Episode 056: Improving Our Mental Health in the Digital Age with Dave Marlon
Here at Nature Unplugged, we are all about wellness in the digital age. And, we look at the work we do as preventative (upstream) mental health work - getting outside, healthy boundaries with tech, exercising, etc. Our guest today has dedicated his life to helping people with addiction recovery and mental health issues. We have the privilege of speaking with Dave Marlon. Dave is here to share some of his stories about addiction, recovery, and what we can do to improve our mental health whether we’re dealing with addiction or not.
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BIO:
David Marlon is the co-founder and chairman of Vegas Stronger, a Las Vegas non-profit committed to helping the most under-served in our community by addressing mental health, substance use disorders, and getting back to a healthy productive life. The Vegas Stronger team joined CrossRoads in January of 2020 to help address the mismanagement of the company and bring back the operation from near bankruptcy.
David is also CEO of a consulting company, the Marlon Professional Corporation and works with several behavioral treatment centers, helping them build their substance abuse programs.
David was formerly the President and co-founder of Solutions Recovery, Inc., a Joint Commission accredited alcohol and drug treatment center. Since 2005, he has delivered treatment to hundreds of people struggling with chemical dependency and mental illness. Prior to forming Solutions Recovery, David worked in the insurance industry. He has more than 30 years of experience serving as Chief Operating Officer, President, and Vice President of various Sierra Health Services subsidiaries.
In the community, David has always been an active participant. Over the years, he has formed several non-profit organizations, including the Care Coalition, a Drug-Free Communities Act non-profit, with the goal of combating substance abuse by providing education and awareness on addictive behavior, preventative methods, and the economic, physical, and social consequences of substance abuse. He serves on the Governor’s Substance Abuse Working Group, the Governor’s Rural Meth Action Team, the Board of Directors for H.E.L.P. of Southern Nevada, the Board of Directors for the 10,000 Kids Foundation, The Las Vegas Rescue Mission, the Nevada Donor Network as well as the President of (SNAAP) State of Nevada Association for Addiction Professionals.
He has been honored with the Mayor’s Commendation and just recently received the Community Counseling Center of Southern Nevada’s Vanguard Award. David received his education in New York and Las Vegas. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics at the State University of New York and his Masters of Business Administration and Masters of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Furthermore, he is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor Supervisor, a Certified Addictionologist, and a Detoxification Technician. David is also currently pursuing his Doctorate in Psychology.
David is an active Nevada Amateur boxer, an avid mountain climber, and a triathlete. Despite an active life, his primary role is as the father to teenagers Owen and Tristan and husband to Carolina.
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