Addiction Talk Episode 53: Ozempic, Wegovy & Beyond: The Future of Addiction Treatment
About Our Guests
The latest episode of “Addiction Talk” promises to be a thought-provoking conversation between three guests who are at the forefront of addiction recovery research and advocacy. Cure Addiction Now Founder Nancy Davis, Director of Drug Discovery Institute Paul J. Kenny, and MTV’s Laguna Beach and The Hills star Jason Wahler will be discussing the latest breakthroughs in addiction recovery, including the usage of the widely popular medications Ozempic and Wegovy (semaglutide) to combat addiction cravings.
Dr. Paul Kenny, the Director of the Drug Discovery Institute, is a renowned neuroscience expert who has dedicated his career to understanding the complex workings of the brain. As the Ward-Coleman Professor and Chair of the Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, he is at the forefront of cutting-edge research that seeks to uncover the mysteries of neurobehavioral disorders, including substance use disorders. One of his key areas of focus is the role of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in drug addiction, obesity, and schizophrenia. By using vector-based delivery systems to modify gene expression in the brains of rodents, Dr. Kenny and his team are identifying novel signaling cascades that may help to shed light on these complex disorders
Nancy Davis, the founder of Cure Addiction Now, a leading medical research nonprofit dedicated to finding permanent cures for substance use disorders. In 2018, Nancy alongside her son, actor Jason Davis, formed the organization. She also launched a Center Without Walls program that unites top scientists and researchers in substance use disorder to work together to help discover treatments that will ultimately lead to permanent recovery from addiction. While Jason Davis sadly lost his battle with substance use disorder in 2020, Nancy and her family continue the work of Cure Addiction Now and hope to revolutionize how substance use disorders are treated.
Jason Wahler is a TV personality known for his work on popular TV shows, including MTV’s Laguna Beach, The Hills and Celebrity Rap Superstar. Jason has publicly battled addiction for years, with 18 arrests and time in 12 treatment centers. Jason has since made a 180-degree turn in his life and is now dedicated his life to bringing awareness to the severity of this disease. He also serves as a board member of Cure Addiction Now.
