Episode #124: Alicia Cook on The Other Side of Addiction

Alicia Cook is an established writer and award-winning activist from New Jersey. She has been featured in the NY Post, CNN, Asbury Park Press, Teen Vogue, Bustle, American Songwriter Magazine, and the LA Times. Cook contributes regularly to the HuffPost, USA Today, and Thrive. Her best-selling book of poetry, “Stuff I’ve Been Feeling Lately“, was a finalist in the 2016 Goodreads Choice Awards. Cook announced her next book of poetry, “I Hope My Voice Doesn’t Skip,” will be released through Andrews McMeel Publishing in June of 2018. The recipient of the Special Voices Award (NJTV, Trenton), her essay series exploring the direct impact addiction has on not only the user, but the family, “The Other Side of Addiction”, has gained a worldwide readership. The Other Side of Addiction shares stories of people who have experienced this disease. After losing her cousin, Jessica, to a heroin overdose, Cook began using her words to help other families going through similar situations feel less alone. These are very personal accounts, written to shed light on this deadly epidemic and prove that anyone can be affected. Some pieces of the series have gone on to be viewed over 1 million times, with the average essay being viewed at least 10,000 times. Her efforts to combat the heroin epidemic, which include writing, appearing on podcasts, and speaking to students and their parents, caught the attention of PBS Executive Producer, Steve Rogers, who created an episode of his Emmy-nominated documentary series, “Here’s the Story” around Cook and her efforts entitled “A Family Disease.” The episode was dedicated to Cook’s cousin, Jessica. It has gone on to be officially selected in numerous film festivals across New Jersey.