022/11/26/their-children-struggled-with-addiction-now-theyre-fighting-against-the-on/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">featured in Salon</a>. Read Tamara’s essay in Elle here: <a href="https://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/a29036663/syringe-exchange-grief-recovery/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/a29036663/syringe-exchange-grief-recovery/</a> Lear more about GRASP (Grief Recovery After Substance Passing) here: <a href="https://grasphelp.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://grasphelp.org/</a> Learn more about A New PATH (Parents for Addiction Treatment and Healing), a non-profit organization that works to reduce the stigma associated with substance use disorders through education and compassionate support at <a href="https://www.anewpath.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.anewpath.org/</a> Learn more about Moms United at: <a href="https://www.momsunited.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.momsunited.net/</a> Also, Narcomedia is excited to announce a new project, all from the perspective of people who use drugs: Naturally Noncompliant is a new podcast all about people who use methadone. Listen to the first episode here or on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/naturally-noncompliant/id1685458957" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a> or <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0tDQN6H8fSQFSRNDNvcCEs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Spotify</a>: <a href="https://rephonic.com/podcasts/naturally-noncompliant" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://rephonic.com/podcasts/naturally-noncompliant</a> If you liked this episode, here are others you might enjoy: <a href="https://narcocast.com/episode-62-policing-pleasure-the-intersection-of-sex-work-and-drug-use/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Episode 62: Policing Pleasure — The Intersection of Sex Work and Drug Use with Tamika Spellman and Caty Simon</a> <a href="https://narcocast.com/episode-56-drug-use-during-disaster-with-aaron-ferguson/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Episode 56: Drug Use During Disaster with Aaron Ferguson</a> <a href="https://narcocast.com/episode-67-methadone-in-the-time-of-covid-with-danielle-russell/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Episode 67: Methadone in the Time of Covid with Danielle Russell</a> Follow Narcotica on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/narcocast/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Instagram</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Narcoticapodcast" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"> Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Narcocast" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Twitter</a>,<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPxq9dyTXukSFgdRrYMaxww/featured" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"> YouTube</a> and support us on<a href="https://www.patreon.com/Narcotica" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Patreon</a>. We just opened a shop where you can order Narcotica merch: <a href="https://narcocast.myshopify.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">narcocast.myshopify.com</a> Help keep this podcast ad-free! Your support is appreciated! We’re on<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1JvcLwLoCBGIXx2vamLWa5" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"> Spotify</a>,<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/narcotica-podcast/id1390336378" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"> iTunes</a>, Stitcher and more. Tell your friends about us! Rate us! And thanks for your support! Producers: Christopher Moraff, Troy Farah, Zachary Siegel, Aaron Ferguson Music: Glass Boy / Nomad1 Image: Image via <a href="https://thenounproject.com/icon/addiction-1000163/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Noun Project</a> // edit: Troy Farah Intro voice: Jenny Schaye The post <a href="https://narcocast.com/episode-83-the-parents-who-oppose-the-war-on-drugs-with-tamara-olt-and-gretchen-bergman/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Episode 83: The Parents Who Oppose The War on Drugs with Tamara Olt and Gretchen Bergman</a> appeared first on <a href="https://narcocast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Narcotica</a>.

Episode 83: The Parents Who Oppose The War on Drugs with Tamara Olt and Gretchen Bergman

Herby interviews Gretchen Bergman of A New PATH. Gretchen discusses the need for a more awareness about the destructive aspects of addiction incarceration. Bergman is also the lead organizer of Moms United to End the War on Drugs campaign. She relays first hand the destructive fallout from drug related incarcerations and largely missing harm reduction programs that can further help save lives. Gretchen has harnessed the power of personal empathy, maternal instinct, public speaking and an impressive business/entrepreneurial skill set to help with this number 1 public health issue: Addiction. Listen in and help Gretchen Bergman spread the word about stopping the war on drugs and addiction incarceration!

Herby interviews Gretchen Bergman of <a href="http://www.anewpathsite.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A New PATH</a>. Gretchen discusses the need for a more awareness about the destructive aspects of addiction incarceration. Bergman is also the lead organizer of <a href="http://www.momsunited.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Moms United</a> to End the War on Drugs campaign. She relays first hand the destructive fallout from drug related incarcerations and largely missing harm reduction programs that can further help save lives. Gretchen has harnessed the power of personal empathy, maternal instinct, public speaking and an impressive business/entrepreneurial skill set to help with this number 1 public health issue: Addiction. Listen in and help Gretchen Bergman spread the word about stopping the war on drugs and addiction incarceration!

Episode 8: Addiction Incarceration with Gretchen Bergman

Gretchen Bergman, executive director of A New Path, joined Drugs and Stuff recently to share why her work around addiction and treatment is intimately personal. She shares her personal story and shows the power of a mother’s love. Bergman served as state chair for California’s Proposition 36, which mandated treatment instead of incarceration for nonviolent drug offenders.  A native of San Diego, she is owner/director of Gretchen Productions, a Fashion Show Production Company started in 1979. Her articles on treatment vs. incarceration have been published nationwide, and she has spoken before countless audiences on the topic of therapeutic justice for substance abusers.  She has two grown sons who have struggled with addictive illness.

Gretchen Bergman, executive director of <a href="https://www.anewpath.org/who-we-are" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">A New Path</a>, joined Drugs and Stuff recently to share why her work around addiction and treatment is intimately personal. She shares her personal story and shows the power of a mother’s love. Bergman served as state chair for California’s Proposition 36, which mandated treatment instead of incarceration for nonviolent drug offenders.  A native of San Diego, she is owner/director of Gretchen Productions, a Fashion Show Production Company started in 1979. Her articles on treatment vs. incarceration have been published nationwide, and she has spoken before countless audiences on the topic of therapeutic justice for substance abusers.  She has two grown sons who have struggled with addictive illness.

Episode 23: Gretchen Bergman – a mother’s story of healing and surviving her sons’ struggles with addiction