Addy Free is a way of life—one no longer dependent on ADHD stimulant medication, including Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin, and beyond.
This podcast exists to raise awareness that ADHD medication addiction and dependency are real, that you are not alone, and that thriving without stimulants is possible.
Each month, you’ll hear honest conversations with community members, professionals, and host Janet Oliva, sharing real stories, tools, and resources to support your journey.
This podcast is here to provide clarity, strength, and hope to help you stay on the Addy Free path.
Misdiagnosed by a Checklist: ADHD Symptoms, Root Causes & What Comes Next | A Conversation with Dr. Arthur Lavin, MD
On this episode, I interview Dr. Arthur Lavin, MD, my former pediatrician with 40 years of experience, Co-Chair of Doctors Organized for HealthCare Solutions, and Immediate Past Chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on the Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health.
We explore why he chose not to diagnose me with ADHD as a child, even though I displayed many of the commonly recognized symptoms. His approach goes beyond symptom checklists to look at what may be underneath those behaviors, of which there are 49 possible contributors. In fact, Dr. Lavin co-authored a policy published by the American Academy of Pediatrics outlining 49 different reasons a child may struggle academically.
This conversation is a reminder that human beings are complex and cannot be fully understood through a checklist questionnaire. No diagnosis, especially one that leads to powerful, potentially addictive medication, should be made without a deeper understanding of what is truly going on underneath the surface.
References:
Check out the official policy of the American Academy of Pediatrics, co-written by Dr. Lavin, which sets international standards for the profession of pediatrics and its practice, outlining the 49 root causes that contribute to inattention: https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/144/4/e20192520/38485/School-aged-Children-Who-Are-Not-Progressing (https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/144/4/e20192520/38485/School-aged-Children-Who-Are-Not-Progressing)
An Addy Free tool to help with working memory and attention. Brought to the United States by Dr. Lavin himself: https://www.cogmed.com/
20 Mar 2026
Spring Reset: The Lifelong Addy Free Journey of Learning When to Let Go So You Can Keep Showing Up
Happy first day of spring!
A season of new beginnings… and a new season in my Addy Free journey, too.
Addy Free began as the resource I wish I had when I was struggling with Adderall and Vyvanse addiction—and while that mission hasn’t changed, this next chapter is bringing me back to the podcast
In this short episode, I share the evolution of Addy Free, my personal journey in ADHD medication recovery, and why I’m stepping away from hosting weekly meetings.
If there’s one message I hope you take with you, it’s this:
Your recovery comes first.
You can’t truly help others if you’re not in alignment with yourself.
Reflecting on the past few years, the greatest gift has been connection. For anyone navigating stimulant dependency, ADHD medication withdrawal, or life after Adderall, this episode is a reminder that healing doesn’t happen alone.
I also share simple tools that helped me in early recovery:
• Telling your story—you never know who you’ll reach
• Volunteering—reconnecting with purpose
• Walk + talks—building connection through movement
Because at the end of the day:
Connection is the opposite of addiction.
If you're on a journey to live Addy Free, you're not alone
11 Feb 2026
From Medicated Boy to Self-Medicated Man: ADHD Medication, Addiction, and Finding a New Identity Addy Free
In this episode of the Addy Free Podcast, we sit down with Gavin, our first male coed community member, to share his powerful story of growing up on ADHD stimulant medication and the long-term impact it had on his identity.
Prescribed medication at just 10 years old in the early 2000s, what began as treatment slowly turned into addiction and self-medication over the next two decades. Gavin reflects on how being told so young that he needed something outside himself to function shaped his self-worth, coping patterns, and relationship with substances.
Now living Addy Free, Gavin shares what it took to break free from stimulant medication, rebuild his identity, and thrive as a husband, father, and member of Addy Free. This episode amplifies male voices often missing from conversations about ADHD medication addiction and recovery.
If you or someone you love grew up on stimulant medication and is questioning life beyond it, this episode offers honesty, hope, and a reminder that a new identity is possible.
Reach and audience
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Apple Podcasts (US)
4.7 / 5
20 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 12 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
4
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
51
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