INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Diving deep into the complex and often overlooked issue of addiction among young people, Real Talk, hosted by teens for teens, is a youth-driven media initiative where voices between the ages of 15-19 lead the conversation on critical topics affecting their generation.

In this upcoming episode, hosts Brooklyn Wright and Juell Draper share personal stories and insights about the impact of addiction on the community.

“Addiction is something that we should be talking about and addressing. It’s too normalized in society, and it’s a massive problem affecting mental health. We need to take a closer look at it and understand its impact on our peers,” Wright said.

Candid discussions about the prevalence of substances like vaping and marijuana among teens are held. Wright opens up about her struggles with vaping, explaining how it began as a coping mechanism but ultimately affected their health, including their voice and breath control as a singer. “It was more negatives than positives,” they share, highlighting how social media and pop culture have contributed to the normalization of these behaviors.

Real Talk aims to challenge these norms and encourage viewers to open up about their experiences with addiction. Juell Draper who is in his second season with Real Talk, emphasizes the importance of having these conversations, “It means a lot to be able to advocate for the youth who are unheard or misunderstood. It’s about creating change, even if it’s not going to happen overnight.”

“We want to let people know that these issues affect us too,” Brooklyn said. “It’s important for us to speak out and let our voices be heard.”

The episode airs Monday at 3:30 p.m. on WISH. Don’t miss the chance to witness this powerful conversation led by teens who are working to make a real difference in their community.