Healing the Next Generation: Dr. James McKowen on Youth Addiction, Climate Anxiety & Hope

In this episode of Reaching Higher, host Aaron Strout sits down with Dr. James McKowen, a clinical psychologist and addiction specialist at Mass General, to explore the evolving mental health challenges facing today’s youth. Dr. McKowen shares his unconventional journey from marine biology to youth addiction research, shaped by personal loss and deep scientific curiosity. Together, they unpack the misunderstood realities of youth addiction, the rise of cannabis dependency, and how climate anxiety is reshaping an entire generation’s emotional landscape. The conversation offers practical tools, hopeful insights, and a compassionate roadmap for supporting teens in an increasingly complex world.

Show links:

• Climate | Health | Resilience: https://www.climatehealthresilience.com/
• Change is Simple: https://www.changeissimple.org/
• Gardeners Question Time podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gardeners-question-time/id325945259
• Alice Coltrane: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0oKYiTD5CdNbrofRvM1dIr?autoplay_ok=1