John Puls on Addiction, Mental Health, and Expert Witnessing: From Therapy to Testimony

Find an Expert Witness | Become an Expert Witness In this episode of On the Stand, host Ashish sits down with John Puls, a licensed clinical social worker, addiction specialist, and expert witness. John shares his unique insights into the challenges of mental health and addiction treatment, and his experiences testifying in high-profile court cases.   Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode: The role of the Marchman Act in addiction treatment and its legal implications. Addressing the stigma around addiction as a mental illness. The fentanyl crisis and its devastating impact on communities. What it’s like to prepare for depositions and cross-examinations as an expert witness. How technology is reshaping addiction recovery and therapy. Advice for medical professionals looking to get started in expert witness work. About John Puls John brings over a decade of experience in addiction treatment, clinical practice, and teaching at Florida Atlantic University. As the founder of Puls Therapeutic Solutions, he’s dedicated to helping those facing the toughest challenges in mental health.   John's Website: https://full-life-comprehensive-care.com/ John's Contact: (708) 655-1863 | [email protected]   Chapters: 00:00 - IntroductionMeet our guest, John Puls, and explore his incredible journey. 00:19 - John Puls: Addiction Specialist and Expert Witness Overview of John's credentials and his impact in mental health. 01:02 - Topics for Today Key discussions: courtroom stories, mental health challenges, and addiction. 04:46 - Understanding the Marchman Act The Florida law for involuntary commitment in substance use cases. 09:35 - Breaking the Stigma of Addiction Why addiction is not a moral failing but a severe mental illness. 12:00 - The Fentanyl Crisis: A Growing Epidemic Insights into the rise of fentanyl-related overdoses. 15:40 - The Deposition Process Explained How depositions work and John’s experiences with cross-examinations. 35:07 - The Role of AI in Therapy and Expert Witness Work Exploring the potential and limitations of AI in these fields. 39:45 - Innovations in Addiction Recovery How technology and apps are reshaping recovery management. 43:00 - Advice for Aspiring Expert Witnesses Tips for medical professionals looking to get started as expert witnesses. #MentalHealth #AddictionRecovery #ExpertWitness #FentanylCrisis #OnTheStandPodcast #AddictionExpertWitness