Addiction isn’t just a bad habit-it’s your brain craving relief. For many veterans, that relief comes in the form of smoking, drinking, or even harder substances to cope with PTSD, Stress, or physical pain. But what if you could break free without white-knuckling through withdrawal?
In this episode, Meridee Hlokoff shares how she went from struggling with addiction herself to running Laser Quit, a business using cold laser Therapy to help people quit smoking, drinking, and even heavy drugs. By targeting the brain’s addiction response at its core, this method tricks the mind into thinking it’s already had its fix-eliminating cravings and making it easier to step away from harmful substances.
We break down:
- What cold laser therapy is and how it works
- Why traditional quitting methods fail for so many people
- How this therapy is giving veterans a new path to recovery
- The surprising science behind addiction and dopamine regulation
- What’s next for Laser Quit and how they’re expanding access to this life-changing treatment
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, this episode is a must-listen. Stick around for actionable advice that could make all the difference.
Timestamps:
- 00:01:00 – How cold laser therapy rewires addiction
- 00:05:45 – From smoking to heroin: Why the science works for all addictions
- 00:12:30 – The real reason quitting feels impossible
- 00:20:00 – How veterans can use this therapy for PTSD and stress relief
- 00:35:15 – Breaking the cycle: Building new habits after addiction
Links & Resources
Transcript
View the transcript for this episode.
Scott is an Army veteran who served in the Connecticut Army National Guard as an Infantryman and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2010. Like many soldiers who deploy to combat, that deployment changed Scott forever. Drive On Podcast talks about the challenges soldiers face when coming back home. Reacquainting with loved ones, finding a purpose outside of the military, and the struggles that come with it all.
If we're going to get better, we have to start talking about the problems we're facing.
