The Hanley Effect
The Hanley Effect
Podcast Description
Welcome to the Hanley Effect, a podcast by Hanley Foundation designed to educate, change minds, and save lives. Our goal is to inspire you, showcase our innovations, and change the conversation about addiction and mental health. Join us as we unravel stories of resilience, recovery, and hope.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
This podcast focuses on themes of addiction recovery, mental health, and trauma-informed care. Episodes explore topics such as the complexities of treating older adults, the intersection of spirituality and recovery, and innovative programs like Casa Flores, which supports mothers in recovery. Specific episodes highlight personal recovery journeys, community support mechanisms, and the critical role of family involvement in healing.
The Hanley Effect is a weekly addiction recovery and mental health podcast hosted by Dr. John Dyben, Chief Clinical Officer at Hanley Center, and Dr. Rachel Docekal, CEO of the Hanley Foundation.
This trauma-informed podcast explores substance use disorder (SUD), addiction treatment, neuroscience, co-occurring mental health disorders, overdose prevention, adolescent mental health, and long-term recovery through evidence-based conversations with leading experts, clinicians, policymakers, and individuals with lived experience.
Featured guests include leading neuroscientists, healthcare executives, policymakers, law enforcement leaders, and nationally recognized advocates shaping the future of addiction treatment and prevention.
Produced by the Hanley Foundation, a nonprofit leader in prevention, education, treatment, and advocacy, The Hanley Effect delivers trusted insight, practical tools, and real-world perspectives for behavioral health professionals, educators, first responders, families, and people in recovery.
Grounded in science and compassion, this podcast helps listeners better understand addiction, reduce stigma, and build stronger, healthier communities.
What happens when the justice system treats addiction and mental health as public safety priorities without losing sight of compassion?
In this episode of The Hanley Effect, hosts Dr. John Dyben and Dr. Rachel Docekal sit down in person with Alexcia Cox, State Attorney for Palm Beach County (and longtime prosecutor and community leader), for a grounded conversation about what it looks like to balance accountability with care.
Alexcia shares her journey as a Palm Beach County native who chose a life of public service, and why protecting residents includes safeguarding people seeking help, especially in the behavioral health and addiction treatment space. She reflects on the community’s progress since the height of the opioid crisis, the importance of ethical, evidence-based treatment, and the continued role of the State Attorney’s Addiction Recovery Task Force in identifying and prosecuting bad actors.
They also explore why collaboration across agencies and community partners is one of the most powerful tools we have, whether that’s through the Criminal Justice Commission (CJC), problem-solving courts like drug court, or prevention efforts that help young people navigate peer pressure and risk.
If you care about recovery, prevention, and building safer communities, this episode offers real insight into how systems can work better together.
Episode Highlights
Why ethical addiction treatment is a public safety issue, and how Palm Beach County confronted treatment fraud The ongoing work of the State Attorney’s Addiction Recovery Task Force, including reporting pathways for suspected wrongdoing New initiatives launched under Alexcia’s leadership, including a focus on violent repeat offenders and protections for vulnerable residents Why drug court and diversion efforts matter in long-term recovery and community outcomes The role of community collaboration in reducing stigma and improving outcomes across systems Alexcia’s personal “why”: service, mentorship, and building a safer Palm Beach County for families
About Our Guest
Alexcia Cox is the State Attorney for Palm Beach County and a longtime public servant with nearly two decades of prosecutorial experience. She has served in leadership roles across the justice system, helped advance behavioral health-informed strategies, and supports efforts that balance public safety with intervention and recovery-focused solutions.
Learn More
To learn more about Hanley Foundation programs, visit hanleyfoundation.org or call 844-502-4673.
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.