Bestselling Author & Advocate on US Drug Crisis, Prevention & Treatment of Addiction David She­ff is the author of Clean: Overcoming Addiction and Ending America’s Greatest Tragedy, the follow-up to his New York Times #1 Best Seller, Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction. Clean is the result of the years Sheff­ spent investigating the disease of addiction and America’s drug problem, which he sees as the greatest public health challenge of our time.

The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids honored him with a Special Tribute Award “in recognition of his voice and leadership for families who are struggling with addiction.” He was also awarded the 2013 College of Problems on Drug Dependence (CPDD) Media Award, 2017 American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) Media Award, and 2017 American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Media Award “to recognize his compelling portrayal of addiction and its personal eff­ects on families and society as a whole.” 

David is on the advisory boards of the The Jed and Clinton Health Matters Campus Program “designed to help colleges and universities promote emotional well-being and mental health programming, reduce substance abuse and prevent suicide among their students,” and the International Bipolar Foundation. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley. David lives with his family in Northern California.

Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee Ricky Byrd –has devoted himself to spreading the message of hope and possibilities through Rock and Roll. For the past five years, Ricky has led recovery music groups in various treatment and detox facilities across the country. At the end of each session, individuals would ask where they could get the songs he played. That inspired him to raise the money via an online music campaign to record Clean Getaway, which is also given away to all he coaches.

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In February 2017, he hunkered down in the studio, pulling various songs written for his music groups. Produced by Ricky Byrd and Bob Stander, the collection consists of self-penned songs, as well as a rocking cover of “Kicks” and material in which Byrd collaborated with songwriting luminaries Richie Supa and Mark Hudson. A master musical director and guitar virtuoso, Byrd is joined by several stellar musicians on Clean Getaway: Bobby Whitlock (keyboards, Derek and The Dominos), Steve Holley (drums - Wings), Bob Stander (bass), Andy Burton (keyboards, Little Steven and The Disciples Of Soul), Jeff Kazee (keyboards, Southside Johnny), John Isley and Chris Anderson of the Asbury Jukes (horns), Christine Ohlman (SNL band), Marge Raymond, Mark Hudson, and Sara Devine on vocals.

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However, as far as Ricky is concerned, Recovery is the special guest here. “An important part of this journey is giving back and spreading the message,” he says. “I do my best talking through music…as a recovery troubadour.”  Taking it a step further, Ricky has earned his CASAC (Certified Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor) and CARC (Certified Addiction Recovery Coach) credentials.

Dr. Ganon is a 1982 graduate Of UMDNJ/SOM and is board certified in Family Medicine. Dividing his primary care between Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine, he has been an Emergency Department Director as well as a Paramedic Medical Director. With an early interest in Addiction Medicine Dr. Ganon directed an active withdrawal management (detox) and rehab center in Delaware in the early 1990’s. More recently, he has worked extensively in an Outpatient Treatment Program in St. Mary’s, Georgia, overseeing the care of those seeking treatment for substance use disorders, as well as consulting for a withdrawal management program in New Jersey. 

Dr. Ganon has served as a consultant with The Center for Prevention and Counseling (CFPC) since May of 2018, providing Medication Assistant Treatment (MAT) to those who are diagnosed with moderate to severe alcohol and opioid use disorders. In addition, in his practice with Genesis Addiction and Behavioral Health, Dr. Ganon offers quality care to the community in collaboration with other substance use treatment facilities. Dr. Ganon is actively pursuing board certification in Addiction Medicine, and is the Medical Director of CFPC’s Integrated Recovery Innovations program, which provides MAT, evidence-based substance use treatment, recovery supports and wellness activities for individuals from Sussex County who have moderate to severe opioid use disorders.

Meet Dr. Deborah Teplow, CEO and Co-founder of the Institute for Wellness Education. Dr. Teplow previously served as Executive Director of the Institute for Behavioral Healthcare; Vice-President of Projects in Knowledge; and Founder and CEO of Health Focus, Inc. 

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Dr. Teplow served on an expert panel for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as a director on the board for the Global Alliance for Medical Education, and a subcommittee chair for the Alliance for Continuing Medical Education. Dr. Teplow earned her doctorate from Stanford University and did her undergraduate work at University of California, Berkeley.

Cynthia Moreno Tuohy, BSW, NCAC II, is the Executive Director of NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals. She previously served as the executive director of Danya Institute and the Central East Addiction Technology Transfer Center. Prior to this she was the program director for Volunteers of America-    Western Washington, serving homeless populations and dealing with the co-occurrence of poverty and substance abuse issues.

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She has also written training components and manuals about working with adolescents, adults, and seniors; school intervention; involuntary commitment; community mobilization; intensive outpatient treatment and continuing care; the foundations of addiction practice; medication-assisted recovery; impaired driver programs; employee assistance programs; and gang intervention and treatment.