Addiction

Addictions come in many forms - from alcohol and drug abuse to obsessive gambling or compulsive overeating. Join the July edition of Health Dialogues, as we delve into addictive behavior and consider the latest in effective treatments for changing unhealthy behavior.

What is Addiction?

Why do some people get addicted, while others do not? Guest: Dr. Steve Shoptaw, Ph.D., professor at the UCLA Departments of Family Medicine and Psychiatry.

Homeless Prenatal Program

Scott Shafer visits San Francisco's Homeless Prenatal Program, designed to help homeless and poor families face a variety of issues, including lack of housing, mental illness and addiction.

• More: Homeless Prenatal Program : Learn more about the Homeless Prenatal Program from their website

• Homeless Prenatal Program: See photos from host Scott Shafer's trip to the Homeless Prenatal Program, in San Francisco. The program offers prenatal and parenting services for homeless families.
• Serving Skid Row: Evans Clark used to count himself among the thousands of homeless people addicted to drugs and living on the streets of Skid Row in Los Angeles. Now recovered, Clark still finds himself on the streets of Skid Row every day. But now, he's there to help.

Emergency Rooms and the Cost of Addiction

KPBS reporter Kenny Goldberg looks at the cost of addiction to San Diego hospitals' emergency rooms. Reporter: Kenny Goldberg

Juvenile Dependency Court

What happens when parents are forced to confront addiction in court, with the custody of their children hanging in the balance? Guest: Judge Katherine Lucero, supervising judge at Santa Clara County's Juvenile Dependency Court.

Methamphetamine Use in the Gay Community

Scott Shafer talks with the founder of the Stonewall Project, a program designed to help gay men using methamphetamines. Scott also speaks with Danny, a recovering meth user. Guest: Dr. Michael Siever, Ph.D., director of Behavioral Health Services at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, and founder of the Stonewall Project..

• More: San Francisco AIDS Foundation : Information on client services, education and advocacy.
• More: Tweaker.org : [Warning: site contains explicit content regarding sexual behavior and methamphetamine use] Frank discussion of methamphetamine use and its effects on sexual health in the gay community.