Life After Having 2 Kids by 17, Losing My Brother to a Xanax OD, and Living In My Car

Karen married young and became a mom at 15. By 17, she had two children, and by 36 she was a grandmother. Her brother’s Xanax addiction and overdose involving alcohol at age 19 propelled her toward addiction recovery work, determined to help others find the support he never had.Jill lived in her car in the East Texas heat and humidity, calling treatment centers nonstop after losing her insurance. After more than a year of pestering, she was finally granted a spot in a state-funded facility. Ten years ago, Karen and Jill met while working as peer recovery coaches in East Texas. Both found long-term sobriety, are single moms, and grandmothers who built careers helping others.Together, they’ve faced burnout, family strain, and the pressure of being on call around the clock. But through it all, they’ve stayed committed—standing shoulder to shoulder, answering calls, and leading community outreach for Texas Recovery Centers.Learn more about Texas Recovery CentersGUESTSKaren WolfeCommunity Liaison at Texas Recovery CenterKaren Wolfe is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor with over 17 years of experience in behavioral health, currently serving as a Clinical Liaison at Texas Recovery Centers. After losing her brother to an overdose, she dedicated her career to helping individuals and families facing addiction and mental health challenges. Known for her compassionate, knowledgeable approach, Karen is a trusted advocate and resource in the recovery community.Jill SmithBusiness Development Rep at Texas Recovery CenterJill Smith is an outreach team member at Texas Recovery Centers, where she serves the East Texas region and draws on both professional expertise and personal recovery experience. She previously worked as a discharge planner and detox program director for UT Health and serves on the board of her local MHMR center. Jill is committed to improving access to care for individuals seeking recovery support.Matt Handy is the founder of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas, where their mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for anyone facing addiction, mental health challenges, and co-occurring disorders.Find out more at harmonygrovebh.com  My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction and recovery through conversations with those whose lives have changed.For anyone disillusioned with traditional recovery and feeling left out, misunderstood, or weighed down by unrealistic expectations, this podcast looks ahead—rejecting the lies and dogma that keep people from imagining life without using.Got a question for us? Leave us a message or voicemail at mylastrelapse.comFind us on YouTube @MyLastRelapse and follow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17About Harmony Grove Behavioral Health Harmony Grove delivers outpatient addiction and mental health treatment focused on wellness, creativity, and authentic human connection—providing a supportive space for healing that extends beyond traditional clinical care.Harmony Grove’s IOP in Houston, Texas, is more than a program; it’s a lifeline for those ready to take the next step in their recovery. We are ready to meet you where you are and find your unique path to change. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available. If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.Host: Matthew HandyProducer: Eva SheieAssistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah BurkhartEngineering: Voltage FM, Spencer ClarksonTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.comQuestions this episode answers:Why did it take a woman over a year of actively searching to find treatment and then she lost her insurance?What actually happened to California's $24 billion homeless initiative — and why did homelessness quadruple?Does involuntarily admitting homeless people to treatment actually work?Why do state-funded treatment programs keep shutting down, and who suffers most when they do?What does a community outreach person in recovery actually do, and why does lived experience matter?