332: Psychedelic Innovations in the Fight Against Addiction with Devin Effinger
The Addicted Mind Podcast
Duane Osterlind, LMFT
4.8 • 621 Ratings
🗓️ 5 May 2025
⏱️ 63 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
After enduring the chaos of addiction and the devastation of personal loss, Dr. Devin Effinger emerged with a new perspective and a mission to explore the healing potential of neuroscience. At just 15, a traumatic brain injury set the stage for a tumultuous journey through substance abuse, but also inspired a relentless pursuit of recovery and scientific discovery. Join us as Devin courageously shares his story, from the darkest moments marked by addiction and tragedy to the pivotal breakthroughs that spurred his remarkable transformation.
We venture into the intricate world of addiction, examining the neurological pathways that reinforce such destructive habits and the powerful influence of early trauma on our mental health. Devin unpacks the complex interplay of trauma, addiction, and the brain, offering insight into how substances can hijack our reward systems and why recovery is such a daunting endeavor. With raw honesty, he recounts his own battles with addiction, including the tragic consequences that forced him to confront the need for change.
In this episode, you will hear:
-
Dr. Devin Effinger's transformative journey from addiction and trauma to recovery and scientific exploration.
-
Insights into the neurological pathways that contribute to addiction and the role of early trauma.
-
Exploration of the promising potential of psychedelic medicine in promoting neuroplasticity and aiding recovery.
-
The complex interplay between trauma, addiction, and the brain's reward systems.
-
The challenges and breakthroughs in embracing a 12-step recovery process.
-
Devin's advocacy for restorative justice and trauma-informed care in addiction treatment.
Follow and Review:
We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.
Supporting Resources:
Episode Credits
If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Addicted Mind podcast. |
| 0:08.5 | My name is Dwayne Austerlund. |
| 0:09.7 | I'm your host, and today we have a truly inspiring and insightful episode lined up for you. |
| 0:16.2 | Our guest is Dr. Devin Effinger. |
| 0:19.1 | Devin is not only a neuroscientist specializing in the neurobiology of psychedelics, |
| 0:24.7 | stress, motivation, but he's also someone who has walked that difficult road of addiction |
| 0:31.6 | and recovery. |
| 0:33.8 | And sobriety has been part of his life since 2011, but his story goes far beyond that. |
| 0:42.8 | He overcame a traumatic brain injury at the age of 15 and lost his best friend shortly |
| 0:49.3 | after. |
| 0:50.3 | Devin endured a lot of unimaginable pain that led him down the path of addiction. |
| 0:57.0 | But his story really is a story of resilience and transformation. |
| 1:02.9 | And after finding sobriety, he poured his energy into helping others. |
| 1:08.8 | He founded a nonprofit for at-risk youth and incarcerated individuals. |
| 1:13.7 | And he didn't stop there. Devin went back to school, earned his PhD in neuropharmacology, |
| 1:19.4 | and now works tirelessly to translate that cutting-edge brain research into practical tools |
| 1:26.1 | for healing and personal growth. |
| 1:27.9 | He's going to share that on this episode. |
| 1:31.2 | And today, Devin is also going to share his incredible story, but he's also going to explore |
| 1:36.0 | the neuroscience of recovery and discuss the potential role of psychedelics could play in |
| 1:41.7 | that recovery process. |
| 1:43.7 | Devin shares his story with raw honesty, |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Duane Osterlind, LMFT, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Duane Osterlind, LMFT and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.