P2R Episode 3 | A Cuban-Born Dentist's Mission to Educate 100,000 Youth on Drug Prevention скачать в хорошем качестве

P2R Episode 3 | A Cuban-Born Dentist's Mission to Educate 100,000 Youth on Drug Prevention

What does a periodontist from Queens, New York, have to do with drug prevention? Everything. Dr. Bernard "Ben" Fialkoff is a Cuban-born dental surgeon who has dedicated nearly two decades of his life to substance use prevention education — conducting over 2,000 events across the Eastern Seaboard and Central America and reaching more than 100,000 young people and families. In this episode of From Prevention to Recovery with Marcel Gemme, Dr. Fialkoff shares the personal experiences that changed his life's direction — a high school friend whose marijuana use destroyed his athletic career, and a family member who cycled through rehab three times. He explains why "a drug is a poison," breaks down the science of how vaping and marijuana affect brain development between ages 13 and 25, and reveals how marijuana use caused a patient's dental surgery to fail — twice. As founding sponsor and president of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World — The Americas Chapter, Dr. Fialkoff has earned recognition from Senator Chuck Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congresswoman Grace Meng, and received the International Freedom Medal for Drug Education. He's forged national agreements with the Dominican Republic and Haiti and partnered with military organizations in El Salvador and Guatemala. This conversation is packed with practical tools — from how to talk to your kids about drugs without pushing them away, to natural alternatives that produce the same dopamine release, to why 113,000 American drug deaths in one year dwarfs the 58,000 lost in 10 years of the Vietnam War. 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with the people on the frontlines of substance use prevention and recovery. 📌 ABOUT THE GUEST Dr. Bernard "Ben" Fialkoff, DDS, is a periodontist and dental implant surgeon practicing in Bayside, Queens, New York for over 40 years. Born in Havana, Cuba in 1954, he immigrated to the United States at age eight. He graduated as valedictorian from SUNY Stony Brook (1980) and completed his periodontal specialty at the Memphis VA Hospital / University of Tennessee (1982). In 2006, Dr. Fialkoff co-founded the Foundation for a Drug-Free World — The Americas Chapter with his daughter Meghan. Since then, they have conducted over 2,000 drug education events, reaching more than 100,000 youth and training over 5,000 NYPD officers. He has forged national drug prevention agreements with the Dominican Republic and Haiti, and partnered with military organizations in El Salvador and Guatemala. His work has been recognized by Senator Chuck Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congresswoman Grace Meng, NYC Public Advocate Letitia James, and over 20 government officials. He received the International Freedom Medal for Drug Education in England, the Pierre Fauchard Academy Award, and the International College of Dentists Award. Dr. Fialkoff is a member of the New York State Dental Association Chemical Dependency Committee and hosts "A Time for Truth Show" on Optimum Cable Channel 1014. 📌 ABOUT THE HOST Marcel Gemme is the founder and CEO of SUPE (Substance Use Prevention Education), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing evidence-based substance use prevention education to young people worldwide. With over 20 years of experience in substance use treatment and prevention, Marcel created Addicted.org to help individuals and families find the information and resources they need. His philosophy: educate people to prevent the need for treatment. 📌 ABOUT THE PODCAST From Prevention to Recovery with Marcel Gemme features in-depth conversations with professionals, first responders, advocates, and people with lived experience in the fight against substance use. Each episode brings real stories, real solutions, and actionable information. 🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🌐 Foundation for a Drug-Free World: https://www.drugfreeworld.org 🌐 SUPE: https://www.addicted.org/supe/ 🌐 Addicted.org: https://www.addicted.org 📧 Contact Dr. Fialkoff: fdfwamericas@gmail.com 📺 A Time for Truth Show: Search "A Time for Truth Show" on YouTube