Recovery Discovery | Legal but Dangerous (w/Dr. Aaron Weiner)

Understanding the Real Risks of Alcohol, THC, and Gas-Station Drugs

In this episode of Show Up and Stay: Recovery Discovery, hosts DeAnn Knighton and Craig Knighton sit down with Dr. Aaron Weiner — board-certified psychologist and Executive Vice President at the Prevention Research Institute — to unpack a truth many people still don’t realize: just because a substance is legal doesn’t mean it’s safe.

Dr. Weiner breaks down how alcohol, high-potency THC, nicotine, kratom, and even so-called “gas-station drugs” interact with the brain and body. Through science, compassion, and real-world experience, he explains why legality, availability, and marketing often distort public perception — especially for young people and those in recovery.

Listeners will learn:

• Why alcohol remains one of the most harmful substances sold over the counter
• How modern THC potency is 6–10x higher than in past decades
• Why daily THC use among young adults has now surpassed alcohol
• The rise of unregulated “legal highs” and why some are actually opioids in disguise
• Why addiction is biology, not moral failure
• How policy, profit, and public health collide in ways the public rarely sees
• What truly supports recovery — and why swapping substances doesn’t work

This conversation offers clarity instead of judgment, science instead of fear, and hope instead of stigma. Whether you're in recovery, supporting someone who is, or just trying to navigate a world full of mixed messages, this episode gives you what most people never get: the facts.

If you have questions or comments or would like to be a guest on the Recovery Discovery Podcast, send an email to:
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More information about our project is available at:
https://www.showupandstay.org/
https://www.soberpositiveworkplace.org/

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Music and Audio Production by Katie Hare.
https://www.hare.works