High Truths on Drugs and Addiction

Dr. Roneet Lev
  • 4.9 (160)
  • MEDICINE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

High Truths on Drugs and Addiction is a podcast hosted by Dr. Roneet Lev, an emergency and addiction physician who has served at the White House and practices on the front lines. Each Monday new episodes will feature experts that answer questions from you, our audience. We hope to bring your day a little bit more High Truths.

  1. 11/20/2025

    253. Dr. Tom Freeman - The Standard THC Unit

    We have standards unit amounts for tobacco and alcohol, what for THC and marijuana? Is it time. Dr. Tom Freeman is a Reader in Addiction Psychology at the University of Bath, UK. He directs the Addiction and Mental Health Group, an interdisciplinary group bridging Psychology, Life Sciences, Health, Management, and the Institute for Policy Research. He is currently funded by a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship. He also leads the Substance Use and Addiction work package of the NIHR Bath Mental Health Research Group, and is deputy lead of the Drugs theme of the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Addictions. His research has generated impacts with the National Institutes of Health, the European Union Drugs Agency, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence, and the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.  Dr. Freeman is internationally known for his research on cannabis and cannabinoids. In this podcast he will discuss his work developing new approaches to help people experiencing problems with cannabis use. These include trials for the treatment of cannabis use disorder, and novel strategies for reducing harms such as the standard THC unit. Disclaimer:  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views, policies, or positions of the United States Government or any of its agencies. The content was recorded prior to the speaker's current federal service and is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only.  No agency endorsement or approval should be inferred.

    41 min

  2. 10/20/2025

    252. Amy Neville | Can't Look Away

    Can't Look Away is one of Amy Neville's documentaries showing a case against social media. Her son Alex was killed by a pill bought on Snapchat at the age of 14. Amy Neville is the President of the Alexander Neville Foundation (ANF), an organization her family founded after the tragic loss of her 14-year-old son, Alexander. A drug dealer on Snapchat convinced Alex to buy a pill that killed him. This heartbreaking experience pushed Amy to dive deeply into understanding the fentanyl crisis and the role social media plays in it. The work of ANF is rooted in collaboration with young people, aiming to educate and raise awareness about the new drug landscape and social media harms. ANF is now a guiding voice in the effort to curtail substance misuse and redefine the influence of social media on youth today. As a representative for ANF, Amy has shared her families story and insights on CNN, FOX, CBS, and ABC. To learn more about Alexander's story and the critical issues ANF is addressing, you can visit their website and read Rolling Stone's "Inside Snapchat’s Teen Opioid Crisis,” chronicling their journey and work. Disclaimer:  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views, policies, or positions of the United States Government or any of its agencies. The content was recorded prior to the speaker's current federal service and is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only.  No agency endorsement or approval should be inferred.

    45 min

  3. 10/13/2025

    251. Marc Berkman | Social Media Safety

    Is social media safe? What protections do our children deserve? Alexander Neville died at 14 years old after buying what he thought was oxycodone on Snap Chat.  A 12 year old boy died after doing a Tik Tok choking challenge. Amanda Todd died by suicide at age 15 after cyberbullying and blackmail. Molly Russell was 14 years old when she died by hanging herself after she binged graphic and romanticized self-harm content up to 2 minutes before she died. Marc Berkman serves as the CEO of the Organization for Social Media Safety (OFSMS), which he has grown into the world's preeminent consumer protection organization focused on social media. As a globally recognized expert in social media safety, Marc has testified before Congress and been featured in notable publications like the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and the Los Angeles Times. Previously, Marc served for over a decade as a senior advisor to members of the United States Congress and the California State Assembly. Marc received his JD from Columbia Law School and his BA from UC Berkeley. He lives with his wife and two children in Los Angeles, CA. Organization for Social Media Safety, OFSMS is the first and leading nonprofit (501c3) consumer protection-organization focused exclusively on social media. Through advocacy, education, and technology development, OFSMS protects against all social media- related dangers including cyberbullying, suicide, human trafficking, and more. OFSMS has taught essential safety skills to hundreds of thousands of students, parents, and educators across the world; has passed groundbreaking social media safety legislation like Jordan’s Law; and has conducted groundbreaking with research in partnership with U.C.L.A.'s School of Education. Disclaimer:  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views, policies, or positions of the United States Government or any of its agencies. The content was recorded prior to the speaker's current federal service and is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only.  No agency endorsement or approval should be inferred.

    52 min

  4. 10/06/2025

    250. Dr. Ken Finn | Violence and THC

    The association of mass casualty violence and THC is growing. Dr. Ken Finn has been following these cases. Kenneth Finn, MD practiced Pain Medicine in Colorado Springs from 1994-2024.  He moved to Prescott, Arizona in 2025 to continue practicing comprehensive Pain Medicine.  He is Board Certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (1995), Pain Medicine (1998), and Pain Management (2000).  He is certified in Cannabis Science through the University of Colorado (2022).  He was a associate professor for the University of Colorado Medical School, Colorado Springs branch (2018-2024).  He is former President (2022-24) of the American Board of Pain Medicine and has served on their Exam Council for over 25 years. He served on the Colorado Governor’s Task Force on Amendment 64, which legalized marijuana for recreational use, Consumer Safety and Social Issues Work Group (2012) and served 4 years on Colorado’s Medical Marijuana Scientific Advisory Council (2014-18). He was an invited speaker to the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna, March 2023.  He testified to the Canadian Senate on their marijuana bill (2018) as well as New York General Assembly (2019), and speaks internationally on the health impacts of marijuana, including being an invited speaker to the Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, UCLA VA Medical Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston) and the Texas Medical and Pain Societies, among many others. He works nationally with other state legislators considering legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational purposes. Dr. Finn was selected to testify to the Department of Justice on the rescheduling of marijuana (2024). He is editor of Cannabis in Medicine: An Evidence-Based Approach (2020) and currently the Co-Vice President (2021) of the International Academy on the Science and Impacts of Cannabis (https://iasic1.org) which is now a member of the Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs (2023).  Disclaimer:  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views, policies, or positions of the United States Government or any of its agencies. The content was recorded prior to the speaker's current federal service and is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only.  No agency endorsement or approval should be inferred.

    58 min

  5. 09/29/2025

    249. Cedric Akbar | Positive Directions

    Positive Directions, Drug Free Side-walks, Drug-Free Housing and Recovery. San Francisco activists give hope to people with addiction. Cedric Akbar is a San Francisco-based community leader and a passionate advocate for recovery and prisoner reentry. With over 25 years of leadership, particularly in San Francisco’s Bayview Hunters Point, Cedric serves as the Director of Forensic and Recovery Services at Westside Community Services. He is a founding member of Positive Directions Equals Change, an advisor to Drug-Free Sidewalks, and was elected to the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee in 2024. Feb 2025 BayView Black Newspaper Muck Rack Articles Positive Directions Equals Changes Disclaimer:  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views, policies, or positions of the United States Government or any of its agencies. The content was recorded prior to the speaker's current federal service and is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only.  No agency endorsement or approval should be inferred.

    1 hr

  6. 09/22/2025

    248. Julie Dreifaldt | One Chance to Grow Up

    Julie Dreifaldt is a nationally recognized expert and speaker for One Chance to Grow Up, where she educates communities about the dangers of today's high-potency THC marijuana and hemp products that pose risks to children and teens. Julie regularly presents to policymakers, regulators, school organizations, parents, youth-focused coalitions, and trusted community leaders. Her work highlights how these products are fundamentally different from the marijuana of past decades and equips adults with actionable strategies to protect kids from harm. Since 2018, Julie has been a tireless advocate for youth, empowering families with tools and language to have honest conversations about marijuana’s risks. Her work reflects a deep commitment to safeguarding the health and development of the next generation. Julie holds a BA in History and English from Mount Vernon Nazarene University. THC photos Why it matters- call to action  Disclaimer:  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views, policies, or positions of the United States Government or any of its agencies. The content was recorded prior to the speaker's current federal service and is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only.  No agency endorsement or approval should be inferred.

    1h 6m

  7. 09/15/2025

    247. Rabbi Eliyahu Shusterman | Faith and Recovery

    Faith is an important tool in recovery. Not everyone has is, but if you do, you should tap into this magical source. Globally, about 70-75% of the population believe in God or a higher power and faith traditions represent about 84% of the population. There are about 20 -25 organized religions and over 4,000 faith groups worldwide. The Faith Leaders have an important role in the issue of drugs and are underutilized group in drug prevention, treatment, and recovery. Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman is the founder and director of Chabad Intown - Atlanta. Chabad Intown is now a full-service provider for Jewish Life in Atlanta whose offerings include; Mommy and Me, Intown Jewish Preschool, Intown Hebrew School, C-Teen, Young Jewish Professionals, Intown Jewish Academy, JBN, Jeff’s Place Recovery Center and the Shul @ Chabad Intown. From its inception in 1997 Chabad Intown has grown exponentially and currently serves over 2,000 Jews of all backgrounds throughout the year. In addition, Rabbi Schusterman is a consultant for many Chabad Centers in fundraising and organization management. One of his passions is utilizing technology and business technique to better impact the Jewish world and increase Jewish involvement. He received ordination from the Central Chabad Yeshiva in Brooklyn. He and his wife Dena, Executive Director of the Intown Jewish Preschool, have 8 children, and 2 grandchildren. https://www.clintonfoundation.org/programs/education-health-equity/clinton-global-initiative/overdose-response-network/engaging-community-leaders Disclaimer:  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views, policies, or positions of the United States Government or any of its agencies. The content was recorded prior to the speaker's current federal service and is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only.  No agency endorsement or approval should be inferred.

    1h 6m

  8. 09/08/2025

    246. Dr. Daniel Myran | Public Health Research on Pot

    Canada is number one in marijuana consumption and is also producing large population based public heath research on pot. Dr. Daniel Myran is a public health and preventative medicine physician, a family physician and researcher. He holds a Canada Research Chair in Social Accountability at the University of Ottawa and is an assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine. He practices family medicine with an interest in addiction medicine.  Dr. Myran’s research uses health administrative data to track healthcare visits for mental health and substance use at the population level and investigate the impact of alcohol and drug policy including the legalization of non-medical cannabis on these outcomes. His work also focuses on understanding risks and downstream health outcomes associated with substance use disorders.  Dr. Myran's publications can be found here. Disclaimer:  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views, policies, or positions of the United States Government or any of its agencies. The content was recorded prior to the speaker's current federal service and is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only.  No agency endorsement or approval should be inferred.

    52 min
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4.9
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About

High Truths on Drugs and Addiction is a podcast hosted by Dr. Roneet Lev, an emergency and addiction physician who has served at the White House and practices on the front lines. Each Monday new episodes will feature experts that answer questions from you, our audience. We hope to bring your day a little bit more High Truths.

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