Bestselling Author Paige Dearth on Trauma, Addiction & Finding Hope

#1 Amazon Bestselling Author and advocate Paige Dearth joins CCAR Executive Director Stacy Charpentier for a powerful conversation about trauma, addiction, family, recovery, and the experiences that have shaped her writing. Paige shares how surviving childhood trauma eventually led her to find her voice and begin writing stories centered on people who are often judged, misunderstood, or overlooked. She also opens up about living alongside a loved one struggling with meth and heroin addiction, including five years, 13 rehab stays, the financial and emotional toll on the family, and her eventual realization that supporting someone and enabling them are not the same thing. Together, Paige and Stacy discuss why addiction affects entire families, the importance of seeing people as more than the labels placed on them, how small acts of kindness can change someone's life, and why healing and recovery are rarely linear. Paige also shares an exclusive first look at her upcoming book and the real-life experiences that inspired its story. This episode includes discussions of childhood sexual abuse, addiction, trauma, human trafficking, and family experiences surrounding substance use. Recovery Matters Podcast is brought to you by the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR). 0:00 – Introduction 0:50 – Paige Dearth’s Childhood Trauma and Finding Her Voice 3:46 – How Real-Life Experiences Shape Her Characters 5:18 – Writing About Trauma Without Exploiting It 8:15 – What Fiction Can Teach Us About Addiction and Trauma 9:47 – The Real People Who Inspired Her Characters 11:18 – How Paige’s Books Have Impacted Readers 14:13 – How Addiction Affects the Entire Family 17:06 – Five Years, 13 Rehabs and the Cost of Addiction 19:35 – Creating Characters Beyond Their Labels 22:08 – Small Acts of Kindness Can Change a Life 24:16 – Recovery, Healing and Holding Onto Hope 26:49 – Paige’s Message to People in Recovery and Their Families 28:41 – The Most Difficult Book Paige Ever Wrote 29:36 – The Character Paige Wishes She Could Have Been 31:42 – What Paige Dearth Is Writing Next 32:14 – Exclusive Reveal: Paige’s Upcoming Book 34:24 – Where to Find Paige Dearth’s Books 35:17 – Final Thoughts and a Message of Hope ----Across the Web----🌎 CCAR Website https://www.ccar.us✉️ Donate: https://ccar.us/donate/🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Apple Music): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/1wGUMMO...🗣Recovery Matters Podcast TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@recoverymatterspodcast?🗣Recovery Matters Podcast Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recoverymatterspodcast/🗣CCAR Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CCAR4Recovery📸CCAR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ccar4recovery🐦CCAR Twitter: https://twitter.com/ccar4recovery