Dr. Nora D. Volkow, M.D., is the longest residing Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the National Institutes of Health since 2003.

She is the world's go to person when it comes to the issue of drugs, and commonly known as the mother to the science demonstrating that drug addiction is a brain disorder.

Dr. Volkow continues her tradition of starting the High Truths podcast season with reflections and hopes in the issue of drugs.

Hello and Welcome to Season 5 of High Truths on Drugs and Addiction. What an honor and joy I have from hosting High Truths. Each episode I have great discussions with fascinating and knowledge people who get me thinking and teach me something new. It is like the Talmudic saying in Ethics of our Fathers, Who is Wise, One who learns from every person. And you and I learn so much from our High Truths guest. Talmudically speaking - I guess that means we are all wise.

Can you believe that we already had 210 conversations with fascinating people? I love it. But more importantly, the conversations we have - lead to action, drug policies and solutions.

Talk is great, but as the saying goes, Action speaks louder than words. Keeping with our High Truths tradition, this first episode of Season 5 will be just me sharing with you my monologue for the year.This is the one and only time of year where you hear just from me, and the rest of the season is dialogue with my guests. Here is what I want to cover with you today.

• First Reflections about this High Truths Podcast
• Then a state of the union on the drug data.
• And ending with hopes for our future with solutions and action.

So here I go...

The High Truths Season Finale airs the live conversation from December 13 with Drs. Bertha Madras, Libby Stuyt and Aaron Weiner. The experts share their reflections on 2024, hopes for 2025, and advice for the new Trump administration.