Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Chair of Behavioral Health talks addiction on Mike Huckabee Show

Tue, 12 Dec 2017Asa Keimig | LUCOM Marketing

Linda S. Mintle, PhD, chair of Behavioral Health and director of Strategic Development for Clinical Affairs at LUCOM, was a special guest on the Mike Huckabee Show this past Saturday, Dec. 9, where she talked about addiction with Darryl and Tracy Strawberry and Mike Huckabee.

Darryl was on the show to promote his new book Don’t Give Up on Me, which tells a story of hope and healing in his struggle with addiction and recovery. Strawberry has been sober and clean for over 12 years and is on a mission to educate America on the fall out of addiction, but also the hope of being transformed by a relationship with Jesus Christ. Don’t Give Up on Me was reviewed and endorsed by Dr. Mintle prior to its release in October.

The focus of the discussion on the show was on helping viewers understand the neurobiology of addiction — how it begins as an impulsive act but becomes compulsive with repeated use making it a chronic disease.  “Substance abuse is a disease that affects the mind, body, and spirit,” said Dr. Mintle. “We wanted to help viewers understand the multiple reasons why people use and abuse substances.”

Dr. Mintle and Darryl had previous met at an addiction conference this past September where the two were keynote speakers. Following the conference, Dr. Mintle spent time with Darryl and Tracy where they discussed addiction further from a faith perspective. “We have to understand how addiction changes the brain which changes memory, mood, personality, and physical health in a person,” added Dr. Mintle. “It takes more than detox — it ultimately takes being transformed by the power of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.”

Dr. Mintle is the author of 15 books, including her latest We Need to Talk, numerous chapters and articles, hosts her own radio shows and is a national news contributor on mental health issues.

Watch the episode – Dr. Mintle joins in at 15:15.