Addiction, Policy & Why the System's Broken - Blaise Markovich

Business and psychology researcher Blaise Markovich joins Forrest to talk addiction, public policy, mental health, harm reduction, and the systems that fail people long before they "hit bottom." They get into bad policy, the war on drugs mindset, privatized rehab, insurance nightmares, decriminalization, GLP-1 medications, and why treatment access depends more on politics and profit than human need. They also dive into dopamine, gambling, gaming addiction, brain science, deep-brain stimulation, future tech, self-control, trauma, and how the human brain is being rewired by phones, apps, and modern life. It's a raw, thoughtful conversation about the forces shaping addiction today — and what real support could actually look like. 🎧 If you've ever battled addiction, loved someone who's struggling, or just wondered why the system feels impossible, this episode is for you. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on addiction, recovery, mental health, and comedy. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 11:19 The State of Mental Health and Addiction Policy 19:49 Decriminalization and Legalization of Drugs 30:53 Future Policy Changes for Addiction Support 36:06 The Struggle of Long-Term Thinking in Addiction 38:37 Exploring GLP-1 and Its Impact on Addiction 44:04 Deep Brain Stimulation: A New Frontier in Treatment 49:21 The Future of Addiction Treatment and Aftercare 56:56 Finding What Works: Personalizing Recovery 58:12 The Value of Life Experience in Giving Advice 59:26 Crisis Support and Resources 01:00:46 Outro