Alexis Pleus Turning a Mother's Heartbreak into Action

Alexis Pleus Turning a Mother's Heartbreak into Action

Author: Joanie Sigal September 26, 2025 Duration: 26:13

When Alexis Pleus, a civil engineer and dedicated educator, lost her son Jeff to a heroin overdose, she discovered that everything she'd been taught about addiction was wrong. This devastating truth ignited a new mission.

In this powerful episode, Alexis, founder of Truth Pharm, shares her journey from grief to advocacy. She reveals the false dogma that failed her family and now drives her to spare others from the same discrimination and misinformation.

You'll hear her inspiring story of creating the National Trail of Truth, a memorial that turns collective loss into a force for change. This is more than a story about loss; it's a testament to the power of a mother's love and her relentless pursuit of a more compassionate and accurate understanding of substance use.

Don't miss Alexis's raw and compelling account of how she's turning pain into purpose.  PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOU ARE IN THE WASHINGTON D.C. AREA, THE TRAIL OF TRUTH 2025 WILL BE ON SEPTEMBER 27TH FROM 11AM - 7PM ON THE NATIONAL MALL.

https://trailoftruth.org for more information on the Event on September 27th 2025 in Washington D.C.and to fill out their survey about drug abuse

https://truthpharm.org

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The Addiction Podcast - Point of No Return
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Intro and Outro music by:

Decisions by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100756

Artist: http://incompetech.com/


Hosted by Joanie Sigal, The Addiction Podcast-Point of No Return is a raw and necessary conversation about substance use and the path out of it. This isn't a clinical lecture, but a collection of real voices from the heart of the crisis. You'll hear from people who have lived through addiction to opioids, heroin, cocaine, prescription drugs, and fentanyl, sharing their journeys from dependence to recovery. The podcast also makes space for the families and loved ones whose lives are intertwined with this struggle, offering their perspectives on the chaos, the repeated attempts at rehab, and the strategies that finally made a difference. Each episode tackles the complex societal and personal issues surrounding addiction, all while grounding the discussion in tangible hope and practical recovery options. By focusing on these firsthand accounts, Joanie creates a podcast that serves as both a lifeline and a roadmap for anyone touched by this challenge-whether you're seeking help for yourself or striving to understand how to support someone else. Tune in for stories that don't shy away from the darkness but consistently point toward the light of resilience and regained control.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Addiction Podcast-Point of No Return
Podcast Episodes
Julieta Santagostino Working for a Drug Free World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:58
What happens when one woman refuses to stay silent in the face of devastation? Meet Julieta, a powerhouse advocate whose journey from the border town of Juarez, Mexico, to global stages is anything but ordinary. Raised i…
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Duration: 24:03
Chris Janssen, MA, BCC is a USA TODAY Bestselling author, and results coach in performance and mindset. Her award-winning books include "Grace Yourself: How to Show Up for the Sober Life You Want" https://www.amazon.com/…
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Duration: 31:37
Matthew (Matt) A. Tyner, Sr. is the author of Fast and Hard: From Addictions to Redemption. He is a man who has reinvented himself and has invested his second chance at life with building positive relationships with thos…
Sybil Stanonis Recovery Through Dance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:32
Dancing since the age of 5, Sybil Stanonis' first love was tap. Taking classes and competing with top level recognition in tap, ballet and jazz throughout childhood; she knew dance was a passion. Her competition success…
Rob Lohman Addiction, Faith and Redemption [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:52
Rob Lohman's battle with addiction began at just 14 years old, fueled by a family history of alcoholism. Throughout his teenage and young adult years, he lived a chaotic, chameleon-like existence, losing his true identit…
Bob Kinney A Daughters Love, a Fathers Redemption [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:38
Bob Kinney is a recovered alcoholic after an 18-year battle of severe alcoholism. He is a father of six children and has 12 grandchildren. He is a veteran with a heart for homeless veterans. He is a Christian, retired ca…
Nick Jonsson Rock Bottom, Recovery and Resilience [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:02
Success isn't just about climbing the ladder—it's about helping others climb it too. That's the heart of Nick Jonsson, co-founder and Managing Director of EGN (Executives' Global Network) across Singapore, Malaysia, and…
Fred Luskin Forgiveness in Recovery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:53
Dr. Frederic Luskin is a psychologist who has been teaching at Stanford University for the past 30 years. He has a Ph. D in Counseling and Health Psychology from Stanford University and holds clinical licenses as a Psych…
Dan Zsido - Educating on Narcan and Saving Lives 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:39
Dan Zsido has had 15 years of narcotics investigative experience with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. He established and supervised the Strategic Diversion Task Force investigating pharmaceutical crimes, doctor sho…