40 Years in Behavioral Health: Cannabis Psychosis, Direct Crisis Care, & Overcoming Red Tape with Klay Weaver

In this episode of Finding New Waters, hosts B.Reeves and Justin McClendon sit down with Klay Weaver, CEO of LifeSkills. With nearly 40 years of experience in behavioral health, Klay shares insights on expanding access to care, bypassing organizational red tape during acute mental health crises, and the crucial differences between primary addiction and primary psychiatric treatment.Klay also dives deep into a massive national trend mental health professionals are witnessing: a significant uptick in cannabis-induced psychosis among young adults. He breaks down how modern-day marijuana interacts with underlying psychiatric vulnerabilities, its intersection with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and why clinical reality paints a very different picture than public perception.TIMESTAMPS[01:00:03] - The Importance of Direct Access to Care in Behavioral Health[01:02:29] - LifeSkills Regional Footprint and Facilities in South Florida[01:04:01] - The Story and Metaphor Behind "Finding New Waters"[01:06:31] - From Teaching Philosophy to 40 Years in Group Homes and Care[01:11:46] - The Evolution of LifeSkills and Purchasing Eric Clapton's Sanctuary Homes[01:14:11] - Exposing the History of South Florida's Care Communities[01:24:08] - Overcoming Clinical Stigma and Red Tape for Acute Patient Admissions[01:28:52] - The Massive Uptick in Cannabis Induced Psychosis and Marijuana Misconceptions[01:31:03] - Treating Marijuana Abuse and Psychiatric Conditions on the Autism Spectrum[01:34:43] - The Chronic Sub-Acute, Residential, and Outpatient Models at LifeSkills[01:41:49] - Post-COVID Expansion of Mental Health Services NationwideNOTABLE QUOTES* "In our smaller private systems, interesting access to care is still a critical thing, but from a different angle, you get a very needing a lot of very fast moving work." - Klay Weaver* "The young adults in today's world think just because something's legal, that it's okay. Well, it may be legal, but medically it is not your friend." - Klay Weaver* "What we're seeing on the mental health side is an overabundance of individuals coming into our facilities with cannabis-induced psychosis." - Klay Weaver* "It triggers an underlying psychiatric issue, and then the individual can't pull themselves out of it. They become psychotic, paranoid, hallucinatory, and delusional." - Klay Weaver* "I like finding answers and not having discussions." - Klay Weaver* "When you say you're doing behavior against vulnerable people, like, you know, that just makes you bristle all over. That is the wrong population." - Klay WeaverLINKS & RESOURCES*Lifeskills South Florida Official Website: http://www.lifeskillssouthflorida.comDONATION / SUPPORTNot mentioned in transcript.CALL TO ACTIONIf you or a loved one are searching for new paths to recovery, remember to subscribe to Finding New Waters. Leave a comment below with your thoughts on today's episode, and like this video to help spread these critical mental health insights to those who need them most.#MentalHealth #BehavioralHealth #FindingNewWaters #NewWatersRecovery #LifeSkills #CannabisInducedPsychosis #PsychiatricCare #TraumaRecovery #SoberLiving #DelrayBeach #CrisisIntervention🎙️ Watch & ListenWebsite: www.findingnewwaters.comSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5GjwApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXwYouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn