Marshall Poe
Marshall Poe
Melody Glenn, "Mother of Methadone: A Doctor's Quest, a Forgotten History, and a Modern-Day Crisis" (Beacon Press, 2025)
Melody Glenn, "Mother of Methadone: A Doctor's Quest, a Forgotten History, and a Modern-Day Crisis" (Beacon Press, 2025)
Melody Glenn, "Mother of Methadone: A Doctor's Quest, a Forgotten History, and a Modern-Day Crisis" (Beacon Press, 2025)
Wednesday 6th August 2025
Explore the history and impact of methadone with Dr. Melody Glenn, revealing forgotten heroes and modern challenges in addiction treatment.
44 minutes
informative
hopeful
challenging
inspiring
About this podcast
Author:
Marshall Poe
Overview:
Categories:
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Navigating Alcohol Dependency
Navigating Intimate Relationships
Family Recovery from Addiction
Relationships & Community
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Episodes:
251 (View all)
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Get the buttons here!Mother of Methadone: Unveiling Addiction Treatment
Episode Overview
- Dr. Marie Nyswander's pivotal role in methadone maintenance.
- Harm reduction as a transformative approach in addiction medicine.
- The stigma surrounding methadone and opioid treatments.
- Dr. Melody Glenn's personal journey from burnout to advocacy.
- Root causes of addiction highlighted: trauma, poverty, inequality.
Addiction is treatable; we have an effective treatment. People don't need to die from overdose, and there's hope.
In the latest episode of the New Books Network podcast, host Emily Dufton sits down with Dr. Melody Glenn to discuss her groundbreaking book, 'Mother of Methadone: A Doctor's Quest, a Forgotten History, and a Modern-Day Crisis.' Dr. Glenn's journey from a burned-out emergency physician to a passionate advocate for harm reduction is both inspiring and informative. Her book sheds light on the untold story of Dr. Marie Nyswander, a pioneer in methadone maintenance as a treatment for heroin addiction.
During the conversation, Dr. Glenn shares how her experiences in the emergency room led her to explore more effective treatments for opioid addiction. Despite the stigma surrounding methadone, she discovered its potential to change lives and reduce overdose deaths. This revelation was largely influenced by her research on Dr. Nyswander, who challenged the norms of her time to establish methadone as a viable option for those struggling with addiction.
A significant portion of the podcast is dedicated to discussing the professional challenges faced by those in the field of addiction medicine. Despite decades of research supporting harm reduction strategies, there is still resistance within the medical community and drug policy framework. Dr. Glenn emphasizes the need for increased education and policy reform to improve the lives of individuals with opioid use disorders. The podcast also touches upon the root causes of addiction, such as childhood trauma, poverty, and inequality.
Dr. Glenn's passion for addressing these issues is evident throughout the discussion, as she advocates for a more empathetic and comprehensive approach to addiction treatment. As the episode concludes, Dr. Glenn shares her excitement about her upcoming article in the Believer magazine, focusing on one of the first naloxone distribution programs in rural New Mexico. Her dedication to advancing harm reduction and addiction medicine is clear, and her work continues to inspire those within the field.
Overall, this podcast episode is a powerful exploration of the history, challenges, and future of methadone and opioid addiction treatment. Dr. Glenn's insights provide hope for a more inclusive and effective approach to tackling the opioid crisis.