How I Beat Cancer...and then Became a Crackhead | Ep 177 episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 17, 2026 · 1H 5M

How I Beat Cancer...and then Became a Crackhead | Ep 177

from Get a Grip Podcast · host Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Gary King for a wild and emotional journey through addiction, survival, recovery, and second chances.Gary's story begins with a difficult childhood before he dropped out of high school and moved to Nashville looking for a new start. Instead, he found himself pulled deeper into a world of substance abuse. What started with cocaine quickly escalated into Xanax, prescription opioids, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin.Along the way, Gary found himself living a life few could imagine. He shares stories of stealing nitrous oxide tanks, supplying drugs at major music festivals, and navigating the chaos of addiction while convincing himself he still had control. But addiction had other plans.Everything changed when Gary began experiencing severe health issues and discovered he had cancer. He underwent an 18-hour surgery that saved his life, but the pain management that followed would introduce him to powerful prescription opioids, setting the stage for years of addiction to Percocet, OxyContin, Opana, Xanax, and more.As the drugs intensified, so did the consequences.Gary opens up about waking up in hospitals after Xanax blackouts, finding a friend dead after a night of drug use, and eventually progressing from snorting methamphetamine to injecting meth and heroin. He shares the devastating impact addiction had on his family, including the heartbreaking moment he had to tell his daughter he was leaving to seek treatment.This episode is a raw and honest look at the destruction caused by addiction, the reality of withdrawal and recovery, and the hope that exists on the other side.🔥 Expect emotion. Expect truth. Expect hope.🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more powerful stories on addiction, recovery, and resilience.Get a Grip Podcast Social Media: Find our TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio links, a more on our Link Tree below!Get a Grip Social Media Links: ⁠https://linktr.ee/officialgetagrippodcastFor Collaboration and Business inquiries, please use the contact information below:📩 Email: [email protected]👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.#getagrip #redemptionstory #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #addictionrecovery #recoveryjourney #trauma #childhood #oxy #dealer #soberlife #wedorecover #childhoodtrauma #healing #inspiration #awareness #kingpin #trafficking #hustle #opioidcrisis #neardeathexperience #fyp #prison #bar #mistake #change #survivor #survival #tv #television #inspire #parole #officer #school #teacher #students #study #student #changinglives

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Gary King for a wild and emotional journey through addiction, survival, recovery, and second chances.Gary's story begins with a difficult childhood before he dropped out of high school and moved to Nashville looking for a new start. Instead, he found himself pulled deeper into a world of substance abuse. What started with cocaine quickly escalated into Xanax, prescription opioids, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin.Along the way, Gary found himself living a life few could imagine. He shares stories of stealing nitrous oxide tanks, supplying drugs at major music festivals, and navigating the chaos of addiction while convincing himself he still had control. But addiction had other plans.Everything changed when Gary began experiencing severe health issues and discovered he had cancer. He underwent an 18-hour surgery that saved his life, but the pain management that followed would introduce him to powerful prescription opioids, setting the stage for years of addiction to Percocet, OxyContin, Opana, Xanax, and more.As the drugs intensified, so did the consequences.Gary opens up about waking up in hospitals after Xanax blackouts, finding a friend dead after a night of drug use, and eventually progressing from snorting methamphetamine to injecting meth and heroin. He shares the devastating impact addiction had on his family, including the heartbreaking moment he had to tell his daughter he was leaving to seek treatment.This episode is a raw and honest look at the destruction caused by addiction, the reality of withdrawal and recovery, and the hope that exists on the other side.🔥 Expect emotion. Expect truth. Expect hope.🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more powerful stories on addiction, recovery, and resilience.Get a Grip Podcast Social Media: Find our TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio links, a more on our Link Tree below!Get a Grip Social Media Links: ⁠https://linktr.ee/officialgetagrippodcastFor Collaboration and Business inquiries, please use the contact information below:📩 Email: [email protected]👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.#getagrip #redemptionstory #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #addictionrecovery #recoveryjourney #trauma #childhood #oxy #dealer #soberlife #wedorecover #childhoodtrauma #healing #inspiration #awareness #kingpin #trafficking #hustle #opioidcrisis #neardeathexperience #fyp #prison #bar #mistake #change #survivor #survival #tv #television #inspire #parole #officer #school #teacher #students #study #student #changinglives

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How I Beat Cancer...and then Became a Crackhead | Ep 177

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This episode was published on June 17, 2026.

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In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Gary King for a wild and emotional journey through addiction, survival, recovery, and second chances.Gary's story begins with a difficult childhood before he dropped...

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