E146 Aired 05-07-2026 - Dr. Scott Gerbert
E146 Aired 05-07-2026 - Dr. Scott Gerbert

Courage to Hope

Host Tony Lagreca talks with Scott Gerbitt about youth vaping, high-potency cannabis and how evidence-based, non-shaming education can replace punishment. The conversation focuses on giving adults and young people practical tools to understand addiction, reduce harm and support sobriety-focused lives.

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57:43•8 May 2026

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Courage to Hope: Scott Gerbitt on Youth, Vaping, Cannabis and Real Prevention

Episode Overview

Punitive school responses like suspension are replaced with education-focused interventions that keep young people connected to support.
Modern vaping devices and nicotine pouches can deliver dramatically higher doses of nicotine than traditional cigarettes, increasing addiction risks.
Today’s legal cannabis often contains 25–35% THC, many times stronger than the 3–5% products used in past decades.
Withdrawal symptoms are often mistaken for illness or anxiety, which can make substances like cannabis feel like ‘medicine’ to young people.
Non-judgmental, evidence-based teaching and peer education help children and teens understand risks without scare tactics or shaming families.

“You’re really hard-pressed to find cannabis that’s less than 25% to 35% THC… It’s like saying a shot of tequila and a beer stein full of tequila are the same drink.”

Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey while also trying to protect the next generation? Courage to Hope brings together host Tony Lagreca and guest Scott Gerbitt from Stanford’s REACH Lab for a straight-talking conversation on youth substance use, changing drug trends, and what genuinely helps. Scott shares how decades working in schools led him to focus on prevention and intervention rather than punishment.

Instead of suspending kids for vaping or using cannabis, his work now helps adults “give adults the tools they need to give young people the tools they need” so that education replaces exclusion. The episode digs into how nicotine and cannabis products have changed. Scott explains that a modern vape pod can equal “about two packs of cigarettes worth of nicotine”, and some disposable vapes can contain “the equivalent of up to 600 cigarettes worth of nicotine”.

Cannabis has shifted too: what once held 3–5% THC now regularly sits at 25–35%, making the old line about “your parents’ weed” seriously out of date. You’ll also hear a grounded chat about addiction, withdrawal and mental health. Scott describes how young people can misread withdrawal symptoms as proof that cannabis is ‘medicine’, simply because using again makes them feel better in the short term.

He goes on to outline why THC, being fat-soluble, can linger in the body far longer than alcohol or nicotine. For parents, teachers, employers and anyone in recovery worried about kids, the tone stays practical and non-judgmental. Scott talks about modelling healthy behaviour, avoiding scare tactics and shame, and using peer education so older students can teach younger ones in language they actually trust.

If you’ve ever worried about a child with a vape in their pocket or a joint in their hand, this conversation offers clear facts and calm guidance rather than fear. What small change could you make today to be the role model you wish you’d had?

PreviousE145 Aired 04-30-2026 - Dr. Stephen D. Loyd, MD