Libsyn Directory

196 - Starting an Addiction During College

Release Date: 11/04/2021

204 - My Dad had a STROKE! This is the event turns out I was not prepared for

Real Recovery Talk

In this episode I discussed a life-changing event that took place on June 14, 2022. My dad had a massive stroke and lost his vision. Along with that a lot of his memory has been severely affected. These are the things that we often talk about when getting sober that we need to be prepared for. Life throws things at us and if we're not ready for them it can very easily be a reason to drink or use drugs. Fortunately for myself I had a lot of support from friends and family that I could rely on to get me through this tough time. My hope for you in this episode is that you can see it is it...

203 - Don't make these 5 excuses for going to treatment for your drug addiction

Real Recovery Talk

In this episode we discuss the Top 5 reasons/excuses as to why people dont go into drug treatment. We are very good at talking ourselves out of doing the things that we know are best for us. Realtiy is, there are no good excuse to not go to treatment when it is needed. Dont let anyone or anybody talk you out of making the best decision of your life. If you would like to reach out to us and discuss your specific situation you can email us at

202 - Don't let your sobriety get STALE

Real Recovery Talk

In this episode we discuss five tips to keep your sobriety intact and not let it get stale. No matter where you are in the sobriety journey it is important to stay active and to continue to build on your sobriety. We can do this in many different ways, but most importantly we need to continue to work on ourselves. These tips are very applicable and can be done at any moment. If you want to amplify your sobriety, take a listen and emplement these stratagies today! If you would like to reach out to us you can email us at Thank you for all of your support!

201- Top 5 Reasons you KEEP going back to treatment

Real Recovery Talk

In this episode we discuss the top five reasons why you keep going back to treatment. Unfortunately people have unrealistic expectations around what treatment is supposed to be for. We tell people all the time, if you're not doing it while you're in treatment, you won't do it when you are out of treatment. If you take these five things and really focusing on them during your treatment process it is going to be very hard for you not to be successful. Thank you everyone for your support. Remember, you can always turn your mess into your message! If you would like to reach us you can email us at...

200 - WE'RE BACK! Thanks for the undertanding

Real Recovery Talk

199 - How to stay sober during the holidays

Real Recovery Talk

The holiday season is here upon us. This can be tough for those who are in early recovery, especially being with family. Along with family comes a lot of emotions. You may have indulged in drugs and alcohol to get through previous holidays to get yourself through this time. Now, however; you are sober and you’ll need to put new tools in your toolbox to move through the holidays sober. The big question I’m going to discuss today: How can we go into the holiday season and be sure we will be OK when we get out the other side? Don’t go into the holiday season with the idea that this will be...

198 - Addicted to Meth - Devin shares his story

Real Recovery Talk

“Addiction is so big in our society right now that it’s best that you let loved ones know that they can have help. They can receive help, and they can do this. It doesn’t have to kill them.” -Devin Today, Ben and I chatted with Devin, who’s an example of getting back on track. He began drug usage during childhood, and found himself in prison later. Devin gathered the strength to face himself and the beast within. He doesn’t do it alone, but with the help of the people around him. Listen in as he talks about using drugs to feel a void, getting back on track after a relapse, and how...

197 - Getting Hooked On (and Off) Drugs and Drink

Real Recovery Talk

“I have a purpose today, and I feel God steps in my life a lot and he was telling me to have courage and be fearless.” -Ira Today, Ben and I chatted with Ira, who’s a real deal addict. He’s had a ton of health issues like cancer, diabetes, and even facing death as a result of his drug and alcohol addiction. But he managed to turn his life around and now he’s going on two years sober! Listen in as he talks about getting addicted, how he overcame it, and all the people who helped save his life along the way. Struggling to Find His Place Growing up in the 70s as half Irish and half...

196 - Starting an Addiction During College

Real Recovery Talk

“I have a place that I was comfortable with that I was already a part of for my recovery.” -Reed Today, Ben and I chatted with Reed, who tells his story about how his addiction started in college. Raised locally in Palm Beach Gardens, Reed had a good life growing up with loving parents who gave him many opportunities in life. However, with his parents being conservative regarding drinking, Reed didn’t get drugs and alcohol from his parents. Experimenting with Drugs While in high school, Reed did drink and smoke weed, but drugs and alcohol weren’t a big problem at this point in...

195 - Healing Trauma to Break Free From Addiction

Real Recovery Talk

“Life continues to show up, whether you want to be a part of it or not.” -Natalie Today, Ben and I chatted with Natalie, who endured horrible abuse as a small girl that gave her immense amounts of childhood trauma that ended up turning into a drug and alcohol addiction as a teen. Listen in to discover how Natalie overcame her addiction by healing her emotional wounds as an adult. Her Early Years Traumatized as a Child At the age of eight, Natalie was sexually molested and started drinking at the age of 14. As her disease progressed, she started using Zanax and was arrested at 17 and put on...

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“I have a place that I was comfortable with that I was already a part of for my recovery.” -Reed

Today, Ben and I chatted with Reed, who tells his story about how his addiction started in college. Raised locally in Palm Beach Gardens, Reed had a good life growing up with loving parents who gave him many opportunities in life. However, with his parents being conservative regarding drinking, Reed didn’t get drugs and alcohol from his parents.

Experimenting with Drugs

While in high school, Reed did drink and smoke weed, but drugs and alcohol weren’t a big problem at this point in his life. However, when he went to the University of Mississippi, he started to heavily get into drugs and alcohol. In his second year at university, his roommate sold multiple forms of hard drugs.

With easy access to drugs and alcohol, it was easy for Reed to become addicted to his personality. “That opened the door of my first year of solid, heavy drug use.” When his house was raided by the DEA, and his roommate passed away from an overdose, Reed was charged, went to jail, and left school.

Talking to Your Kids About Drugs and Alcohol

Reed agrees with us when we talk about being overly strict with your kids about drugs and alcohol, especially in teen years. Instead of telling them not to do anything, be open and frank with your children and have discussions with them about the adverse effects of drugs and alcohol.

When kids aren’t allowed to do anything and have a very restrictive home life, they will generally go out and start to party hard out of control because they were too sheltered in high school.

Check out our website, where you can download episodes with helpful information for those in recovery and their families. Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review!

Show Highlights

[06:04] Starting by experimenting with drugs and alcohol during his high school years.

[09:48] Reed’s progression from college drinking and drugs to DEA raids.

[21:27] Why being a helicopter parent can persuade your kids to do drugs.

[32:19] Entering into his first treatment program.

[41:27] Needing a geographical change depends on your home life.

[50:11] We discuss the pros and cons of methadone.

[57:46] Speaking to other through AA to educate college students on drugs and alcohol.

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