Blu Robinson
Blu Robinson
The War on Drugs : This is Your Brain on Drugs
The War on Drugs : This is Your Brain on Drugs
The War on Drugs : This is Your Brain on Drugs
Tuesday 26th August 2025
Explore the War on Drugs' impact, Reagan's policies, and the opioid crisis with Coach Blu Robinson in this thought-provoking episode.
61 minutes
challenging
informative
critical
reflective
concerned
About this podcast
Author:
Blu Robinson
Overview:
Categories:
Sobriety Toolkit
Body & Mind
Family Recovery from Addiction
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Navigating Intimate Relationships
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Episodes:
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Get the buttons here!Unpacking the War on Drugs Legacy
Episode Overview
- Reagan's War on Drugs policies and their consequences.
- The rise and fall of the Just Say No campaign.
- DARE program's limited impact on youth drug prevention.
- Sackler family's role in the opioid epidemic.
- Need for evidence-based drug prevention strategies.
So many times we miss the mark...because we were afraid to have the conversation.
In this episode of Addict to Athlete, Coach Blu Robinson delves into the multifaceted and controversial history of America's War on Drugs. As the series progresses into its fourth installment, Coach Blu examines the efforts initiated during the Reagan administration in the 1980s, a time when anti-drug campaigns dominated the national conversation.
The episode begins by reflecting on the 'Just Say No' campaign, spearheaded by Nancy Reagan, which aimed to educate young people on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. Despite its good intentions, this campaign often relied on fear-based messaging and stigmatized those struggling with addiction, ultimately failing to produce the lasting behavioral changes it promised.
Coach Blu critically analyzes the effectiveness of these initiatives, highlighting how they often missed the mark by focusing on slogans and celebrity endorsements rather than evidence-based prevention strategies. The DARE program, another major effort from this era, is discussed in detail. Studies consistently showed that the program had little to no measurable effect on reducing drug use among youth, emphasizing the need for honest education, community engagement, and access to treatment.
The episode moves into the more recent history of the opioid crisis, spotlighting the Sackler family's pivotal role in creating the epidemic. Through aggressive marketing and false claims about the non-addictive nature of their pain medication, the Sacklers amassed a fortune at the expense of countless lives. Coach Blu paints a vivid picture of the devastating consequences of these actions and calls for a reevaluation of policies related to addiction and drug enforcement.
As the episode concludes, listeners are encouraged to reflect on the lessons learned from past initiatives and consider how current policies might be revamped to address the ongoing challenges of addiction and drug abuse. Coach Blu also invites listeners to participate in the Addict to Athlete Proxy Run, a symbolic event honoring those affected by addiction, and offers support through coaching and counseling services for those seeking help on their recovery journey.