Kristen Arute - Podcast Details

Shows

Substance Free 02043Young man finds fulfillment in sobriety after living a dangerous life fueled by substancesKevin Rosario began using drugs and alcohol when he was just 13 years old. Before long, he was selling drugs to pay for his habit, getting into trouble with the law and finding himself in and out of rehab. During all of this, he came close to losing his life in a violent incident. Listen as he shares the details of what led him down this path, why he considers the substances to be secondary and what he believes are the most effective ways for parents and kids to make healthy choices.2025-03-201h 08

Substance Free 02043Two brothers in recovery from substance use share their harrowing stories of addiction and recoveryCameron and Hunter Flores are brothers who, coincidentally, both began dabbling in alcohol and marijuana at 13 years old. Little did they know this seemingly harmless recreational use would lead them on parallel paths to full-blown, long-term addiction to opioids, meth, heroin, cocaine, crack and other illicit substances. They were in and out of rehab, had brushes with the law and survived life-threatening situations. Remarkably, they were both able to become sober after these experiences and are eager to share their stories as a hopeful and cautionary tale for parents and young people alike.2025-03-111h 17

Substance Free 02043Town Employees Addressing Substance Use Issues On The Front Lines.Aileen Walsh and Liz Miller hold positions that represent the creative solutions towns are coming up with to meet a growing demand for mental health intervention services. Aileen is the Community Crisis Response Clinician and works for the Police Department. Her role is to go out on calls with patrol officers to assist with psychiatric and behavioral emergencies in the field. She provides initial intervention services to individuals in need and follows up with crisis case management, mental health, substance abuse and victim assistance referrals, and short-term crisis counseling as needed. Liz is the social wor...2024-12-1645 min

Substance Free 02043Adult children of alcoholics talk about rewriting the script with their own family.Rory and Chris Earley both grew up in homes with alcoholic parents. When they got married and started their own family, they thought about ways in which they would do things differently in raising their own children. Rory is sober, and Chris drinks on occasion. But it is more than just about examining their relationship with alcohol. "We're all about a boring household," says Chris. "It's a simple home. It's the healthiest environment that we can manufacture." Listen to Rory and Chris talk about their upbringings, the ways in which it impacted their lives and how they came together...2024-03-0450 min

Substance Free 02043Massachusetts State Senator discusses efforts on Beacon Hill to address substance use issues.From a young age, Senator Patrick O'Connor has been passionate about public service, so it is only natural that he would serve his community as an elected official. For the past eight years, he has worked with his constituents and his colleagues on Beacon Hill to address various public health issues, like the opioid crisis. His experiences living and learning overseas guide his collaborative approach, and the people he has known who have struggled with the disease add an element of personal passion to the cause. Tune in to hear Sen. O'Connor talk about the legislative process a...2024-01-2346 min

Substance Free 02043Local Nicotine Compliance Officer ensures youth safety around vaping and other nicotine products.Kathleen Mahoney has an enormous territory and a huge responsibility serving as a Nicotine Compliance Officer for several towns on the South Shore of Massachusetts. She must stay on top of state law and local regulations for each community and ensure that retailers are not in violation. One of her primary tasks is to make sure youth are not given access to age-restricted products. The landscape is constantly changing, and new products are regularly being introduced to the marketplace. Kathleen discusses changes she has seen, current trends and ways parents can keep their children safe around knock-off products.2023-12-2139 min

Substance Free 02043Executive Director of treatment program talks prevention and recovery and details her personal journey.In 2017, Hingham resident Lori McCarthy co-founded the Herren Wellness Center in Seekonk with acclaimed speaker and former basketball star Chris Herren. Both of them are in recovery from substance use, and their mission was to provide a holistic service that would positively impact the lives of individuals and their families. Lori talks about the process of getting the center opened, describes her own personal journey of recovery and stresses the importance of encouraging young people to abstain from using substances.2023-11-2150 min

Substance Free 02043The Principal of a recovery high school in Boston talks about their innovative program.Roger Oser has been the principal of the William J. Ostiguy High School in Boston for the past 17 years, incorporating his extensive background working with youth to his role. Ostiguy High is a recovery high school that was founded by Willie Ostiguy, who is a previous guest on this podcast. The school provides a safe and supportive school environment for young people who want to make a positive change in their relationship with drugs and alcohol. The school works closely with school districts to provide a variety of interventions for students who are struggling. T...2023-07-1932 min

Substance Free 02043NBA Basketball star turns from addiction to recovery and establishes a program to help others.Chris Herren is known for playing in the NBA for teams like the Boston Celtics, but he was a basketball phenom starting at a young age. Chris broke records; he had a book written about him when he was just 16; and he attended Boston College on a full scholarship. However, all of that success was taken away by an addiction that plagued him from his teen years when he drank "the beer he never wanted" at 14 years old. Drugs and alcohol threatened to destroy Chris' life and harm the ones he loved most. He...2023-06-2833 min

Substance Free 02043A local mom warns of the deadly nature of combining prescription drugs with alcohol after losing her son.Genny Soper lost her son one night in what she calls "an accident that was completely avoidable." Clay had just finished his freshman year of college and was at a party. He texted his mom to say he was going to stay the night and even joked with his friends as he put himself to bed. However, Clay never woke up. He and his friends had taken prescription drugs with alcohol, and this combination took Clay's life. His friends never dreamed something like this could happen and were determined to make sure others were made aware of the dangers. They ...2023-06-0247 min

Substance Free 02043A concerned mom and filmmaker educates about the harmfulness of vaping.Lori Tobin is a former smoker and watched as both her parents died of smoking-related illnesses. She kicked the habit many years ago and has been living a healthy life since. However, when she saw former students in her hometown vaping, she felt called to prevent young people from doing harm to their bodies. Lori collaborated with the local cable access station and created an impactful documentary. In it she interviews kids who are addicted to vaping and their parents, experts in the field and even the Attorney General at the time. Her energy is...2023-05-0330 min

Substance Free 02043Uncovering emerging Drug Trends Identified by Law Enforcement Officer 'Tall Cop'.Officer Jermaine Galloway, aka Tall Cop, has been working to combat drug and alcohol abuse problems in communities all over the country and the world for decades. Officer Galloway uses his vast knowledge of availability of substances and trends in their use to educate people and to provide strategies to those who find themselves on the front lines. He has advice for parents and young people alike about how to stay safe around drugs and alcohol by using common sense reasoning, not scare tactics. Tune in to hear what this experienced law enforcement officer has to say.2023-04-1032 min

Substance Free 02043Well-known Boston actor and comedian Lenny Clarke discusses his recovery journey and career.Lenny Clarke is a familiar face to many, both for his work in the comedy industry as well as in film and television. Lenny is also known for the fundraising work he does as a way to give back out of gratitude for everything he has been through himself and for all of the people who have supported him. "I make people laugh, but I take my sobriety very, very seriously," he says. Tune in and hear about Lenny's personal experiences and learn what advice he has for parents and kids on how to stay safe around substances.2023-03-2731 min

Substance Free 02043 Local Officials Describe Groundbreaking Ways of Addressing Opioid CrisisIt's only fitting that a new way of addressing the opioid crisis was launched in the birthplace of our country. Officials in Plymouth County, MA were at the forefront of this innovative approach. In 2015 when the number of opioid deaths began skyrocketing, District Attorney Tim Cruz and Sheriff Joe McDonald took a hard look at what was going on in their county and launched the Plymouth County Drug Abuse Task Force which brought key stakeholders from all sectors of the community together. This model was groundbreaking in its simplicity and has been replicated across the country. A true test o...2023-03-131h 01

Substance Free 02043Local Officials Describe Groundbreaking Ways of Addressing Opioid CrisisIt's only fitting that a new way of addressing the opioid crisis was launched in the birthplace of our country. Officials in Plymouth County, MA were at the forefront of this innovative approach. In 2015 when the number of opioid deaths began skyrocketing, District Attorney Tim Cruz and Sheriff Joe McDonald took a hard look at what was going on in their county and launched the Plymouth County Drug Abuse Task Force which brought key stakeholders from all sectors of the community together. This model was groundbreaking in its simplicity and has been replicated across the country. A true test o...2023-03-131h 01

Substance Free 02043The 'King' of Boston comedy talks about life in recovery and working with inmates.Steve Sweeney has been dubbed the legendary King of Boston comedy, but he wears many hats. He is an actor, producer, writer and comedian. And while his humor may not always be for the faint of heart, his personal recovery journey and the work he currently does in the correctional system is guaranteed to warm your heart. Steve has been in recovery from addiction to substances for over 30 years. He draws upon his experiences when he talks with inmates in the Plymouth County and Suffolk County houses of correction. While he has seen some who are...2023-02-2729 min

Substance Free 02043The Founder of first recovery high school in Massachusetts talks about his personal life and his career.Willie Ostiguy paved the way in the recovery community by founding the first recovery high school in Massachusetts. Since then he has opened several sober houses for men and one for women. Willie is a person in recovery himself. In this interview, he talks about his personal story as well as his family's history of substance use issues. He also describes the skills he used in raising his own children. Communicating with your kids and being diligent about knowing their whereabouts are tips he has for parents. Willie firmly believes education is important in enabling young people to make wi...2023-02-1331 min

Substance Free 02043A popular stand up comedian talks about her recovery journey.Amy Tee has been a fixture on the Boston comedy scene for decades. In this raw and honest interview, she discusses the challenges she faced during childhood, what led her to pursue a career in comedy, how her battle with substances began and the ways in which she copes with her mental health today.Amy grew up as an obese child who was teased and bullied incessantly throughout her life. Being thrown into lockers and called names was an everyday experience. After losing weight and beginning the pursuit of a lifelong dream to do...2023-01-3035 min

Substance Free 02043A mom turns the loss of her son from marijuana use into a mission of hope.Laura Stack of Johnny's Ambassadors talks about the risks of modern marijuana and its impact on the developing teen brain. Laura is extremely knowledgeable about the various new forms of marijuana (i.e. waxes, dabs, shatter), how marijuana differs in potency from even 10 years ago and the science behind marijuana's addictive nature.Laura also shares her personal story. She is from Colorado and lost her son to suicide after he became psychotic, paranoid and delusional as a result of his addiction to marijuana. Johnny was only 19 years old. He had begun using marijuana products...2023-01-1637 min

Substance Free 02043A high school health teacher talks about the current trends in youth substance use and the critical role parents play in prevention.Karen Beatty has been the health teacher at Hingham High School, Hingham, MA., for over 20 years. She talks about a unique prevention program that she incorporates into her 10th-grade health classes and its impact on her students. She also shares information on past and current trends in youth substance use and also delves into the critical role parents play in preventing that use. Ms. Beatty oversees the administration of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey in grades 7, 9 and 11 in the Hingham Public Schools. She describes its scope and purpose in assessing and teen behavior so that it can be effectively...2023-01-0239 min

Substance Free 02043An addiction medicine doctor explains the science behind addiction and how substances impact our bodies.Dr. Todd Kerensky reveals the science behind addiction, breakthroughs in treatment and the reasons underage use of drugs and alcohol is so risky. He also describes how different substances impact the body and shares a poignant personal story of what brought him into this line of work. Dr. Kerensky has had a long career in the field of addiction and recovery, currently serving as Medical Director of Addiction Medicine at South Shore Health and Medical Director of Spectrum Health System's Opioid Treatment Program (Weymouth, MA.).Learn more about Hingham Cares' mission: https://www.hinghamcares.o...2022-12-1946 min

Substance Free 02043High school students talk about the realities of teen substance use.Sarah Holler, John Jenkins and Rachel O'Connor are students at Hingham High School, Hingham, MA., where they run the Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) program. SADD is designed to provide students with the tools necessary for making healthy choices in a variety of ways, including around substances. Sarah, John and Rachel talk about the work they do as well as their experiences and those of their peers. They encourage other teens to surround themselves with a solid group of friends who support them regardless of the decisions they make around substances and describe the important role parents play in...2022-12-0523 min

Substance Free 02043Kathi and Chris Sullivan of Sullivan's Message share their story of loss and hope.Kathi Meyer began to speak about alcohol awareness and the importance of making good choices in 2009 after her daughter passed away from underage drinking. She met her future husband, Chris Sullivan, when she presented at her first parent night. A former NFL player, Chris was attending not as a parent, but as a man suffering from substance use disorder, anxiety and depression. Their road of healing continues together as they share their stories with colleges, high schools, community organizations and prevention coalitions around the country. Hear how one act of kindness can change the outcome of someone’s life an...2022-11-2055 min