244. Linda Davis | Hope vs Handcuffs244. Linda Davis | Hope vs Handcuffs
High Truths on Drugs and Addiction
Hope vs Handcuff is what Judge Linda Davis recommends for people with a substance use disorder. Judge Linda Davis was appointed to the bench on March 27, 2000, by Michigan Governor John Engler. Prior to her judgeship, she spent 13 years as an Assistant Prosecutor with the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office. Davis played a crucial role in the creation of Face Addiction Now, formerly Families Against Narcotics and has been instrumental in the success and growth of the organization. She has received several prestigious awards from organizations such as the FBI, Care House, and the Girl Scouts of America. Among the awards she has been given are the Macomb Community College Outstanding Alumna Award; the Michigan Association of Treatment Court Professionals President’s Award; the Macomb Bar Distinguished Public Service Award; and the Macomb County Humanitarian of the Year Award. She has also been named the Henry Ford Hospital Woman of Excellence and Influence and the 2019 Community Star for the state of Michigan in conjunction with National Rural Health Day. Judge Davis served on Michigan Governor Rick Snyder’s Opiate Task Force and later was appointed to chair the Governor’s Commission for the Prescription Overdose and Opiate Response Team. In addition, she was invited to consult with President Donald J. Trump’s Opiate Task Force and First Lady Melania Trump’s roundtable discussion on how the opioid epidemic is affecting families. Davis’ expertise was also called on by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, resulting in a spot on the state’s Opioid Task Force Advisory Board. Davis is currently FAN’s Executive Director and primary speaker and presents multiple times a week to groups—both statewide and nationally—on the opioid crisis and the stigma associated with addiction. A frequent plenary speaker at conferences, she works tirelessly to educate doctors, nurses, dentists, law enforcement, lawyers, and legislators about substance use disorder. Davis’ recent presentations include those made to Impact100; the Michigan Association of Treatment Court Professionals Conference; the Michigan Rural Health Conference; the Michigan Department of Corrections; the Opioid and Substance Use Disorder Virtual Summit; the Police Treatment and Community Collaborative’s Pre-Arrest Diversion Summit (Chicago); the CDC/HIDTA Overdose Response Strategy Conference (Salt Lake City); and the Southern Nevada Substance Misuse and Overdose Prevention Summit (Las Vegas), Keynote speaker for National Rural Health conference (Washington D.C. Presently working on an initiative to take FAN’s programming to rural areas of Michigan, Davis was recently appointed as a voting member of the new Opioid Advisory Commission in Michigan, which will determine how funds from the National Opioid Settlement will be spent in the state.
59:29•24 Aug 2025
Hope Not Handcuffs: Judge Linda Davis' Mission
Episode Overview
- Judge Linda Davis advocates for hope over handcuffs in addiction treatment.
- Face Addiction Now connects individuals to no-cost recovery resources.
- Drug policy focuses on reducing overdose deaths and securing supply chains.
- Hope Not Handcuffs offers alternatives to incarceration for substance use.
- Long-term continuum of care is essential for successful addiction recovery.
“I like to focus on the odds that most people can be helped and that we have to give it our all for every individual that crosses our path.”
In this insightful episode of High Truths on Drugs and Addiction, Dr. Roneet Lev engages in a compelling conversation with Judge Linda Davis, an esteemed figure in the field of addiction recovery. As the executive director of Face Addiction Now, Judge Davis has been a pivotal force in transforming approaches to substance use disorder from punitive to supportive. Her flagship initiative, Hope Not Handcuffs, exemplifies this shift by collaborating with law enforcement agencies to offer individuals alternatives to incarceration.
Judge Linda Davis was appointed to the bench in 2000 and has since devoted her career to addressing the complexities of addiction. Her work with Face Addiction Now, formerly known as Families Against Narcotics, aims to bridge gaps in the recovery process. The organization provides individuals impacted by substance use with access to no-cost programs and resources, fostering a continuum of care that is vital for lasting sobriety. Throughout the episode, Dr.
Lev and Judge Davis discuss the current state of drug policy, highlighting the Trump administration's six key areas of focus, including reducing overdose fatalities and securing global supply chains against drug trafficking. Judge Davis underscores the importance of addressing addiction through a comprehensive approach that integrates prevention, treatment, and innovative research. The conversation delves into the challenges faced during the opioid epidemic, noting how prescription practices led many young individuals from prescribed opiates to heroin addiction.
Judge Davis shares poignant stories from her tenure as a drug court judge, illustrating the need for compassion, understanding, and tailored interventions. A particularly inspiring aspect of Judge Davis' work is the Hope Not Handcuffs program, which collaborates with over 180 police departments. This initiative allows individuals to seek medical help and addiction treatment directly through law enforcement agencies, emphasizing recovery over punishment.
Her advocacy for a long-term continuum of care highlights the necessity of treating addiction as a chronic disease, similar to other medical conditions. The episode concludes with an appeal for continued efforts to fill the gaps in addiction care and foster positive results in long-term sobriety. Judge Davis' dedication to her cause is evident throughout the discussion, leaving listeners motivated to support initiatives that provide hope and healing to those struggling with addiction. Dr.
Roneet Lev thanks Judge Linda Davis for her invaluable contributions and encourages listeners to learn more about the impactful work being done by Face Addiction Now.
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.
Related Episodes
Similar episodes from other shows in the catalogue.