In this episode, Christina sits down with Kathie McKinney, a parent, SMART Family & Friends facilitator, and advocate for families impacted by addiction. Kathie shares her own journey of moving from fear, frustration, and trying to “fix” the problem to learning how trust, empathy, and communication can transform relationships.

They discuss why families need support and skills of their own, how approaches like motivational interviewing and Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) can help loved ones respond differently, and why creating a safe space for honest conversations can make all the difference in recovery.

If you love someone struggling with substance use, this conversation offers hope, practical tools, and a reminder that connection is often the starting point for change.

Resources:

• Allies in Recovery: https://alliesinrecovery.net/
• Center for Motivation and Change: https://motivationandchange.com/
• Helping Families Help: https://helpingfamilieshelp.com/
• Hopestream Podcast: https://hopestreamcommunity.org
• Partnership to End Addiction: https://drugfree.org/
• Heather Ross Podcast: https://heatherrosscoaching.com/podcast-3/
• Put The Shovel Down: https://www.youtube.com/@PutTheShovelDown
• The School of Hard Talks: https://www.dremilykline.com/home/schoolofhardtalksonline
• SMART Recovery Family & Friends: https://smartrecovery.org/family

For decades, families have been told that "tough love" is the best way to help someone struggling with addiction. But what if that approach is making things worse? In this episode, Christina talks with Kathleen Cochran, founder of Moms for All Paths to Recovery, about what she learned after walking alongside her daughter through more than 20 years of opioid addiction. They discuss why compassion isn't the same as enabling, how medications for opioid use disorder can save lives, and why every person's path to recovery looks different. Whether you're supporting a loved one or simply want to better understand addiction, this conversation offers practical hope, evidence-based insights, and a fresh perspective on what it really means to help. Resources: - Moms for All Paths to Recovery: https://momsforallpaths.substack.com/ - Invitation to Change: https://motivationandchange.com/ - "Curious" by Christina Dent: https://a.co/d/0d0ERl3i Keywords: addiction, harm reduction, medication for opioid use disorder, family support, recovery, unconditional love, evidence-based treatment, overdose prevention

Ethan Nadelmann shares his insights from his four decades of experience in drug policy reform. The biggest wins, painful losses, and how we get to a healthier world.

Watch the TED Talk on ending the drug war by Ethan Nadelmann: https://www.ted.com/talks/ethan_nadelmann_why_we_need_to_end_the_war_on_drugs

Keywords: drug policy reform, marijuana legalization, harm reduction, criminal justice, psychedelics, tobacco harm reduction, public health, policy change, advocacy, Ethan Nadelmann