PrevenTable: A PreventEd Podcast

This week on the PrevenTable, we talk with Ashley Johnson from the Missouri National Guard’s Counterdrug Program about her work supporting community prevention efforts. From distributing Narcan kits to schools to teaching mental health first aid, she’s helping make a difference across Missouri. Ashley shares what it’s been like to collaborate more closely with PreventEd and what’s ahead for this growing partnership.

Amanda Ruback, Community Outreach Coordinator with the Missouri Poison Center, says cases of accidental cannabis overdose in children have been on the rise in Missouri since the legalization of the drug two years. This week, we welcomed her to the PrevenTable for a show and tell, where she discusses cannabis safety and storage and explains her role with the center.

In honor of The Collective’s grand opening, we brought in certified peer specialist John Singer to provide insight into his motivation for creating a recovery community center in Jefferson County. He explains the ability of RCC’s to lower barriers to recovery, our partnership with Jefferson Franklin Community Action Corporation, and why transportation services to treatment are so important in JeffCo. Come visit us at The Collective now!

It’s Executive Director x Executive Director today at the PrevenTable! Aaron Laxton with Assisted Recovery Centers of America (ARCA) details his background in social work, the story of ARCA’s beginnings, and the challenges of leading a nonprofit right now.

This week, we’re headed back into the weeds with certified substance abuse counselor and clinical social worker Jay Winig! For the last 17 years, Jay has been a valued part of Saint Louis University’s Counseling Center, beginning the “Sober at SLU” support group for students in recovery, as well as the SHARP and CARRP programs intended to reduce the harm of alcohol and cannabis on campus. Jay and Jenny talk about how cannabis use has evolved since recreational-use legalization in Missouri, plus Jay’s efforts to support students in managing the demands of college without drug use interfering.

Bill Whitney joins Jenny at the PrevenTable for a lesson on Recovery Community Organizations, independent centers focused on helping individuals achieve long-term recovery. Bill and his wife, inspired by their own recovery journeys and the feature documentary “The Anonymous People,” opened an RCO in Georgia after witnessing the success of peer driven models. He tells the backstory of the RCO’s founding, plus discusses his goal to reduce barriers to recovery.

In the U.S. military, masculine gender norms and an emphasis on mental toughness have traditionally been practiced to enforce stoicism within troops. But, mental health and masculinity often clash during the effort to reduce stigma surrounding veterans’ abilities to cope with trauma. Chris Mendes, Director of Operations at Veterans Community Project, directly speaks to his and others’ experience with this military mentality, the crossover between veteran populations with substance misuse, and the VCP’s attempts to connect veterans to behavioral health services.

Susan Bradford of the Missouri Institute of Mental Health is here to give us the scoop on current rates and trends of drug use among young people. She shares what’s working—and what’s not—plus describes the impact of and takeaways from the Missouri Student Survey.

Lakesha Robinson, Sr. Advisor on Children, Youth, & Families to the St. Louis city mayor, joins Jenny to share more about her “heart” work. Focusing on resource access for families and community collaboration, Lakesha explains the impact of the Mayor’s Youth Cabinet, describes how connection helps reduce risk factors for youth, and dives into the details of several initiatives she runs.

What’s the real deal with cannabis use among young people? Thankfully, we have graduate students Madeline and Sam from Washington University St. Louis here to provide insight on college students’ current attitudes and opinions about cannabis. Listen as they break down how the conversation has shifted, plus the varying levels of knowledge and use of the substance.

We’re starting off strong in our Season 5 premiere of the PrevenTable! PreventEd volunteer and small business owner Lisa Lorenz joins Jenny for a conversation on her recovery journey, sharing how she found community through others’ stories and touching on the unique lived experience of being a woman in recovery from alcohol use disorder.

It’s our Season 4 Finale! We’re joined by none other than Nichole Dawsey as our final guest for the year while Interim Executive Director Jenny Armbruster gets a practice run as host (stay tuned for Season 5 ). Nichole reflects on her 16 years at the agency, sharing more about the legacy she hopes to leave and the people who shaped her experience. She also touches on her upcoming transition to Executive Director of the Addiction Prevention Coalition starting this December and the programs and podcast she’s building at her new role. Thank you to Nichole for the hard work and passion she’s put into the PrevenTable podcast over the last four years!