#166 From Vaping to Fentanyl: The Hottest (and Weirdest) Drug Stories in America
Sat Mar 01 2025
From vaping bans to the fentanyl crisis, the U.S. is facing some of the most intense—and bizarre—challenges in the world of addiction. In this episode, addiction psychiatrist Dr. Wiplove (Wip) Lamba and addictions case manager Jean-Paul (JP) Michael break down the most pressing substance use trends shaping America today.With JP working on the front lines of addiction care at a major inner-city hospital in Canada and Wip bringing his expertise from clinical and academic work, they offer a unique outside perspective on the policies, trends, and controversies unfolding in the U.S. Whether it’s the explosion of fentanyl deaths, the shifting legal landscape of cannabis, or the unintended consequences of tele-health prescribing, they cover it all with honesty, insight, and just a bit of dark humour (humor)What’s in this episode? • How fentanyl became America’s deadliest drug • Big Pharma’s role in the opioid epidemic—have they really been held accountable? • MAT (Medication-Assisted Treatment)—the “gold standard” for opioid addiction, yet still out of reach for many • The U.S. criminal justice system: Why are people still being locked up for drug possession? • Veterans and addiction—why PTSD and substance use are so closely linked • The youth vaping crisis—how did it get this bad, and what’s being done? • The post-pandemic telehealth boom: a blessing or a disaster for addiction treatment? • Racial disparities in drug policy—who gets access to treatment, and who gets arrested? • Faith-based recovery—effective treatment or exclusionary approach? • Cannabis legalization—has it helped, or just created new problems?Why does this matter?America’s addiction crisis isn’t slowing down, and in many ways, it’s getting weirder. Harm reduction and treatment strategies continue to evolve, but so do the obstacles—whether it’s outdated policies, corporate greed, or new drug trends that emerge faster than regulators can react.As Canadians discussing a U.S. problem, JP and Wip provide a rare perspective: an outsider’s view of a system that seems chaotic, even compared to Canada’s often-criticized approach to addiction treatment. With years of frontline experience, they cut through the noise and get to the real issues—while keeping things engaging, informative, and unfiltered.🔗 Timestamps / Table of Contents:0:03 - Fentanyl Crisis and Overdose Epidemic7:26 - The Role of Big Pharma in the Opioid Epidemic9:39 - Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Access12:02 - Criminalization vs. Treatment for Substance Use14:01 - Veterans and Addiction15:04 - Adolescent Vaping Crisis17:08 - Telehealth for Addiction Treatment Post-Pandemic21:06 - Racial Disparities in Addiction Treatment and Policy Enforcement22:17 - The Role of Faith-Based Programs in Addiction Recovery25:22 - State-Level Cannabis Legalization and Addiction Impacts📣 Join the Conversation:We’d love to hear your thoughts—leave a comment below! Have you or someone you know faced challenges in accessing quality addiction treatment? Share your story and let’s build awareness together.🎤 About the Hosts:Featuring addiction psychiatrist Dr. Wiplove (Wip) Lamba, addictions case manager and former addict Jean-Paul (JP) Michael, along with their guests discuss all things related to substance use, addiction, addiction medicine, psychotherapy, harm reduction, treatment and recovery. Wip and JP share their motivation, curiosity, and passion for their craft. JP works on a daily basis in a renown inner city hospital in Canada's largest city. This work is separate from Wiplove’s clinical and academic work.
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From vaping bans to the fentanyl crisis, the U.S. is facing some of the most intense—and bizarre—challenges in the world of addiction. In this episode, addiction psychiatrist Dr. Wiplove (Wip) Lamba and addictions case manager Jean-Paul (JP) Michael break down the most pressing substance use trends shaping America today.With JP working on the front lines of addiction care at a major inner-city hospital in Canada and Wip bringing his expertise from clinical and academic work, they offer a unique outside perspective on the policies, trends, and controversies unfolding in the U.S. Whether it’s the explosion of fentanyl deaths, the shifting legal landscape of cannabis, or the unintended consequences of tele-health prescribing, they cover it all with honesty, insight, and just a bit of dark humour (humor)What’s in this episode? • How fentanyl became America’s deadliest drug • Big Pharma’s role in the opioid epidemic—have they really been held accountable? • MAT (Medication-Assisted Treatment)—the “gold standard” for opioid addiction, yet still out of reach for many • The U.S. criminal justice system: Why are people still being locked up for drug possession? • Veterans and addiction—why PTSD and substance use are so closely linked • The youth vaping crisis—how did it get this bad, and what’s being done? • The post-pandemic telehealth boom: a blessing or a disaster for addiction treatment? • Racial disparities in drug policy—who gets access to treatment, and who gets arrested? • Faith-based recovery—effective treatment or exclusionary approach? • Cannabis legalization—has it helped, or just created new problems?Why does this matter?America’s addiction crisis isn’t slowing down, and in many ways, it’s getting weirder. Harm reduction and treatment strategies continue to evolve, but so do the obstacles—whether it’s outdated policies, corporate greed, or new drug trends that emerge faster than regulators can react.As Canadians discussing a U.S. problem, JP and Wip provide a rare perspective: an outsider’s view of a system that seems chaotic, even compared to Canada’s often-criticized approach to addiction treatment. With years of frontline experience, they cut through the noise and get to the real issues—while keeping things engaging, informative, and unfiltered.🔗 Timestamps / Table of Contents:0:03 - Fentanyl Crisis and Overdose Epidemic7:26 - The Role of Big Pharma in the Opioid Epidemic9:39 - Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Access12:02 - Criminalization vs. Treatment for Substance Use14:01 - Veterans and Addiction15:04 - Adolescent Vaping Crisis17:08 - Telehealth for Addiction Treatment Post-Pandemic21:06 - Racial Disparities in Addiction Treatment and Policy Enforcement22:17 - The Role of Faith-Based Programs in Addiction Recovery25:22 - State-Level Cannabis Legalization and Addiction Impacts📣 Join the Conversation:We’d love to hear your thoughts—leave a comment below! Have you or someone you know faced challenges in accessing quality addiction treatment? Share your story and let’s build awareness together.🎤 About the Hosts:Featuring addiction psychiatrist Dr. Wiplove (Wip) Lamba, addictions case manager and former addict Jean-Paul (JP) Michael, along with their guests discuss all things related to substance use, addiction, addiction medicine, psychotherapy, harm reduction, treatment and recovery. Wip and JP share their motivation, curiosity, and passion for their craft. JP works on a daily basis in a renown inner city hospital in Canada's largest city. This work is separate from Wiplove’s clinical and academic work.