Addiction Industry Games, Shame & Secrets with Dr. Cali Estes
The addiction and mental health industries have a HUGE problem that no one wants to talk about. In the latest episode of The Gaslit Truth Podcast, I sat down with Dr. Cali Estes to talk about the uncomfortable realities inside the addiction treatment industry. It’s gross. It’s real. And as a therapist trained in addiction, I never knew this shit existed.
Dr. Cali Estes is a global leader in addiction recovery who has trained tens of thousands of professionals, but she’s also lived this personally. And right now, she’s filming an upcoming Netflix series exposing the addiction and mental health industry and many of the exact issues we discussed in this episode.
We talked about how rehab facilities make millions while people continue cycling in and out of treatment, why the “30 days fixes addiction” model often fails, and how body brokering and referral kickbacks still exist in some parts of the industry. That revolving door families feel trapped in? We talked openly about why it happens. That “intervention” show you love to watch? Made for TV, lies and causing undue harm to the clients.
But this conversation wasn’t just about what’s broken. We also discussed what actually helps people heal: trauma-informed therapy, EMDR, somatic work, nervous system regulation, post-acute withdrawal support, nutrition, labs, supplements, and recovery planning that continues after detox ends.
We also explored psychiatric medication use in recovery, including the complicated role SSRIs and benzodiazepines can play and where informed consent and tapering conversations matter.
One of the things I appreciated most about this episode is that Dr. Cali isn’t afraid to say the quiet parts candidly, out loud. No wonder is coined the female Dr. Drew! She’s challenging systems that often prioritize profit over healing while also offering practical alternatives through her Sober on Demand model and recovery work.
If you’re a clinician, someone in recovery, or someone trying to help a loved one, this episode will probably challenge a lot of what you’ve been told. That’s EXACTLY exactly the point.
