How to Talk About Addiction, Super Bowl Ads, Hi-Tech Olympic Training

How We Talk About “Addicts” Matters Guest: Michael Botticelli, Executive Director of the Grayken Center for Addiction, Boston Medical Center, Former Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy An estimated 21 million Americans over the age of 12 are addicted to alcohol or other drugs. But only ten percent of them are getting treatment. Would that number improve if we talked about addiction differently? If, instead of calling someone an addict or a user, we referred to them as “a person with a substance use disorder”? The $5 Million Dollar Question Guest: Gary Wilcox, PhD, Professor of Advertising & Public Relations, University of Texas Austin  So, the Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl, but who won the battle for brand awareness during those very expensive commercial breaks?  Companies from Amazon and Budweiser to Tide and Turbo Tax shelled out $5 million dollars per 30-seconds of advertising time during the big game. Who got their money’s worth and who blew it? Olympic Technology Guest: Gordy Megroz, Correspondent, Outside Magazine  Every Olympics, the athletes get faster and their gear gets fancier. Did you know this year the American team is wearing parkas with built-in heaters? Technology is also changing how athletes train. Religion and the Trump Presidency Guest: Shaun Casey, MDiv, ThD, Director, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs, Georgetown University, and former Special Representative for Religion and Global Affairs at the US State Department US Presidents often talk about God – they end speeches with “God Bless America” and they tout the importance of faith in American life. We’ll see them attending church and sometimes they’ll reference their own religious beliefs when talking about how they came to a certain decision. President Trump offers an interesting paradox in this tradition: he presents himself as a champion of faith, but not as a particularly religious man. Shaun Casey is on campus to speak at BYU’s World Interfaith Harmony Week.  Parent Previews: Winche