Forge of Freedom

08/19/2025

Join the 2025 Alternative Mass Media Conference in Salt Lake City with exciting guest presenters!

08/10/2025

William Aprill was a unique educator in the personal defense training community. He saw things through a slightly different lens than most instructors. He communicated differently, challenged people to think...

08/08/2025

Join host Alex Ooley & guest Christina Dent, author of Curious, as they dive into a discussion on rethinking addiction & drug policy. From foster care to founding End It For Good, Christina shares her journey from moral absolutes to advocating for health-centered solutions. Listen now on YouTube, Rumble, or your favorite podcast platform!

https://forgeoffreedom.com/episode-191-rethinking-our-approach-to-drugs-and-addiction-with-christina-dent/



End It For Good

08/08/2025

Episode 191. Rethinking Our Approach to Drugs and Addiction with Christina Dent

In this episode of the Forge of Freedom podcast, host Alex Ooley speaks with Christina Dent, an author and advocate for health-centered drug policies. Christina shares her transformative journey from a conservative Christian perspective on addiction to a more compassionate understanding through her experiences as a foster parent. The conversation explores the impact of trauma on addiction, the failures of the war on drugs, and the importance of family-centered treatment approaches. Christina emphasizes the need for a shift in how society views and addresses addiction, advocating for policies that prioritize human dignity and community support.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Christina Dent and Her Journey
02:54 The Shift in Perspective on Addiction
09:15 Understanding Addiction Through Personal Stories
15:52 The Flaws in Current Drug Policies
20:04 The Role of Trauma in Addiction
23:33 The Rat Park Experiment and Its Implications
27:42 Influence of 'Chasing the Scream' on Christina's Views
32:46 Rethinking Drug Policies
35:01 The Global Impact of Drug Trafficking
37:05 The Consequences of Incarceration
39:57 The Role of Black Markets
43:20 Addressing Addiction and Accountability
46:39 Legalization vs. Morality
52:58 Victimless Crimes and Trust in Society
01:00:00 Supporting Loved Ones with Addiction

Resources:

Christina Dent's book (Curious: A Foster Mom's Discovery of an Unexpected Solution to Drugs and Addiction)
https://www.amazon.com/Curious-Discovery-Unexpected-Solution-Addiction/dp/B0CMCDV8VP

End It For Good:
https://enditforgood.com/
https://www.facebook.com/EndItForGoodMS/
https://x.com/EndItForGoodMS
https://www.instagram.com/enditforgoodms/
End It For Good

Christina Dent's TEDx Talk
https://www.ted.com/talks/christina_dent_end_the_war_on_drugs_for_good
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V263dVJZlqs

Johann Hari's book (Chasing the Scream)
https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Scream-Opposite-Addiction-Connection/dp/1620408910/ref=pd_lpo_d_sccl_1/141-6574860-1354435?pd_rd_w=259po&content-id=amzn1.sym.4c8c52db-06f8-4e42-8e56-912796f2ea6c&pf_rd_p=4c8c52db-06f8-4e42-8e56-912796f2ea6c&pf_rd_r=APDWJM0TS72WSPAA7ATR&pd_rd_wg=I33Xs&pd_rd_r=09afa0b1-369b-45ab-9358-9693901aacc6&pd_rd_i=1620408910&psc=1

Johann Hari's TED Talk:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY9DcIMGxMs

The evangelical Christian fighting to end the drug war | Christina Dent | The Reason Interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI9R8rwINUY

Why a Married Conservative Christian Changed Her Mind on the Drug War
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ5ij9Smuhg

Book recommendation (Beyond Addiction: How Science and Kindness Help People Heal)
https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Addiction-Science-Kindness-People/dp/1494554380

Program: Invitation to Change
https://invitationtochange.com/

Program: CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training)
https://www.verywellmind.com/the-craft-approach-to-substance-abuse-intervention-5191125

The Conservative Drug War Creed
https://www.lewrockwell.com/2018/06/laurence-m-vance/the-conservative-drug-war-creed/

Previous Forge of Freedom Episodes Related to the War on Drugs
https://forgeoffreedom.com/episode-58-the-war-on-drugs-is-a-war-on-freedom/
https://forgeoffreedom.com/episode-163-the-war-on-drugs-revisited-a-catastrophic-failure-of-policy-and-morality/
https://forgeoffreedom.com/episode-103-problem-solving-courts-a-critical-examination-with-judge-houchin/
https://forgeoffreedom.com/episode-145-restitution-a-just-approach-to-address

Keywords
addiction, drug policy, foster care, compassion, trauma, Rat Park, legalization, End It For Good, Christina Dent, health-centered approach

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, medical, or financial advice. The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of any organizations or individuals they may mention. The hosts and guests are not liable for any damages that may result from someone listening to this podcast.

08/01/2025

If you're serious about self-defense—not just shooting drills or gear—check out my latest article at Gun Digest: "Self-Preservation: Confronting The Unthinkable" by William Aprill. Drawing from the "Unthinkable" course taught by Aprill and Greg Ellifritz, the piece explores the mindset and psychology required to survive violent encounters—not just how to shoot, but how to think like someone determined not to become a victim.

Lessons from William Aprill on criminal violence and the self-preservation mindset required to survive: http://bit.ly/3INMM8L

07/25/2025

First 30 Seconds is a blunt, no-nonsense study and analysis of the Active Shooter problem in America.

07/24/2025

For those who were waiting for the audiobook to buy GUN CURIOUS, the wait is over. (Link in comments)

07/23/2025

Reflecting on the lessons of William Aprill, my article at Gun Digest goes beyond hardware to explore the mindset needed for real-world self-preservation: understanding how criminals think, the power of awareness, and making "deselection" a daily habit.



Greg Ellifritz Gun Culture 2.0 Gun Digest

You can be a great shot and carry top gear, but if you don't have the proper self-preservation mindset, you're not prepared for violence.

07/21/2025

Episode 190. The One Big Beautiful Bill and Its Impact on the National Fi****ms Act

07/09/2025

In this article, I explore why the militia clause of the Second Amendment still matters and how it protects both our rights and responsibilities as citizens. Worth a read for anyone who cares about liberty and the Constitution.

https://gundigest.com/article/well-regulated-militia


Tenth Amendment Center Gun Digest .digest

06/17/2025

Rob Beckman is the host of the Firearm Trainer's Podcast, and he is running for the NRA Board of Directors. He would be a valuable addition to the BoD. If you are a current NRA Life member or have been a member for 5 consecutive years you can support his efforts by signing his nomination petition below.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19prQfwo2t/

Rob Beckman (Cincinnati, OH) is requesting your support for nomination to the NRA Board of Directors. Please complete the below petition fields. Once completed click the ‘Submit’ button.