Following up on the Monday, April 27, 2026 Program

What drives addiction? The answer starts with dopamine, the brain chemical behind motivation, learning, and the powerful pull of substances. Dr. Kevin McCauley is known for making addiction science accessible. In this program, he updates his signature “Periodic Table of the Intoxicants” to reflect today’s drug landscape, including why fentanyl is so much more dangerous than other opioids, how cannabis use can shift from helpful to harmful, and why the enthusiasm around psychedelics in therapy deserves a closer look.

Our special guest, Dr. Kevin McCauley, MD, MPH is a Senior Fellow at Meadows Behavioral Healthcare. He graduated in 1992 from Drexel University School of Medicine and first became interested in the treatment of substance use disorders while serving as a Naval Flight Surgeon. Kevin wrote and directed two films: “Memo to Self” about the concepts of recovery management, and “Pleasure Unwoven” about the neuroscience of addiction which won the 2010 Michael Q. Ford Award for Journalism from the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers.

Guest Presenter:  Kevin McCauley, MD, MPH

Following up on the Wednesday, May 21, 2025 Program

This is a really good time for parents and other caregivers to expand our understanding of cannabis, given the increased use of medical marijuana and questions about what works best for anxious or stressed out kids.
Just as adults may be drinking more to cope with these stressful times, adolescents may be smoking more THC products. Even before the pandemic, adolescent cannabis use was at its highest rate in 30 years.
We discussed healthy and effective ways kids can manage stress and anxiety – today and for a lifetime.

Guest Presenter:  Patrick Dowling, LPC

Following up on the March 25, 2025 Program

Kids are wired to try new things. Whether it’s nicotine, THC (cannabis), or “just” flavoring, the current trend, both nationally and locally, is vaping. Along with other risky behaviors, this is something we need to have a conversation about, as parents and as a community that cares.

This program addressed:
• Ways we can help kids to break away from cultural pressures.
• The teenage brain is built to take risks. How can we encourage smart choices?
• Vaping can involve flavored liquids, nicotine, or THC (cannabis). We discuss the implications of each.
• What are the implications of medical marijuana, and the potential for legalized adult use?

Following up on the Tuesday, February 18, 2025 Program

What was once a relatively simple plant, cannabis has inspired everything from fear to fierce loyalty. We had a conversation about the science of today’s cannabis and its impact on young people’s developing brains. We need to learn all we can about this evolving substance, which bears little resemblance to a plant. This program addresses the effects of increased THC levels, social norms, availability, and the impact on a young, developing brain.

Guest Presenters:  Patrick Dowling, LPC & Allie Behr

Following up on the November 22, 2024 Program

It’s human nature for young people to seek opportunities to escape life’s stressors and feelings of anxiety. Social pressures, poor sleep patterns, and the onslaught of technology have contributed to a very challenging time for adolescents and young adults. Given the increased use of medical marijuana, we all need to expand our understanding of cannabis and ask important questions about what works best for anxious or stressed out kids.

Just as adults may be drinking more to cope with these stressful times, adolescents may be using more nicotine and THC products. This program addresses healthy and effective ways kids can manage stress and anxiety – today and for a lifetime.

Guest Presenter:  Kara Schwartz, MS

Following up on the June 8, 2024 Program

Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana, and the potential for legalized adult-use cannabis, have created increased access and reduced perceptions of harm among young people and their families. Healthcare professionals have also expressed confusion around the potential benefits and harms associated with THC products.

This training provides important scientific evidence and insights from treatment professionals who have encountered the effects of cannabis, with a particular focus on youth.

Guest Presenters: Libby Stuyt, MD, an addiction psychiatrist from IASIC; & Mohammad Sarhan, MD, an addiction medicine physician from Caron Treatment Center.

Following up on the Wednesday, May 22, 2024 Program

Recorded on May 22, 2024, we explored the attitudes and beliefs surrounding cannabis, which are influenced by many factors, including age, socioeconomics, politics, and lived experience. The impact on families has been profound. Young people who use regularly with increasing frequency are stalwart in their belief that cannabis is not only harmless, but the answer to their anxiety, sleeplessness, pain, etc., while their loved ones’ fears and concerns are escalating.

This schism presents communication challenges that are damaging to relationships. We’ll provide tools which will facilitate meaningful conversations between adults and kids, and among friends and family. We’ll also address ways we can speak publicly about cannabis that is equitable, nonjudgmental, and invites respectful dialogue.

Guest Presenter:  Mallory Henry, BS, CPS of Caron Treatment Center

Following up on the Wednesday, May 1, 2024 Program

We were joined by

Dr. Sharon Levy, MD, MPH,

the Chief of the Division of Addiction Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital to learn about the effects of increased THC potency, social norms, availability, and the impact on a young, developing brain.

Following up on the Tuesday, April 30, 2024 Program

We were grateful to have author and national cannabis policy expert, Ben Cort back with us to have a conversation about “Lessons Learned from Colorado.”

Following up on the April 24, 2024 Program

As leaders in education, we know how much you care about the health and well-being of young people, and the disconcerting trend of vaping substances such as nicotine and cannabis/THC. Access to medical marijuana, illicit substances, and addiction to nicotine are presenting ever-changing challenges to youth, their families, and school personnel. This workshop provides updates about current and potential trends, and explores opportunities for brief interventions, effective alternatives to suspension, and other tools that educators can use to best support young people.

Guest Presenters:  Emily Justice, MA & David Fialko, BS, ICPS, NCTTS

Following up on the Friday, April 5, 2024 Program

A Program for Pennsylvania Changemakers! This video is intended for… ✓ Elected Officials ✓ Members of Law Enforcement ✓ Community Leaders ✓ All Changemakers As we navigate medical marijuana, and the potential for the legalization of adult use cannabis, it is essential that we mitigate any negative impact of cannabis use on our youth.

Guest Presenter:  Jonathan P. Caulkins, PhD

Following up on the April 28, 2023 Program

A Program for Pennsylvania Changemakers! This video is intended for… ✓ Elected Officials ✓ Members of Law Enforcement ✓ Community Leaders ✓ All Changemakers As we navigate medical marijuana, and the potential for the legalization of adult use cannabis, it is essential that we mitigate any negative impact of cannabis use on our youth.

Guest Presenter:  Gillian Schauer, PhD, MPH

Dr. Schauer is the Executive Director of the Cannabis Regulators Association (CANNRA). Dr. Schauer is a Senior Consultant to a number of federal and state agencies. Dr. Schauer shared lessons learned and addressed how to identify best practices to safeguard public health, promote equity, and promote regulatory certainty.

“Cannabis. Who Knew?”

On October 12, 2021, we had an illuminating conversation about today’s cannabis and its impact on young people.

We were joined by Laura Offutt, MD, FACP, physician and teen health advocate, and Michael Blanche, MSS, LCSW from Ethos Treatment, LLC. We also heard from Andrew, an individual who previously used cannabis.