Prevention Connection

In this episode, Adam Howarth, Community and Veteran Advocate, talks with us about the important topic of suicide prevention and how we can all help another person in need. Specific community resources in Jefferson County and initiatives to prevent suicides are mentioned.

Lisa Dunham, LCSW at Jefferson County Human Services tells us about the study of ACEs and their relationship to a variety of risk factors that can lead to disease and poor health outcomes. She also tells us how to find out about our own ACE score, what we can do to build resiliency, and how we can build a stronger community with our knowledge about ACEs.

In this episode, we talked with Officer Gallegos of the City of Watertown Police Department about the regulatory challenges related to Delta-8 THC and the potential dangers of using products containing them.

In this episode, we talk to Maureen Busalacchi, the Director of the Wisconsin Alcohol Policy Project. She talked about some of the trends we are seeing in alcohol use during the pandemic, the links between alcohol and cancer, and the impacts of alcohol on youth.

In this episode, we talk about two common medications used to treat opioid use disorder: buprenorphine and naltrexone. We will discuss how they work, who can benefit from taking them, and any potential risks associated with them. Neither the host nor guest are associated with any drug company. This podcast is for informational purposes only.

In our latest episode, we spoke to K9 handler Deputy Greg Jansen about his work with his K9 partner, Gader, and how they work together to keep the community safe.

In this episode we talk to Kimberly Hill and Mary Boesel-Rauwolf who are parents of children who struggled with a substance use disorder. As people with lived experience, they help other parents who are in the same situation and share resources that will help parents.

Sue Madecky is founder of the Dave Gallup Foundation which provides support services to individuals in recovery. The organization engages in advocacy efforts to educate the public about addiction and recovery. She also runs a women-supported sober living home in Fort Atkinson. As a person with 28 years of recovery and experience with women in recovery, Sue shares "sober strategies" that can help people stay on their recovery path during the holidays.

Emily, a Peer Support Specialist for NAMI Southeast Wisconsin, talks about her struggles with alcohol and drug use and what has worked for her to stay on the recovery path. She provides support to those in recovery and shares about local recovery-friendly activities and meetings.

On this episode, we talk to Monica Hall, District Attorney for Jefferson County about the Good Samaritan overdose law, naloxone (Narcan) use in the community, fentanyl test strips, diversion programs, and information about treatment and self-help groups.

Anthony Harris is the Youth Harms Reduction Coordinator at Diverse and Resilient, a public health organization that focuses on reducing health disparities for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) people. This is a great podcast if you want to learn more about how drinking affects LGBTQ communities and the messages that can resonate with that audience and with all youth, in general.

In this podcast episode, Caitlin McAleavey, the Coordinator of the Safe Drug Disposal Program in Jefferson County talks about why it's important to dispose of medications and how to do it properly. 

Alicia Leslie is the Behavioral Health Manager at Fort Healthcare. In this podcast, she talks about ways that parents and caregivers can recognize and respond to issues around their child's mental health. She also shares strategies that she would offer in a therapy session and mental health resources that are available to everyone in the community.

"Small Talks" is Wisconsin's NEW Campaign to Prevent Underage Drinking. Allison Weber of the WI Department of Health Services and Josh Skowron of KW2 will talk about the "Small Talks" that parents can have with their children to make conversations about alcohol a little easier. 

The Oxford House is a concept in recovery from alcohol and drug addiction. For a person who needs or wants to stop using alcohol and other drugs, the Oxford House can provide a safe home, friendships, and support. Ryan Clevenger from Episode #1 joins us again to answer some commonly asked questions about the Oxford House and how to find a home in Wisconsin.

Michelle shares her story about alcohol and drug use and the ultimatum that made her decide that she needed to change her life. She also talks about how other addictive behaviors have played a role in her life and her motivation for staying sober. Today, she enjoys a life with her son, family, and dogs, and she can't imagine it any other way.

Peter shares his story about alcohol use and the moment it became something he could not control. He talks about his recovery process and what he has learned along the way in the hopes that someone else will find inspiration and know that recovery is within reach.

Ryan Clevenger is the Wisconsin Outreach Coordinator for Oxford House.  He is soon to become a WI Peer support Specialist and is working towards becoming a National Peer Support Specialist and also, studying to becoming an addiction counselor. Ryan is in his 3rd year of sobriety, and in this podcast, he tells us about his story -  and where he is today.