Real Recovery Talk

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67 - How to Talk to Your Kids About Addiction? May 16, 2019

Show notes

Talking to your kids about addiction can be difficult. At what age should you start? How open should you be? In this episode, we discuss all aspects of talking to your kids and loved ones about addiction. Every person and situation can be different, but we want to equip you with answers to discover what's right for your family without making mistakes that can end up backfiring.

We also talk about the three Cs of control, cure, and cause. These are things that people need to do for themselves. You can support them in a helpful way, but you can't do it for them or make it happen. Tom and Ben have an honest discussion of what they have seen in a clinical setting and how they are going to approach these issues with their own kids.

Show Notes:

[02:45] Ben's son is 9 years old and he is at the point where he might have to make a personal decision about when to talk to him about the subject.
[03:29] The plan that Ben is going to take is driven by the things he's already seen.
[03:49] The three Cs. You can't control it, you can't cure it, and you didn't cause it.
[04:11] You can't control it. The cause and control could come out of anywhere. No matter how hard you try, people are going to do what they are going to do.
[06:29] As parents, we will want to control it. This can lead to manipulation and lies. You can't control your child's every action.
[08:03] Ben wants to assist his son in making an educated decision.
[09:06] Sheltering kids from the outside world can have an affect where kids feel like they are missing out.
[13:09] Taboo and scare tactics don't work well.
[15:14] You might have a good time, but it will come with consequences.
[17:05] You can't cure your child's addiction for them.
[17:24] Helicopter parents won't let their loved ones figure it out for themselves.
[18:34] Let the professionals and the people with the experience handle the situation.
[20:05] Young adults who have lived with very controlling parents end up acting out in ways that often times lead to drugs and alcohol.
[20:55] When your loved one is in recovery, take a back seat and let the process play out with the professionals.
[22:00] Sometimes parents have her over everything and want to know every decision that's been made. The client may not want their parents to know everything.
[23:07] Even if the parent is a professional, they should let the counselors and the program work without emotional involvement.
[24:15] You don't have to bring your child to every 12-step meeting you go to.
[25:34]You didn't cause it. Addiction is addiction and it happens. You can't cure it, you can't control it, and you didn't cause it.
[26:14] Addicts will make you feel like you caused their addiction, so that they can manipulate you.
[26:44] They brought it on themselves, and they can get through it themselves.
[27:07] Ben will give his son some exposure and answer questions honestly.

Links and Resources:

Alcoholics Anonymous

66 - Addicts and Alcoholics Are All Cut from the Same Cloth- from Professionals to Homeless People, All Have Something to Offer One Another May 09, 2019

Show notes

We are so excited to have Carl on the show today. Carl is a client here at Rock, and he is celebrating his 90 days of being sober. In fact, he says that he hasn't been alcohol free for 90 days since he was 16 years old. Carl has given back and contributed to our community and this conversation shows his commitment to sobriety and service.

One of the interesting things about recovery is the diversity of people. People with different backgrounds, jobs, economic experiences, and different ages all coming together to battle the same problem. We talk about how being open and listening can broaden your attitude and actually help you learn about yourself as you learn about others and find common ground in the recovery community.

Show Notes:

[04:02] As a kid, Carl stole alcohol from his parents.
[04:19] In high school, it was practically required that he party and be part of the in crowd.
[04:39] His dad was also a highly functioning alcoholic. In the 70s, drinking was common and it was accepted.
[04:50] Eventually, his social drinking became more regular.
[08:28] Ben grew up where there wasn't a lot of alcohol, so he wanted to be part of the normal group and that's why he went and drank and partied.
[10:06] Alcohol followed Carl through college. He also played sports which allowed him a regimen that got him through college.
[11:26] In the business world, everything around you is about doing more and doing better. You are looking at the end result, and drinking becomes part of your environment.
[12:57] After his 30s, drinking became an everyday thing for Carl.
[14:32] We can all do a holiday of not drinking, it's a rest of the life of not drinking that's more challenging.
[16:17] There is a diversity of people at the Rock Treatment Center. They have a gentleman who has studied human genomes. They have a kid who shot dope off the streets. A homeless guy. A stock market guy who's the number one salesman. There is a diversity of class and a diversity of age.
[19:35] Carl has learned a lot by being around a diverse group of people who have the same problem as him. It's very humbling and enlightening. He finds the service aspect healing.
[20:52] Don't be afraid to get into recovery with people who you think you don't have anything in common with. The real victory lies within crossing over the threshold. We are all fighting for our lives from addiction.
[21:36] Older people have had a whole lifetime to develop pride and ego. It's a challenge for clinicians to break down the walls of someone who's been drinking for 30 years.
[26:32] One base at a time can beat swinging for the fences. Something to think about.
[28:34] Regardless of age the journey speaks to you. You just have to be there to receive it.
[31:44] There's more to the process than just getting clean.
[32:14] If you can get through the challenge of living with the diverse group of people and different personalities, you can get through anything.
[33:20] The housing component is like 80% of treatment. The majority of the day is spent outside of the clinical setting.
[33:57] You get opportunities to practice conflict resolution and learn how to deal with negative feelings without picking up a drink.
[36:35] Don't assume you think you know what other people are about or what they have to offer.
[37:14] Carl is more service driven. He thanks God that his mindset has changed.
[40:18] Ben thinks Carl brought more to Rock than they gave him.

Links and Resources:

Alcoholics Anonymous

65 - Is therapy for me? An inside look at the therapeutic process May 02, 2019

Show notes

Therapy is a powerful tool for anyone, and today we'll focus on the role of therapy for someone who is struggling with addiction. My guest, Josiah, is a licensed therapist who has been in the addiction industry for around five years. He has a past history of addiction, so he deeply understands this topic from various angles.

Early in our conversation, we'll take a deep dive into why asking whether a therapist has struggled with addiction is the wrong question. This is a common question for addicts to ask, but we compare it to asking an oncologist whether she has ever had cancer before letting her treat yours. We'll also explore the importance of vulnerability, what to expect when you start going to a therapist for the first time, and much more.

Show Notes

[01:23] Tom introduces today's guest, Josiah, a licensed therapist.
[01:59] Josiah tells listeners a bit about himself and explains how he got into therapy and the addiction industry.
[03:15] What does Josiah say to the opinion that a therapist should have personal experience with addiction?
[05:23] Josiah shares something else that he tells people who are concerned about their therapist having had an addiction problem.
[07:18] We hear Josiah's thoughts on the root behind the question of whether a therapist has a history of addiction.
[11:18] Why would someone want to see a therapist?
[14:37] Tom elaborates on the role of vulnerability in what Josiah has been talking about.
[16:39] Outside of drug addiction and alcoholism, who should really see a therapist?
[19:45] We learn about the #1 thing that Josiah tries to do in his therapy practice.
[21:40] Tom points out that you need to get through the uncomfortable to have growth.
[23:25] "What you put into therapy is what you're going to get out of it," Josiah explains.
[25:20] What should someone expect if they're walking into a therapist's office for the first time?
[28:20] The length of therapy is determined between the therapist and the client, Josiah points out.
[29:35] Tom talks about people's expectations of the length of therapy, and how it relates to holding onto control.
[31:08] Josiah talks more about the potential expectations when you start therapy, and why they're problematic.
[33:55] How do you know when you're done with therapy?
[37:01] Josiah shares his final thoughts for listeners, pointing out that therapy isn't about whether there's something wrong with you.

Links and Resources:

Al-Anon

64 - Josh Gamaitoni: From Janitor to National Director of Business Development Apr 25, 2019

Show notes

Josh Gamaitoni is here today. Josh is the National Director of Business Development for Banyan Treatment Center. Josh has helped so many people and is a legend in the treatment world. It wasn't always that way, though. Josh started doing drugs when he was 10 and went on a downward spiral as he grew up. He eventually tried some treatment options, but nothing stuck until he decided that getting sober was something he was going to stick to for a year.

After getting sober, he became a janitor at a church. He also realized that being sober was something that he enjoyed and made it a permanent lifestyle choice. His confidence also grew, and he became sincerely interested in talking to people and helping them. Eventually, he began working in treatment and became the legend he is today. Josh and Tom also go way back as they got sober together at the same time and the same place. Ben joins them for this inspirational conversation.

Show Notes

[04:23] Josh started using drugs at 10 years old and went down a rapid path of addiction. He got sober around 21 years old. This was the first real program he went into.
[07:01] He used afterwards, and needed help. He was broken and really wanted to get sober and do something in his life.
[08:42] He is a firm believer in getting away. Going to South Florida helped Josh.
[10:15] He got into a really great program. He did 45 days and moved into a recovery home. HOP is a house of principles.
[17:12] It's beneficial to get out of your own backyard when you are going into recovery.
[20:15] If you surround yourself with people who you want to be like, do what they do.
[21:57] Josh realized he did have a drinking problem. He had an anything that made him feel better problem.
[24:01] Josh became a janitor at the church. He soon learned how to talk to people and eventually, he became the National Director of Business Development at Banyan Treatment.
[28:58] Josh manages and helps people do what he does. He also goes to the clinics and shares his story.
[33:06] Communication skills are so important. We need to talk to people in a way that they are able to receive that.
[33:43] Trust and transparency are very important, because people need to feel safe and know that you have their best interest at heart.
[37:37] It's okay to take the time and see a therapist. It's okay to not be okay and do what it takes to feel better.
[40:22] Josh is a huge fan of interventions. It's planned chaos. There are different approaches. You can usually find one that works.
[47:29] Sometimes people are so crazy when they are out there, that they just need to be stopped. Also people sometimes don't know what they want.
[50:50] How do you know you want sobriety if you've never been sober before?
[53:40] Josh spends his time today, helping people find sobriety. His wife is also a therapist. He loves what he does.
[01:00:16] Josh wants more resources available and one day there will be a way to help everyone that is lost.
[01:04:35] Holding the truth in his heart is one thing that has helped Josh during the trying times.

Links and Resources:

Banyan Treatment Center

63 - How Spirituality Has Impacted His Recovery with Elliott Hughes Apr 17, 2019

Show notes

We are big proponents of the 12-step program. There is also a spiritual component of the program. For many people this can be a big turn off. Other people have trouble reconciling the difference between spirituality and their individual religion. We talk about all of this today with our guest Elliott Hughes.

Elliott is the National Outreach Coordinator for Chapel Hill Medical Detox. In this episode, he shares his struggles with getting sober with just religion and how he didn't accept the spiritual components of the 12-step program. Then he shares how he learned to balance the two. He needed the support, community, and action of the program, which then allowed him to practice a stronger faith in his own religion.

Show Notes

[03:43] Elliott grew up in Indiana. He went to church. He was a decent student. He was an athlete.
[04:35] in spite of his Christian background, he fell into the grips of addiction.
[04:43] He began drinking and smoking pot at 14. Things progressed until he found heroin, which really brought him to his knees.
[07:02] Elliott doesn't think it was rebelling against church that made him start partying.
[07:40] He just didn't have a solid foundation and chose the route of partying.
[09:54] The 12-step program talks about a power greater than yourself. It's a spiritual program not a religious program.
[11:44] Ben found church in his heart and grasps on to the fact that God spoke to him through other people.
[13:11] You can get sober even if God isn't your path.
[14:07] When Elliott meets one-on-one, he doesn't want to dilute the message of getting sober by preaching his beliefs.
[16:36] Ben was a late bloomer with the higher power thing.
[17:36] Elliott tried to get sober through church for years.
[18:05] Elliott tried a 12-step program and it didn't work. Then he started a faith-based program, but just going to church wasn't enough.
[19:25] It takes more than just going to church. You need a program combined with spirituality.
[20:09] There is a sense of community in the sober community. It's hard to find like minded people at church who are also struggling with addiction unless you tell everyone about it.
[21:07] With the 12-step program you do more than just attend meetings you have to take action.
[21:20] There's a sense of community with like-minded people you all have the same goals and there's a service aspect. There is also the sponsor and sponsee part.
[23:02] The 12 steps and the program gave me a practical way to take a look at myself that going to church didn't.
[24:42] When people aren't vulnerable and honest, you can't see their transformation.
[28:19] Faith without works is dead.
[31:22] What Ben knows is from experience. We can use our struggles for His glory.
[32:57] Elliott struggles between the balance of spiritual and religious. It's important for him to have the balance and feed himself spiritually.
[34:40] Someone who hasn't struggled with addiction can't help him like someone who has could.
[36:49] The difference between religion and spirituality for Elliott was a shift in his heart.
[39:06] Spirituality is about the relationship you build with your higher power.
[43:11] If people are out there struggling, they should just hold on because they can recover.

Links and Resources:

62 - Joyce Matera National Marketing Director of Inspire Recovery - LGBTQ Treatment Center Apr 11, 2019

Show notes

Joyce Matera is the National Marketing Director for Inspire Recovery. Inspire is located in West Palm Beach and it's specifically for people under the LGBTQ umbrella with a specific focus on helping transgender people. Having a safe place for people to go where they can be who they are and get help with like minded people while going through recovery is so important.

Tom, Ben, and Joyce talk about Joyces background and how she got involved in the community and recovery industry. Joyce shares some of the issues that are specific to clients at Inspire and why it is so important to find a peer group that they can trust. They talk about important aspects of recovery and how it specifically applies to this underserved community.

Show Notes

[02:21] Joyce has been in recovery for 35 years. She was a gay activist during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
[02:40] A lot of her friends passed away from AIDs. It was also hard for gay people with human rights issues.
[03:01] She moved to Florida about 12 years ago. She discovered there were treatment centers all over the place. She wanted to do service and saw a gay guy getting bullied at an AA meeting.
[03:50] She realized there were no treatment options specifically for people in the LGBTQ community. She opened Lambda North which was a 12-step clubhouse.
[04:07] They have a lot of events for support and meetings.
[04:20] Inspire Recovery in West Palm Beach is specifically for the LGBTQ community. Joyce helps educate people about issues related to the treatment facility.
[05:34] People are housed at Inspire Recovery according to their personality, because they don't see gender.
[06:18] People fall in love at treatment centers all the time.
[06:55] Most treatment centers are gender specific. Many treatment centers don't know how to house transgender people, so there was a need for this specific treatment center.
[08:26] They have created a community where people can get peer support and find sponsors and go through the Big Book and whatever things they need to do.
[10:15] Everything operates like a regular treatment center. They just don't separate clients by gender.
[10:42] Most of the staff is under the LGBTQ umbrella and is in long-term recovery. Everyone can still use training.
[13:18] The goal is to bring out the human factor in each person. They are just experts in the LGBTQ community and the transgender community.
[15:44] A lot of the community hid their identity. It's a lot easier for younger people to be who they are.
[16:39] They also get clients in their 50s and 60s who have shame over their identity.
[17:15] If a center isn't a good fit, that person needs to be referred to a place that is a better fit.
[19:08] At Inspire, they believe hormone replacement therapy is a human rights issue. They have created a safe place to explore.
[21:32] The transgender community is a underserved population that has been marginalized all of their lives. Inspire is the only place that helps predominantly transgender people.
[25:57] Groups at Inspire are centered around healing, trauma, and bullying.
[26:57] People used to stay at Inspire for a year, now the program is two to three months.
[28:16] Many people stay in the area after building a community and finding peers.
[30:25] If you're struggling with your sexual identity or gender identity and need a safe place, give inspire a call. They are open 24/7.

Links and Resources:

61 - Josh McBride - His Legitimate Need for Pain Management Led to His Addiction Apr 04, 2019

Show notes

Josh McBride now works at Coastal Detox after his own experience with recovery. Josh's journey is different from many people's. He was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease at an early age, and eventually his pain management led him to addiction and moving to street drugs. Passing out in his car, led him to a 75-day stay in jail without any drugs or medication.

Josh shares his journey with Tom and Ben. He talks about how he didn't have a lot of resources and had to turn to county and free resources. He also talks about the mind shift he had that convinced him to finally take recovery seriously. His story is unique and his perspective is inspirational. This is a wonderful conversation about how to think about recovery and how to find a way to accomplish it.

Show Notes

[02:49] Josh is originally from Orlando.
[03:00] At a young age, Josh was diagnosed with crohn's disease. He began using pain meds to control the symptoms of his disease.
[03:44] Eventually, he became chemically dependent and struggled with addiction for at least 10 years.
[04:45] In his early twenties, he accepted that he wasn't going to live long and just wanted to stay comfortable with this medication.
[05:01] Unfortunately, the pain pills led to heroin and in 2011, a police officer found him hunched over in his car.
[06:17] He went to pill mills and got pills.
[08:53] He ended up selling his prescription drugs and buying street drugs. He overdosed, convinced the doctor in the hospital to give him oxy, and when he was released he shot up in his car.
[11:42] People who overdose are medically discharged within an hour. There are gaps. People need to get into treatment after overdosing.
[14:08] Josh's experience getting clean is different from the average person's.
[14:55] In 2011, when Josh was arrested, he was put in a county jail that had a lot of different rules. He began a cold turkey detox. He was there 75 days. His mom asked the jail to keep him for two more days until a Monday, so he could go straight into a Faith Farm work program.
[19:21] He was released on the Saturday, and he walked five miles to a county detox program. They kept him safe for two days, and then his mom took him to Faith Farm.
[21:17] He was at Faith Farm for almost two years.
[24:18] He had to put in a lot of work with his Christian based recovery. He took feedback even when he didn't believe in it.
[27:35] Josh works at Coastal Detox, and it's a great facility.
[28:02] People need to be under supervision when they are coming off of drugs. There is also a psychological factor. Coastal offers an interdisciplinary approach, plus all of the client's needs are taken care of.
[30:03] Couples need to be split up to be treated in a healthy way.
[30:23] There are resources out there for people who don't have good insurance coverage.
[33:58] There are many ways for people to get clean. There are different paths. Pay attention to what is available to you. You just need a little motivation and be willing to ask for help when you feel discouraged.

Links and Resources:

60 - Ira Levy from Sunrise Detox Mar 29, 2019

Show notes

Ira Levy is the National Marketing Director of Sunrise Detox. Ira has 28 years in the sobriety industry and has been sober since 1980. Ira got into the industry by accident, but continued to learn, educate himself, and move up. He has worked in every aspect of the industry and is as passionate about helping clients as he is about educating their families.

Tom, Ben, and Ira talk about the detox process and what patient and family members can expect. Ira shares some of his own personal experience about how important it is to decide not to use and then find other ways to cope with life events. We talk about the importance of family members learning about addiction, how to find a good treatment facility, and the importance of individualized treatment.

Show Notes

[03:02] Ira stumbled into the recovery business by accident. 28 years ago he moved to Florida as a health tech and worked his way up.
[03:57] The owners of Sunrise Detox needed a marketer who understood the treatment industry. Ira has been with them for 15 years.
[04:54] Sunrise started with one facility and perfected their program, and now they have 8 facilities.
[05:04] Ira has really worked in every aspect of the industry.
[06:52] Ira has been sober since 1980.
[08:31] Ira went through
[09:18] Ira finally gave sobriety a real try. Mistakes happen in sobriety and life, but you really just need to try.
[10:18] A turning point for Ira was when his father passed away, and he wanted to get high. A friend of his said if that will bring your father back let's do it. This was a turning point in his life and he didn't get high.
[11:03] Ira tries to get patients at Sunrise to understand some of the right ways to success.
[11:55] When something bad happens, and you want to use, stop and think about where you will be in 72 hours.
[14:48] Ira is available 7 days a week to speak to families and explain what's going to happen. Sometimes people just want to know what happens in detox.
[15:15] Ira tries to educate the patient and let them know what detox going to be like and that it's going to be a positive experience.
[15:42] He wants to educate people, and he will help them find the proper place even if Sunrise isn't for them.
[17:27] Sunrise won't take people in if it's not a good fit.
[18:17] Ira recommends to trust your gut and your gut feeling. You want to feel warm, welcome, and nurtured.
[20:26] Education is so important in these centers. The client or patient needs to be detoxed, and the family needs to be educated.
[23:52] Sunrise does accept people on methadone. The detox process is longer. It can be done and Sunrise has success. It's usually a 14 to 21 day detox.
[26:45] They also mix clinical in with medical.
[28:49] MAT or medication-assisted treatment doesn't have a great success rate. It needs to be done right. Treatment needs to be individualized.
[32:05] It's a struggle to get insurance companies to cooperate.
[35:42] Ketamine is now having a resurgence.
[37:58] Contact people who have a passion for recovery and don't make a rash decision. Explore options.
[40:14] Research addiction to help your loved one. Go to Al-Anon and learn about the process.
[43:59] The average time to get medically stable and detox is 6 or 7 days and then the client can move to a sobriety program.
[45:51] After detox, some kind of therapy can be helpful. People need to commit to an aftercare program that fits their life.
[48:08] From a medical standpoint, alcohol and benzos are the most medically dangerous to stop cold turkey.

Links and Resources:

59 - Alex Uslar - Hybrid Performance Method - From Druggie Punk Rocker to Strength Icon Mar 21, 2019

Show notes

Alex Uslar is the manager of the Hybrid Gym and the Director of Operations for the online company Hybrid Performance Method. Alex is a powerlifting, weight lifting, and crossfit coach. The Hybrid Performance Method is a virtual gym that provides accessible, affordable, and effective online workout programs to athletes of all skill and experience levels.

In this episode, we talk about Alex's journey and how he used nutrition and working out to stay sober. Like many addicts, Alex had a rough start and turned to alcohol and drugs. Unlike many, he discovered what he wanted to do at a young age. He was then able to harness that desire and use it as fuel for sobriety. We talk about his journey and how he was able to turn his experience into a positive.

Show Notes

[02:47] Alex is 26 years old, and he just had his 7 years sobriety date.
[02:59] He was born in South Florida and moved to Pensacola when he was 4 years old.
[03:15] When he was 13, he moved to Miami.
[03:44] He had some emotional and psychological abuse when he was younger.
[04:13] He was expelled from private school, and he started public school in the middle of the year.
[04:47] It only took two or three days before kids tried to sell him drugs.
[05:06] He started smoking marijuana.
[05:31] There are people who drink super heavily in the punk rock scene. They're also the straight edge kids.
[05:49] Things escalated after 8th grade for him.
[06:51] His parents are from Venezuela.
[07:18] His family left Venezuela when things got really bad, but his dad stayed over there.
[08:01] Ben and Tom see a lot of clients who have had instability in their lives when they were young.
[09:12] From 13 to 19, Alex's entire life revolved around music and partying.
[10:51] Alex wouldn't change or trade anything that he went through, because without that he wouldn't be where he is now.
[12:49] He dropped out of school and in the process, he got arrested. The counseling he had to go through helped him a lot.
[17:09] He still went down a super destructive path. When he was 19, he wanted to get his act together.
[20:29] The catalyst for him was getting a DM from an older punk rocker who owned a gym. They had similar stories and signing up for the gym was his first day sober.
[21:23] He even realized that he wanted to work at a gym.
[21:53] Staying sober and staying mentally strong and going to the gym was one of the hardest things he did. He had to relearn how to live.
[25:34] He was given an opportunity to do an unpaid internship at the gym. The owner was his mentor in sobriety and coaching. He eventually became one of the head coaches.
[32:06] Follow your passion if you work hard, you have the opportunity to rewrite the script.
[32:46] Taking steps forward can be uncomfortable.
[33:56] Alex became an extrovert as he learned how to sell gym memberships. There weren't any promises that he would get hired. He still worked hard and kept getting more and more work.
[35:44] He ended up with the most personal training clients and made more money than anybody at the gym.
[36:32] He showed so much ambition and desire that he kept growing and growing until h maximized his abilities and income.
[38:52] Alex left his mentor's gym in 2017 to go work for Hybrid.
[40:18] They talked three or four days ago.
[45:18] People come and go in life sometimes.
[47:16] Utilizing fitness and nutrition in sobriety. Alex feels people need something to rely on.
[49:39] He believes that you control your thoughts and your actions.
[52:06] At the end of the day, we are all trying to get to a better place.
[53:58] If you don't want to look for a higher power, find a higher purpose.
[55:46] Alex got sober by working out.
[57:44] He loved seeing his clients transform. Now his social media following has grown.

Links and Resources:

58 - Blake Cohen Author of "I Love You More" Mar 14, 2019

Show notes

Tom's friend Blake Cohen is here to today to talk about his work, his recovery, and his upcoming book, "I Love You More" which is coming out in June. Tom and Blake have gotten to know each other while being part of a program where they go to schools and talk to students about addiction including everything from vaping to heroin. Blake is the National Outreach Manager at Recovery Unplugged which is a recovery program that includes music as part of the program.

Blake and Tom have a lot in common and in this episode, they discuss addiction, recovery, and Blake's story. Blake also talks about why he wrote his book and what the purpose and format is. They both discuss their passion for helping addicts find a way to recovery in a positive life changing way that only gets better over time.

Show Notes

[03:03] Blake had a great childhood. Sometimes he thinks he's an example of a person who could never develop an addiction.
[03:41] He grew up in Boca Raton, Florida. His brother did struggle with addiction.
[04:39] When opiates were introduced in Blake's life, he immediately got hooked. He had surgery on his wrist and got a prescription for pain pills when he was 15.
[05:30] He loved the way he felt and took the whole bottle in one night.
[06:01] He told his mom that he was in a lot of pain and got more pills.
[06:44] When he was older he snorted oxycodone. It turned out his neighbor was a dealer.
[07:42] Things evolved and Blake got arrested and went to some treatment centers.
[08:13] His family held an intervention and sent him to treatment, and he got sober.
[09:02] He majored in Psychology at UCF. He then switched to FAU.
[10:06] Geographical change doesn't make everything okay.
[11:38] Blake's Mom had back pain, and there were pills around.
[13:30] Blake got sober at 25.
[16:46] When his family found out everything that Blake was doing, he knew it was time to get sober.
[18:15] Blake has always enjoyed writing. He believes in visualization and writing a book was one of the schools.
[19:06] Blake's book is for the families of the addicts and for people to learn what it is like to go through addiction. There are three short stories that go into recovery, continued use, and overdose and death.
[20:01] The book is called, "I Love You More" and it jumps from the different perspectives of people involved.
[20:45] It's an easy to read book that brings perspective and has questions at the end that can be tied into a treatment center.
[21:08] In his book, the stories are fictional but the emotions are very real. He interviewed people who have been through these situations.
[21:22] This book is a powerful tool that can be used by treatment centers.
[23:30] Blake currently works for Recovery Unplugged. It's a really special program that has music infused throughout the program.
[23:58] He is the National Outreach Manager and he connects Recovery Unplugged with the community.
[25:02] Prior to this he worked as a director of admissions at another recovery program.
[25:36] The fear of giving tough love is what stops family members from giving their loved ones the push that they need.
[27:16] People in active addiction respond to tough love. That's what they need.
[30:43] In the beginning of treatment, people need to be prepared to work and take suggestions.
[32:48] Once Blake gave AA a real shot it worked out for him. Work the 12-steps. Find a meeting that works for you.
[35:16] The more we talk about it and educate people the more comfortable people will feel about asking for help.

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