The Root Cause of Addiction & the Path to Your Authentic Self | Pax Prentiss

What if addiction isn't the problem itself—but a symptom of something deeper?

On this episode of The Healthy CEO, Jason Wright sits down with Pax Prentiss, co-founder and CEO of Passages Malibu and co-author of The Alcoholism and Addiction Cure.

Pax's story is extraordinary. After struggling with heroin, cocaine, and alcohol addiction for nearly a decade, repeated attempts at traditional treatment failed to produce lasting sobriety. Eventually, Pax and his father began asking a different question:

Why was he using in the first place?

That question changed everything.

Rather than focusing exclusively on managing addiction, Pax began addressing the underlying issues driving his substance use. That experience eventually became the foundation for Passages Malibu and its individualized, holistic approach to treatment.

Jason and Pax explore addiction, recovery, mental health, family dynamics, physical wellness, and the growing normalization of substances in American culture. But the conversation ultimately becomes something even bigger: How do we stop escaping from our lives and become the healthiest, most authentic versions of ourselves?

In This Episode

Jason and Pax discuss:

• Pax's personal journey from heroin addiction to more than two decades of sobriety
• The question his father asked that changed his recovery: "Why do you think you're using?"
• Why Pax believes addiction can be a symptom of deeper underlying conditions
• Depression, anxiety, trauma, stress, insecurity, low self-esteem, and other factors that can contribute to substance use
• Why treating the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—is central to the Passages philosophy
• How individualized therapy differs from traditional group-based treatment
• Why escaping uncomfortable emotions can prevent real healing
• The importance of confronting problems rather than continually numbing them
• Marijuana, today's higher-potency products, and Pax's concerns about normalization of recreational drug use
• Ketamine therapy and the addiction cases Pax says he is increasingly encountering
• Psychedelic-assisted approaches to trauma and why Pax personally favors clear-headed, individualized therapy
• How families can recognize when helping has crossed the line into enabling
• When families should consider working with a professional interventionist
• Why recovery doesn't end when someone leaves a treatment center
• The importance of aftercare and creating a healthy home environment
• Why family members may need to change their own relationship with alcohol when someone returns from treatment
• The example parents set for their children around drinking, marijuana, and other substances
• Why Jason and Pax both believe an alcohol-free lifestyle can be transformative
• Sleep, nutrition, exercise, mental clarity, and their role in rebuilding a healthy life
• Identity-based habits and becoming the person you actually want to be
• Why recovery isn't about creating a new person—it's about rediscovering the person underneath the addiction

The Bigger Idea: Becoming Your Authentic Self

One of the most powerful themes of the conversation is that recovery isn't simply about removing drugs or alcohol.

It's about rebuilding a life.

Pax describes a whole-person approach that addresses psychological, physical, relational, and spiritual health. The objective isn't simply sobriety. It's helping someone rediscover who they are without the substance—and begin moving toward the healthiest version of that person.

Jason connects this philosophy to his own pursuit of health and personal development: the idea that genuine wellness can't be one-dimensional.

Physical health matters.

Mental clarity matters.

Relationships matter.

Purpose matters.

Spiritual health matters.

And the environments and habits we build around ourselves matter.

Ultimately, the goal is not perfection.

It's continuing to move toward your authentic self.

About Pax Prentiss

Pax Prentiss is the co-founder and CEO of Passages Malibu. His own experience with addiction and recovery inspired the creation of an individualized treatment model focused on identifying and addressing underlying conditions associated with substance use.

Passages opened in 2001 and uses a multidisciplinary approach involving medical, clinical, therapeutic, physical, and spiritual components of recovery.

Pax is also the co-author of The Alcoholism and Addiction Cure and says Passages has helped more than 40,000 people pursue sobriety and recovery.

Need Help?

Pax personally continues to speak with individuals and families seeking treatment and takes admission calls for Passages.

Passages Admissions: 310-589-2880

Passages operates locations in Malibu and Ventura, California. Pax explains in the episode that the Ventura location works in-network with many insurance plans, while insurance may also contribute toward treatment at the Malibu location.

If you or someone you love is struggling with substance use, seek qualified professional help. Treatment decisions should be made with appropriate medical and mental-health professionals.

Authentic Health

Recovery and long-term wellness involve more than removing unhealthy behaviors. Nutrition, sleep, movement, and providing the body with the nutrients it needs are all part of creating an environment where better health is possible.

Learn more about the Authentic Health Foundational Stack at shopauthentichealth.com.

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