In the last episode of our series on America’s fentanyl crisis, Matt Bair and Ryan Hedrick break down two critical issues: how fentanyl is increasingly mixed into various drugs, including counterfeit pills sold online, leading to sudden overdose deaths, and how fentanyl addiction often begins with a prescription. They discuss the deadly and hidden risks of fentanyl in the drug supply and explore the path from medical use to dependency.

Special Guest: ESPN’s Lauren Sisler

Lauren Sisler, ESPN broadcaster and former gymnast, joins to discuss her new book, Shatterproof, where she shares her personal story of resilience after losing both parents to addiction. She talks about her journey of healing, the impact of addiction, and her hope to inspire others to address mental health and addiction with compassion and strength.

Key Topics & Timestamps:

11:45 – 14:18: Lauren on courage and willingness to tell her story of losing her parents to addiction 22 years ago.

14:25 – 15:17: Lauren’s perspective on addiction and how it affected her parents, including their struggle with fentanyl addiction.

15:30 – 17:00: Insight into Lauren’s father’s job as a VA technician and the challenges he faced without any clear signs of his addiction’s severity.

17:08 – 20:03: How stigma around addiction may have stopped her parents from seeking help.

20:15 – 23:48: Writing Shatterproof as a therapeutic journey and a part of Lauren’s healing.

24:00 – 26:37: Lauren’s thoughts on discussing addiction with her son when he’s older.

27:00: Lauren’s advice for caregivers with loved ones suffering from addiction.

Resources:

You can find us on X and Instagram: @sobriety_pod. Supporting Sobriety is also available on major podcast platforms like Spotify and Apple. Please like, subscribe, and rate our podcast!

Guest link: About — Lauren Sisler

Al-Anon: Al-Anon.tiorg

Meetings: aa.rgroup.org/meengs

NA Meetings: virtual-na.orginte

Suicide Prevention Hotline: (800) 273-8255

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this third installment of the fentanyl series, Matt Bair and Ryan Hedrick dive deeper into the epidemic, focusing on understanding addiction from all angles, listening to loved ones without judgment, and empowering rather than controlling them. Matt and Ryan discuss their personal journeys with addiction, school experiences, and the support (and challenges) from caregivers. They’re joined by Justin Phillips, Founder and Executive Director of Overdose Lifeline, Inc., to shed light on actionable steps for caregivers and harm reduction.

Key Points:

• Big Picture of the Crisis: Fentanyl continues to take lives across the U.S. each year, with many unaware of how to help.
• Understanding vs. Control: Caregivers are encouraged to support their loved ones by fostering independence and engaging in open, non-judgmental dialogue.

Timestamps and Discussion Highlights:

4:28 - 5:36 | Recap and Stakes: Matt recaps previous episodes, emphasizing the stakes for loved ones.

5:38 - 7:31 | Addiction and Denial: Ryan reflects on his denial during active addiction, showing how addiction’s grip fuels fentanyl use.

8:13 - 9:47 | Listening to Understand: For caregivers, understanding without judgment is key. Recognize signs like self-centeredness and behavioral shifts.

11:35 - 12:07 | Staying Engaged: Caregivers should ask questions and remain engaged, balancing support with respect for boundaries.

12:25 - 13:00 | Resource, Not Solution: Caregivers are there to guide, not to "fix" addiction; true recovery comes from within.

13:10 - 14:30 | Encouraging Independence: Promoting independence can build your loved one's confidence and structure.

14:35 - 15:43 | Scare Tactics: Matt discusses how scare tactics backfired in his journey, pushing him further into addiction rather than away.

18:04 - 18:54 | Keeping Fentanyl Out: Justin shares tips for caregivers to help keep fentanyl away from loved ones.

19:13 - 20:48 | Personal Loss: Justin shares the tragic loss of her son to an overdose, reflecting on behaviors she missed, and lessons learned.

21:08 - 22:30 | Fentanyl Education: Overdose Lifeline provides resources for those looking to educate themselves on fentanyl risks.

22:05 - 23:30 | Social Media Risk: Awareness about fentanyl purchases on social media is critical for caregivers.

23:31 - 28:00 | Harm Reduction Explained: An introduction to harm reduction—what it is, why it’s effective, and how it supports recovery.

29:01 | Closing Thoughts: Wrapping up, Matt and Ryan emphasize the importance of support, education, and the right approach to caregiving.

Resources:

You can find us on X and Instagram: @sobriety_pod. Supporting Sobriety is also available on major podcast platforms like Spotify and Apple. Please like, subscribe, and rate our podcast!

Guest link: Substance Use Disorder Help and Prevention - Overdose Lifeline

Al-Anon: Al-Anon.tiorg

Meetings: aa.rgroup.org/meengs

NA Meetings: virtual-na.orginte

Suicide Prevention Hotline: (800) 273-8255

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matt Bair and Ryan Hedrick continue their conversation about the fentanyl crisis. They explain how dealers lace drugs and how users use social media to communicate with dealers, often using emojis to hide their actions from loved ones and police.

This episode builds on our ongoing series about fentanyl, which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives in recent years. Two women from a treatment center in Indianapolis share their stories of fentanyl overdose.

Timestamps and Key Discussions:

4:02 - 12:45: Insights from women at Harbor Light, their shocking comments on fentanyl, and our reactions.

13:01 - 13:56: Ryan recalls a story where a crack dealer explained the need for coded language in user-dealer communication.

14:26 - 18:49: Discussion on common emojis used by dealers and users to communicate about drugs.

18:54 - 20:11: Some dealers use fake test strip photos to claim their drugs are fentanyl-free. Why this happens.

20:14 - 24:15: Narcan as a short-term solution and the difference between recovery and Narcan’s impact. Ryan explains why people in recovery don't consider Narcan as part of recovery.

25:20 - 28:00: Closing thoughts.

Resources:

You can find us on X and Instagram: @sobriety_pod. Supporting Sobriety is also available on major podcast platforms like Spotify and Apple. Please like, subscribe, and rate our podcast!

Al-Anon: Al-Anon.tiorg

Meetings: aa.rgroup.org/meengs

NA Meetings: virtual-na.orginte

Suicide Prevention Hotline: (800) 273-8255

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.