Dopey: On the Dark Comedy of Drug Addiction

Dave & Chris
  • 4.8 (2.8K)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

Dopey Podcast is the world’s greatest podcast on drugs, addiction and dumb shit. Chris and I were two IV heroin addicts who loved to talk about all the coke we smoked, snorted and shot, all the pills we ate, smoked, all the weed we smoked and ate, all the booze we consumed and all the consequences we suffered. After making the show for 2 and a half years, Chris tragically relapsed and died from a fentanyl overdose. Dopey continued on, at first to mourn the horrible loss of Chris, but then to continue our mission - which was at its core, to keep addicts and alcoholics company. Whether to laugh at our time in rehab, or cry at the worst missteps we made, Dopey tells the truth about drugs, addiction and recovery. We continually mine the universe for stories rife with debauchery and highlight serious drug taking and alcoholism. We also examine different paths toward addiction recovery. We shine a light on harm reduction and medication assisted treatment. We talk with celebrities and nobodies and stockpile stories to be the greatest one stop shop podcast on all things drugs, addiction, recovery and comedy pathfinding the route to the heart of the opioid epidemic.

  1. 1d ago

    The Time Kimber Shot Fentanyl in Her Neck and Died and Stephen Saved Her Life| Dopey's Greatest Hits

    DopeyCon Tickets: https://buytickets.at/thedopeyfoundation/2345507 PAtreon and save $15: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast She Shot Heroin in Her Neck and Overdosed on the Phone: The Call That Saved Kimber’s Life This week on Dopey's Greatest Hits! A woman named Kimber leaves rehab, returns home alone and prepares to inject what she believes is heroin—probably fentanyl—into her neck. Knowing her tolerance has disappeared, she calls the Never Use Alone hotline. Nurse Jessie stays on the phone, urges Kimber to use less and collects her location. Moments after injecting, Kimber stops responding. Jessie calls for help, and paramedic Stephen Murray arrives in time to revive her with Narcan. The episode expands the extraordinary story first told on This American Life. Stephen describes his own addiction, recovery and unlikely path from finance and drug use to firefighting, emergency medicine and harm-reduction work. He explains how the Massachusetts Overdose Prevention Hotline became the country’s first government-funded overdose hotline and why it offers anonymous, judgment-free support to anyone using drugs alone. Kimber then tells her side of the call: getting expelled from rehab, shooting cocaine all night, buying heroin after 40 abstinent days and waking up surrounded by emergency workers. The overdose did not immediately stop her addiction—she returned to treatment, entered a rehab romance and continued using for another two years. Now twenty months sober, she works for the same hotline that saved her, answering calls from people using alone and giving them the connection, companionship and protection she once needed. Truly one of our all timers! And More!   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    The Time Kimber Shot Fentanyl in Her Neck and Died and Stephen Saved Her Life| Dopey's Greatest Hits

  2. 2d ago

    My Brother Died of a Heroin Overdose with Stephanie Wittels Wachs, Harris Wittels, Grief, Recovery | Wednesday Dose

    DopeyCon Tickets: https://buytickets.at/thedopeyfoundation/2216905 PATREON SAVES on DOPEYCON TICKETS: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast This week on the Dopey Dose! Dave opens the Wednesday Dose of Dopey with gratitude, recovery reflections and a reminder that it is possible to restart your day at any moment. A Canadian listener recounts ceremonially burying—and urinating on—his remaining cocaine while tripping on acid, while Northeast Ohio Bob remembers the drug-fueled chaos of Nelson Ledges Quarry Park. Then Stephanie Wittels Wachs joins Dave to discuss her new book, Last Day, and the death of her brother, beloved Parks and Recreation writer and comedian Harris Wittels. Stephanie remembers growing up and experimenting with weed, mushrooms, acid and whippets alongside Harris, his obsessive love of Phish and the moment his casual drug use became an urgent dependence on pills and heroin. Harris admitted spending $4,000 a month on pills while his career was exploding, entered treatment twice and died from an overdose shortly afterward. Stephanie explains how losing Harris transformed her into an advocate for harm reduction, overdose prevention and drug-policy reform. She and Dave discuss SafeSpot, Kimber and Stephen Murray, supervised consumption sites, the shame that forces people to use alone and the importance of keeping people alive without demanding that they become sober on someone else’s timetable. The conversation closes with an honest discussion of grief, therapy, purpose and gratitude. Stephanie describes how writing and caring for her daughter gradually helped her build a larger life around the permanent loss of Harris. All that and more on the brand new Wednesday Dose of Dopey! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    My Brother Died of a Heroin Overdose with Stephanie Wittels Wachs, Harris Wittels, Grief, Recovery | Wednesday Dose

  3. 3d ago

    “My Mother Didn’t Like Being a Mother”: Christopher’s Story - Sex Work, Meth, Crack - Tuesday Teaser!

    DopeyCon Tickets: https://buytickets.at/thedopeyfoundation/2345507 Disount $15 at Patreon! : www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast On the teaser! Dave celebrates eleven years of recovery, asks whether Dopey qualifies as art and reminds everyone that DopeyCon is coming October 3. He reads a listener’s Rolling Stones dream, considers the impossible mission of getting Mick Jagger or Keith Richards on Dopey and discusses potential episodes involving Anthony Bourdain, Mark Lanegan and legendary rock journalist Nick Kent. Dave also reads the overwhelming response to the recent Patreon episode about his own history and the possible Dopey documentary. Finally, he previews his intense Los Angeles conversation with Christopher, who describes growing up as one of eleven brothers amid abandonment, violence and abuse—before sharing his larger story of addiction, sex work and redemption exclusively on Patreon. All that and somehow still - MORE! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    “My Mother Didn’t Like Being a Mother”: Christopher’s Story - Sex Work, Meth, Crack - Tuesday Teaser!

  4. 4d ago

    First LSD Trip at the Grateful Dead, the Phone Booth Overdose & Devan | Total Dopey Replay 42

    DopeyCon Tickets: https://buytickets.at/thedopeyfoundation/2345507 PAtreon can save $15 on tickets: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast Episode summary: This week on Dopey Total Replay! Dave circles back to Dopey Episode 42—the first appearance of his lifelong friend Devan. Before the replay, Dave celebrates eleven years in recovery, reflects on acceptance, gratitude and friendship, makes amends for sharing too much about a sponsee, and responds to listeners inspired by the Hunter Biden interview. Then Dave, Chris and Devan revisit their teenage years in New York City, including Dave and Devin’s first acid trip at a Grateful Dead show, the pug that looked like an alien, a disastrous baby-powder fight and their organized campaign to steal CDs from HMV. Chris remembers Surfer Mike, addiction before the drugs and his dangerous childhood experiments with model rockets. Finally, an Australian listener tells the insane story of an overdosed friend who was dumped in a phone booth—only to wake up hours later and call the people who left him there. All that and MORE on the total replay episode of the good old dopey show!   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    First LSD Trip at the Grateful Dead, the Phone Booth Overdose & Devan | Total Dopey Replay 42

  5. Aug 28

    Dopey 597: Hunter Biden! 10-Day Crack Binge, Four-Lane Car Crash, Secret Service at the Crack House, Bicycles, Ibogaine & the Owl That Saved His Life

    DopeyCon Tickets:https://buytickets.at/thedopeyfoundation/2345507 PAtreon: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast Episode summary Hunter Biden joins Dopey for an unusually raw conversation about trauma, grief, addiction and recovery. He explains why alcohol initially worked for him, how drinking progressed from manageable binges to vodka hidden around the house, and how the death of his brother Beau preceded his descent into crack addiction. Before Hunter arrives, Dave contemplates his recent resentment problem after an argument over Susan’s ice cream, reads a letter from a listener currently using cocaine and vodka, and shares stories involving LSD dropped into someone’s eyes, a handful of Xanax swallowed during an arrest and a first meth experience that turns into full-blown DEA psychosis. Following the interview, Dave reveals that the Santa Monica studio looked like an “OnlyFans crack den.” After listening to the conversation, the studio operator disclosed that he was only five days free from crack and alcohol. Hunter embraced him in what everyone recognized as a genuine recovery god shot. All that plus much much much more!!!!!!  https://www.workithealth.com/dopey/ https://substack.com/@hunterbiden Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Dopey 597: Hunter Biden! 10-Day Crack Binge, Four-Lane Car Crash, Secret Service at the Crack House, Bicycles, Ibogaine & the Owl That Saved His Life

  6. Aug 27

    Super Junky NYC - Copping for Sid and Nancy, Aryan Brotherhood Oxy & Smuggling Drugs into Rehab: Dopey's Greatest Hit's Ned Van Zandt Returns

    Dopeycon Tickets: https://buytickets.at/thedopeyfoundation/2345507 Patreon Saves $15: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast Summary Dopey Greatest Hits: Actor and storyteller Ned Van Zandt returns to promote his one-man show, Lost in Dell Valley, and revisit his astonishing life in addiction and recovery. Ned describes being recognized in jail by the leader of the Texas Aryan Brotherhood, who traded him protection and OxyContin for acting lessons using scenes from Lost and Prison Break. The episode then replays Ned’s original Dopey appearance: doing heroin with Andy Warhol’s circle, living at the Chelsea Hotel alongside Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen, eating Burger King with Sid on the day Nancy died, and being in their room hours before her murder. Ned explains why he believes Sid was innocent and identifies the drug dealer he suspected may have been involved. Ned also recounts driving a cab while addicted to heroin, getting slashed during a robbery, buying drugs on the devastated Lower East Side, descending into meth addiction in Long Beach, and knowing dealers who smuggled exotic birds. After nearly 13 years clean, one glass of wine led to a cocaine overdose four days later and another seven-year run. His final arrest, time in jail, and a trip to treatment in Hawaii ultimately gave him another chance—although he arrived with Valium, Vicodin and OxyContin sewn into his clothes. Today, Ned has nearly 20 years clean, works at Transcend NYC, and performs all 19 characters in Lost in Dell Valley. Way More on the New Episode!   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Super Junky NYC - Copping for Sid and Nancy, Aryan Brotherhood Oxy & Smuggling Drugs into Rehab: Dopey's Greatest Hit's Ned Van Zandt Returns

  7. Aug 26

    Tripping Face at Dominican Holidaze - JRAD, Disco Biscuits, Cocaine Cab Driver, Silly Sticks & the Last Hurrah Before Rehab, Zach Frank Returns!

    DopeyCon Tickets: https://buytickets.at/thedopeyfoundation/2345507 Patreon: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast Summary / show notes This week on Dopey Wednesday! We open the Wednesday show with DopeyCon updates, listener comments and a voicemail from Oskar in Sweden. After leaving rehab with no intention of staying clean, Oskar returns home to ten grams of heroin, begins injecting with a friend and saves that friend from a potentially fatal overdose using naloxone. Poet/writer/'clinician' addict Zach Frank returns to discuss anxious attachment, fear, resentment and the difficulty of responding thoughtfully when emotions take over. He remembers passing out on heroin while running a bath, flooding his mother’s house and destroying his brother’s Xbox before the damaged ceiling collapsed in front of his grandmother. Zach then takes Dave inside the jam-band drug scene. On his way to a Dominican Republic festival, he convinces a cab driver to find cocaine, stops at a pharmacy for a huge box of Xanax, absorbs liquid LSD through his palm, urinates in the ocean fully clothed and later smokes a “silly stick”—a joint containing marijuana and DMT—during a Disco Biscuits set. He also describes his final festival before recovery: obtaining cocaine and Xanax, taking ketamine and powerful MDMA pills, and eventually reaching complete spiritual exhaustion. He calls his mother crying, returns to New York and enters treatment. Dave and Zach discuss the painful gap between becoming abstinent and genuinely feeling well, the first moments of peace that make recovery worthwhile, and why addicts sometimes need to hold on through weeks or months of discomfort. They celebrate Dave’s 11 years sober and compare the Knicks’ championship comeback to the seemingly impossible transformations found in recovery. The episode closes with listener comments and Dave’s heartfelt—and musically questionable—tribute to Dolly Parton. All that and MORE! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Tripping Face at Dominican Holidaze - JRAD, Disco Biscuits, Cocaine Cab Driver, Silly Sticks & the Last Hurrah Before Rehab, Zach Frank Returns!

  8. Aug 25

    The Super Special Sex and Love Addicted Dopey Documentary Teaser Mysophonia Episode - Patreon

    Full Episode only on: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast Tickets: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thedopeyfoundation/2345507 Summary / show notes Dave reveals that filmmaker Jason Cabello is making a documentary about Dopey—and recently followed him to California for a still-secret mission. Jason also sits down with longtime friends Brad and Jeremy to investigate the real history of Dave’s addiction and the creation of Dopey. Before the documentary preview, Dave remembers musician Mark Hudson, announces the DopeyCon Theme Song Challenge, runs through the growing DopeyCon lineup, reads listener updates, celebrates recovery anniversaries, and receives an exceptionally detailed complaint about his disgusting habit of eating into the microphone. The teaser ends with Brad boldly claiming that Dopey wouldn’t exist without him—and Dave promising Patreon listeners the resentment-filled story behind it. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    The Super Special Sex and Love Addicted Dopey Documentary Teaser Mysophonia Episode - Patreon
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Hosts & Guests

4.8
out of 5
2,757 Ratings

About

Dopey Podcast is the world’s greatest podcast on drugs, addiction and dumb shit. Chris and I were two IV heroin addicts who loved to talk about all the coke we smoked, snorted and shot, all the pills we ate, smoked, all the weed we smoked and ate, all the booze we consumed and all the consequences we suffered. After making the show for 2 and a half years, Chris tragically relapsed and died from a fentanyl overdose. Dopey continued on, at first to mourn the horrible loss of Chris, but then to continue our mission - which was at its core, to keep addicts and alcoholics company. Whether to laugh at our time in rehab, or cry at the worst missteps we made, Dopey tells the truth about drugs, addiction and recovery. We continually mine the universe for stories rife with debauchery and highlight serious drug taking and alcoholism. We also examine different paths toward addiction recovery. We shine a light on harm reduction and medication assisted treatment. We talk with celebrities and nobodies and stockpile stories to be the greatest one stop shop podcast on all things drugs, addiction, recovery and comedy pathfinding the route to the heart of the opioid epidemic.

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