EPISODE 041726

EPISODE 041726

How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? Clean and Sober Radio tackles that question head-on, with host Gary Hendler and co-host Mark Sigmund chatting candidly about who’s really best placed to support people with addiction: medical professionals, or those with lived experience.

You’ll hear Gary argue passionately that, "I would feel way more comfortable dealing with somebody in the medical field such as you who has gone through this," while Mark balances that by noting that many clinicians who aren’t in recovery can still be very effective. Their back-and-forth digs into trust, empathy, and why so many people prefer talking to someone who has "the résumé" of addiction and recovery.

The episode lays out some stark facts about medical training: federally, doctors only need eight hours of addiction-related education for a DEA licence, which Gary calls "unbelievable" against the backdrop of the opioid crisis. They connect that gap to overprescribing, poor pain management, and stories of people whose addictions began with sports injuries and pain pills.

News stories frame the chat: Tiger Woods’ alleged impairment and treatment, research into a THC breathalyser for drug-driving, and the ongoing dangers of kratom being sold over the counter. A moving call from former Philadelphia councilman Rick Mariano about his son’s need for treatment brings the conversation down to raw, family-level reality. Gary and Mark also touch on childhood trauma, harsh discipline, sexual abuse, and how unspoken secrets drive relapse and lifelong pain.

They keep things light where they can, joking about geography and music, but never dodge the serious stuff: panic attacks, chronic pain, cancer risks from alcohol, and the urgent need for better-informed care. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’d feel safer with a doctor, a counsellor in recovery, or both, this conversation might get you thinking about what kind of support feels right for you.