In Episode 10 of 365 Proof by Defining Wellness, Daniel Phyfer and Courtney Milan sit down with Colonel Steven Maxwell, a 30-year public service veteran and current leader in corrections investigations, for one of the most eye-opening conversations yet.

Colonel Maxwell brings a rare perspective shaped by decades on the front lines of narcotics enforcement, leadership, and public health. What he reveals is hard to ignore: the drug landscape has evolved, the risks are higher than ever, and the threat is closer to home than most people realize.

This episode dives deep into the shift from plant-based drugs to synthetic substances like fentanyl, how “harmless” products like gummies and gas station supplements are being used to mask deadly compounds, and why addiction today looks completely different than it did even a decade ago. From children being exposed earlier than ever, to the dangers of unregulated products like kratom, this conversation exposes the reality families are facing right now.

But this isn’t just about the problem, it’s about the solution.

Colonel Maxwell shares powerful insight on leadership, self-accountability, and the importance of seeing people beyond their worst moments. He unpacks the connection between mental health, addiction, and environment, and challenges listeners to think further upstream, where real change begins.

You’ll also hear:

• Why detox is not treatment and where the system is falling short
• The role of communication, parenting, and early intervention
• What law enforcement is seeing across Mississippi communities right now
• How stigma, misunderstanding, and lack of education continue to cost lives
• Why “loving yourself enough to show up” might be the most important message of all

This episode is raw, honest, and urgent, but it’s also grounded in hope. Because as Colonel Maxwell says, “As long as the flag is flying, we’re winning.”

If you care about your family, your community, or the future of the next generation, this is a conversation you need to hear.

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This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.