Scott doesn’t call himself an addiction coach; he is a crisis coach. This phrasing is intentional. After all, most people don’t turn to addiction without first facing a mental health crisis. Some professions cause more mental strain than others. We’ve talked about first responders, but it’s been a while since we’ve discussed mental health in…
The crisis that grips our nation is killing almost 300 a day and is the leading cause of death for adults between 18-45. Scott frequently appears in the media to discuss the dangers of fentanyl, the symptoms of opioid use, and most importantly: what to do if someone you love is at risk. Watch Scott…
There is a big difference between legalizing marijuana and decriminalizing marijuana. People who smoke weed probably shouldn’t be sitting in jail for years. However, its use should not be encouraged. While weed is less harmful than opioids and alcohol, it is not harmless. It contains THC, which causes short-term and long-term side effects. Some short-term…
In May 2018, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released a report concerning mental health problems and substance use disorder in first responders. The report showed that first responders are at a much higher risk than most of the population to suffer from mental health issues—including substance use disorder (SUD). Take a…
The holidays are a source of joy for many people. For others, they are a reminder of everything they don’t have – material and otherwise. The result is a higher rate of stress, depression, and relapse. In a 2014 poll, the National Alliance on Mental Illness found that 64% of people struggling with mental health…
During Scott’s October 17th KUSI interview, journalist Elizabeth Alvarez mentions that we sometimes get too caught up in thinking of veterans as heroes. We forget that they are people, too—people who have experienced unimaginable trauma. In fact, they do it for the rest of us so that we never have to go through it. Make…
The desire to fit in is part of the human condition. We think of it as a tween and teen problem, but even adults struggle to find their place. Once we find where we fit, we get comfortable and want to stay there—even if it means buying things we can’t afford and trying things we…
As Scott mentions in his book, The Opioid Epidemic, overdoses claim more than 200 lives every day. That’s the equivalent of a plane crashing every day and killing everyone on board. In 2020, that number rose to 250. Many substance abusers use their substance of choice to cope with stress and personal problems, and the…
After months of hearing about fatal overdoses soaring to record heights, it can be very discouraging. Well, this Saturday, October 23rd is “National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.” We’ll feel better by taking this significant and symbolic action. Why Do We Do “Take Back Day?” Do you think that just because you don’t have drugs…
Kenan Thomas is a high school student and dedicated Girl Scout. She is also a huge proponent of safe drug disposal. In May 2021, Scott had the opportunity to interview Kenan about her reasons for wanting to end the opioid epidemic. Like everyone else in San Diego, she’d been watching the number of opioid overdoses…