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Drug Addiction: Advocacy, Inspiration, Education, and Change

# The resourceful power of effective Communication in dealing with Addiction

February 5, 2026 by Dave Cooke 6 Comments
http://traffic.libsyn.com/theaddictionconversation/Denise_Mariano_Episode_19.mp3

Today’s guest, Denise Mariano, shares the story of her family’s journey with her son’s addiction. While the conversation covered a wide range of topics like recovery, parenting, stigma, treatment, and community, the theme of our conversation centered around the power of communication as a tool to inspire, educate, coach, and encourage.. Everyone battling with their addiction or struggling with the addiction of a loved one. While this fight may not yet be as successful as one would desire, the one certainty is that everyone involved is listening, learning, experiencing, and searching.

Listen to this podcast. The perspectives shared about how we communicate with ourselves, our loved ones, with others in similar situations is very, very powerful. Talking is healing, healing is listening, listening is understanding, and understanding is the gift you cannot live without or withhold from others. Please take time to listen to this conversation and be prepared share the gift of better communication.

Links of interest:

Denise Mariano (Twitter)

Denise Mariano (Facebook)

CRAFT (about)

SMART Recovery (website)

Partnership for Drug Free Kids (website)

Partnership for Drug Free Kids (coaching helpline)

Filed Under: Addiction Tagged With: addiction conversation, addiction podcast, parenting, parenting and addiction, parenting and communication, parenting and drug addiction, parenting and recovery

### Comments

1. Tonia Ahern says:
   February 5, 2026 at 12:09 pm

   Great pod with Denise. Such a compassionate voice for families and those struggling with substance use disorders.

   Reply
   - Dave Cooke says:
     February 5, 2026 at 5:11 pm

     Thanks for listening. Yes, Denise has a wonderful way of communicating. When she says her heart hurts for those in their struggles, I believe it!

     Reply
2. Corey Rose says:
   February 5, 2026 at 12:53 pm

   Thank you for this podcast. Very informative and offered tremendous insight regarding effective communication while dealing with an addicted child. Really appreciated the phrase ” it’s their journey and we are here to love them and support them”.

   Reply
   - Dave Cooke says:
     February 5, 2026 at 5:10 pm

     Thank you for listening and for your encouraging comments. I hope you will be a regular listener. If you ever have a subject or a question that you would like us to make part of a future podcast, please let me know.

     Reply
3. PAMELA DAVIDSON says:
   March 17, 2025 at 7:32 pm

   THIS IS VERY HELPFUL I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH MY ADDICT SON FOR 15 YEARS OR LONGER HE IS NOW 32 YEARS OLD MARRIED W/ A CHILD.
   I’M TIRED HE IS FINALLY IN RECOVERY AT A CLINIC AND I AM HOPING AND PRAYING FOR A GREAT RECOVERY AND I AM ALSO UNDERSTANDING HIS SIDE OF THE ADDICTION PART. I WILL CONTINUE TO LEARN MORE AND MORE. SO IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT CAN BE SENT TO MY E-MAIL TO LEARN MORE WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THIS WAS VERY HELPFUL LISTENING ALSO I AM MORE OF A LISTENER THAN READING ARTICLES. I’VE LOST SO MUCH DUE TO THIS ADDICTION BUT I WILL NOT GIVE UP ON HIM TOTALLY. I AM PROUD HE IS TRYING AND LET HIM KNOW

   Reply
   - Dave Cooke says:
     March 18, 2025 at 7:11 am

     I am sorry that you have gone through this journey. It is a hard and difficult road for parents. I encourage you to continue to listen and learn from the resources available. I would also encourage you to start doing things to change and improve your life, your health, etc. Addiction takes a toll on parents in ways they don’t realize until they find themselves broken down beyond repair. Do things for you that give you joy, energy, clarity. That will help you beyond measure. Peace!

     Reply

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