From Prevention to Recovery with Marcel Gemme

Rebecca Mitchell is the Chief Advancement Officer at Adult and Teen Challenge USA — and a graduate of the very program she now helps lead. Before her national role, she spent over a decade running women's centers and served as director of the Walter Hoving Home in Garrison, New York.In this episode, Marcel and Rebecca discuss what makes Teen Challenge different from conventional treatment, why long-term residential programs outperform short-term options, and how the program has adapted to the fentanyl era. Rebecca also shares her own recovery story and explains what families should know before enrolling a loved one.Topics covered:- Rebecca's personal journey from addiction to 16+ years in recovery ministry- How Teen Challenge has evolved since 1958 to meet today's drug landscape- What a typical day looks like inside the program- Why spiritual transformation is central to lasting recovery- Whether non-Christians can enroll (and why they often succeed faster)- How Teen Challenge responds to critics of faith-based treatment- The science behind long-term residential care- Aftercare, community support, and what happens after graduation- Admission process, costs, and how to find a program near youTeen Challenge operates more than 210 centers across the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico, with over 1,000 locations worldwide through its international sister organizations.Find a Teen Challenge program: teenchallengeusa.orgCall: 855-END-ADDICTIONFrom Prevention to Recovery is hosted by Marcel Gemme — advocate and founder of SUPE (Substance Use Prevention Education), a nonprofit delivering evidence-based prevention education globally.

Dr. Susan Murphy, President of the West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute, and Joe Murphy, inventor of the ONEbox, join Marcel Gemme to share how a single weekend of tinkering with a glue gun and a soldering iron became a life-saving kit now deployed in all 50 states.West Virginia has been the ground zero of the opioid crisis for decades. Rather than waiting for the system to catch up, Susan and Joe built something different — a weatherproof purple box containing naloxone PPE kits and built-in video training in both English and Spanish. No QR code required. No cell signal needed. Just pull the tab, follow Jan Rader's instructions, and save a life.In this episode:- How Susan went from higher education to running a syringe service program — and why she never left- How Joe witnessed an overdose of a prominent community member and spent the next 20 years trying to prevent the next one- What is actually inside the ONEbox, and why every design decision was about eliminating failure points- The Be The One campus initiative and how it reached all 29 West Virginia college campuses- How Nashville law enforcement drove 15 confirmed reversals on a single strip of Broadway- Why universities are now being sued for NOT having naloxone — and what Good Samaritan laws actually cover- The harm reduction debate and where Susan and Joe stand- What it takes to scale from 100 boxes to 35,000 — and what comes nextWhether you are a parent, employer, school administrator, or community leader, this episode will show you that naloxone belongs in your building, your car, and your home.Learn more about the ONEbox and the Drug Intervention Institute: https://www.wvdii.org/oneboxFrom Prevention to Recovery with Marcel Gemme covers the full spectrum of substance use — from prevention education to treatment and long-term recovery. New episodes every week.Connect with Marcel:Website: https://www.addicted.org/podcastSUPE: https://www.addicted.org/supe/

Susan Chubbs spent nine years working inside a residential rehab facility before moving into private consulting and online counseling. With over 33 years of personal recovery, she now helps Canadians navigate their treatment options while integrating natural health into her approach to healing.In this conversation with Marcel Gemme, Susan shares what recovery really looks like from the inside out — the daily realities of working in a treatment center, the challenges of co-ed programs, and why she believes healing the body through vitamin therapy and natural approaches is often what makes recovery stick.Susan and Marcel also dig into the state of addiction treatment in Canada, the gap between public and private options, and the very real danger of families waiting too long to act. Whether you're a professional, a family member, or someone thinking about getting help, this episode is packed with practical, straight-talking insight.In this episode:What 9 years inside a rehab facility taught Susan about real recoveryWhy co-ed treatment programs come with unique risksHow vitamin therapy supports physical healing in early sobrietyThe biggest misconceptions about rehab — cost, control, and success ratesPublic vs. private treatment in Canada: access, wait times, and quality of careWhy "rock bottom" is a dangerous idea — and what families should do insteadHow to talk to a loved one who is struggling (the exact language that works)Short-term vs. long-term treatment: what length is actually enough?What it takes to build a recovery that lasts beyond the programConnect with Susan Chubbs: Website: www.drugaddiction.ca Phone: 1-888-488-8434From Prevention to Recovery with Marcel Gemme brings together professionals, advocates, and people with lived experience from across the addiction and recovery world. New episodes are released biweekly.

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Pastor Carlos Rivera, Executive Director of New Life For Adults and Youth in Richmond, Virginia. With over 38 years of experience in faith-based addiction recovery, Pastor Carlos shares his own journey from addiction to purpose and how his program has transformed over 25,000 lives since 1971.We discuss:The power of long-term residential treatment (9-12 months vs. 30-day programs)How faith integrates with evidence-based clinical practicesThe challenges of treating fentanyl and synthetic drug addictionWhy families are often part of the problem AND the solutionVocational training and workforce development for sustainable recoveryThe truth about enabling vs. tough loveBreaking free from guilt and manipulation in family dynamicsPastor Carlos runs a holistic program that addresses spiritual, mental, AND physical health - including fitness training, job placement (100% employment rate!), and family counseling. Their program accepts Medicaid and helps people from all backgrounds recover completely drug-free.This is a must-listen for anyone struggling with addiction, families seeking help for loved ones, or professionals in the recovery field.New Life For Adults and Youth: https://www.newlife.center/

In this powerful episode of From Prevention to Recovery, host Marcel Gemme sits down with Jan Rader, West Virginia's first female fire chief and a pioneering force in changing how communities respond to the opioid epidemic. Featured in the Oscar-nominated Netflix documentary "Heroin(e)," Jan shares her remarkable journey from witnessing a cardiac arrest in a jewelry store to becoming one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People.Jan discusses how Huntington, West Virginia, became known as "ground zero" for the opioid crisis—not because it was the worst affected, but because they chose transparency over silence. She reveals how her dual background as a paramedic and nurse shaped her compassionate approach to addiction, treating every person with dignity regardless of their circumstances.Listeners will learn about:The critical importance of destigmatizing substance use disorderHow collaboration between agencies creates real community changeThe power of harm reduction programs and why they save livesWhat Jan learned directly from her patients about addictionPractical advice for families dealing with loved ones struggling with addictionPrevention strategies that actually work for young peopleJan's message is clear: people do recover, and how we treat those struggling with addiction can make all the difference. This episode is essential listening for anyone touched by addiction, first responders, healthcare workers, and community leaders looking to create meaningful change.

Dr. Ben Fialkoff, a Cuban-born dentist from Queens, NY, has conducted over 2,000 drug education events reaching 100,000+ youth. He shares why "a drug is a poison," how marijuana affects brain development and surgical healing, and what actually works to prevent substance use in young people.

In this powerful episode, Marcel Gemme speaks with Lieutenant Mike Hotz of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department about his journey from Army Infantry Sergeant to building Nashville's groundbreaking Overdose Response Unit. Lt. Hotz shares the harsh realities of Nashville's overdose crisis - once the second-highest in the nation - and how his team achieved a remarkable 34% reduction in deaths through innovative harm reduction strategies.Learn about the One Box program, which has placed over 350 overdose reversal kits throughout Nashville and saved 14 confirmed lives. Lt. Hotz discusses the dangers of fentanyl-laced drugs, the importance of naloxone distribution, and why 42% of counterfeit pills crossing the border contain lethal doses. He provides practical overdose recognition and reversal training, addresses common misconceptions about addiction, and explains Tennessee's Good Samaritan laws.This episode is essential listening for anyone concerned about the overdose crisis, from families affected by addiction to community leaders looking to implement life-saving programs in their own cities.

From Prevention to Recovery is an educational video podcast produced by Addicted.org. In this episode, host Marcel Gemme talks with interventionist Bobby Newman about his journey from addiction to helping others. They explore the importance of family unity in interventions, the impact of modern drugs, and offer insights on recognizing addiction early. Bobby shares strategies for successful interventions and provides hope for families dealing with long-term substance abuse. This podcast features conversations with professionals, advocates, and individuals with lived experience, focused on prevention, education, and informed recovery discussions.

This is a short introduction to From Prevention to Recovery with Marcel Gemme, a video podcast featuring real conversations about prevention, recovery, and practical solutions that make a difference. New episodes coming soon.