INSPIRING THROUGH CONNECTION

As one of the top substance use disorder speakers in the U.S., Todd is a regular guest speaker for drug and alcohol treatment facilities, educational institutions, businesses organizations and community events. His reputation as a speaker is built on the ability to explore the incredibly difficult topics of addiction and recovery with tremendous honesty, warmth, and humor.

Since 2017, Todd has been aligned with the Association of Recovery in Higher Education (ARHE) to bring his message of hope and awareness to college campuses around the nation. He is a recovery-centered thought leader and storyteller with the rare ability to inspire audiences and leave them with actionable transformation strategies.

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TODD “Z-MAN” ZALKINS BLOG

January 15, 2024

My Diseased Perception

It is often said that the disease of alcoholism/addiction is a disease of perception. There is a lot to this, so I will do my best to explain. While I am preparing a family for an intervention one of the things I repeatedly say is, “Your son (or whomever we are intervening on) is not seeing things clearly. For example, tomorrow at the intervention he may indicate to us that he does not have a drug problem. We know that is not the case because that is why all of us are here to begin with. We are taking action by intervening on your loved one because all of you see that there is a huge problem and it’s our job to point that out at the intervention tomorrow.”
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December 26, 2023

The Emotional Hangover

For all of us who actively lived in the disease of alcohol and drug use disorder we experienced ridiculous amounts of physical pain from using. In the treatment world there has been a shift with how the disease is referred to. Personally, I prefer alcoholism and drug addiction. References and terms of how things were referred to for decades have changed to new and I guess more socially acceptable. Call it what you like, but I have never had a family calling me to discuss an intervention say to me, “Can you please help? My son is killing himself with his substance use disorder!” Not once, and I have facilitated hundreds of interventions all over the country. (more…)

December 21, 2023

H.A.L.T.!!!

We have a lot of goofy terms and saying in recovery, “First Things First” or “Do the Next Indicated Thing” the list is pretty long. When I was newly sober, I was absolutely insane, my thinking wasn’t the best that’s for damn sure. I would say to myself, “Yeah, the next indicated thing for me is a twelve pack of beer and a couple of 8 Balls.” My sponsor would laugh and tell me, “You can’t fix a broken brain with a broken brain!” What in the hell does that mean!!?? (more…)

December 18, 2023

No Sleep for 44 Days

I am often asked, “Why did you not sleep for 44 days and how did you deal with that?” This requires a two-part answer and a great deal of elaboration. The “why” of it is not so much a mystery as it was a complete f’ing nightmare. I will illustrate the contributing factors, for one, I was addicted to opioid painkillers for about 17 years, many years addicted to the synthetic opioids Oxycontin and Fentanyl. Prior to checking into rehab on 2/16/07 I also snorted a truckload of cocaine, for a little over a hundred days straight all while taking the painkillers.

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I am often asked, “Why did you not sleep for 44 days and how did you deal with that?” This requires a two-part answer and a great deal of elaboration. The “why” of it is not so much a mystery

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About us

Todd is more than an interventionist, public speaker, and author, he’s a storyteller and motivator, who inspires others as a thought-leader on recovery, to not only realize their potential, but live it.

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