Youth & Addiction Episodes
Young people face unique challenges when it comes to addiction, often shaped by peer pressure, social media, and cultural influences. This category explores the experiences of youth navigating substance use and recovery, featuring personal stories and expert advice tailored to their needs. Episodes highlight the importance of early intervention, preventative strategies, and family support in fostering resilience among young individuals. By addressing these issues, the podcast aims to empower youth and their communities to embrace recovery and hope.
23
April 16, 2026
Kieran McCartney: Cocaine Culture, ADHD and Recovery - Grief, Addiction and The Apprentice
In this episode of Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma, Kieran McCartney joins us to discuss cocaine use, ADHD, grief, and recovery. Best known for his "win or walk" deal with Lord Sugar on the BBC show, The Apprentice , Kieran opens up about the pressures behind success, the loss of his father, and how that led to increased cocaine use. We explore the normalisation of cocaine culture in the UK, the link between alcohol and stimulant use, and how substances can become tools for copin...
15
Feb. 25, 2026
Finley Worthington: Ketamine, Bladder Damage & Blood Jelly - Addiction and Education Reform
Finley joins Believe in People to share his lived experience of ketamine addiction and recovery, and how a substance that first felt functional and harmless became physically and psychologically destructive. We explore how early use of cannabis and cocaine progressed into ketamine, why it can feel controlled at first, and how denial allows harm to escalate unnoticed. Finley explains ketamine bladder in clear, practical terms , the impact on family and identity, and the turning point that forced ...
9
Jan. 15, 2026
Chiedu Oraka: Drugs, Prison & Fame - From Street Culture to Supporting Coldplay
In this episode of Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma , Chiedu Oraka, one of the UK’s most distinctive emerging voices in rap, also known as The Black Yorkshireman, joins Matt to discuss dual identity, stigma, and the turning points that reshaped his life. Born and raised on a Hull council estate in a Nigerian household, Chiedu grew up balancing two worlds: cultural expectations at home and the pressure to fit in outside - while carrying the weight of how others perceived him. We ex...
2
Nov. 13, 2025
Taz Hussain: Racism, Culture & Addiction - Recovery as a British-Pakistani Muslim
In this episode of Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma , we are privileged to sit down with Taz , whose life story spans racism, identity conflict, culture, trauma, addiction, and the long path to redemption. Born in Britain to Pakistani parents, Taz grew up between cultures – navigating violence, racism, and confusion around faith, masculinity, and belonging. Forced into an arranged marriage, his life spiralled into addiction, offending, and prison before honesty, therapy, and self-...
1
Nov. 6, 2025
Katie Price & Kerry Katona: Cocaine, Fame & Motherhood - Surviving Addiction in Public
In this episode of Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma , Katie Price and Kerry Katona sit down for a raw, unfiltered conversation about cocaine addiction , recovery, motherhood, mental health, and the double standards women continue to face in the public eye. Recorded live behind the scenes at Hull City Hall during their UK tour, Katie and Kerry speak candidly about ADHD, bipolar diagnoses, self-medication, toxic circles, fame, exploitation, and how accountability transformed their l...