Podathon For Recovery: Sarah’s Road to Recovery

Sarah opens up about starting opioids at 20, a rapid slide to heroin, pregnancy on methadone, jail, and the drug court program that helped her turn it around. After a later Xanax relapse during COVID, she did the work—therapy, structure, and service—and is now certified and working as a counselor at a maintenance clinic. This candid conversation with Wendy Beck and Rich Bennett shows what sustainable recovery really looks like—and why hope matters. Sponsored by Rage Against Addiction Guest Bio:  Sarah is a Harford County native, mom, and recovery professional. After entering opioid use at 20 and escalating to heroin in 2012, she experienced jail and drug court, achieved long-term abstinence from opiates and cocaine (since Sept. 27, 2016), overcame a benzodiazepine relapse in 2020–2021 (clean since Nov. 4, 2020), earned her Peer Recovery Specialist credential and ADT approval, and now counsels patients at a medication-assisted treatment clinic. Main Topics: ·         Podathon for Recovery: 12 Days of Hope benefiting Rage Against Addiction·         Starting opioids at 20; rapid progression from pills to heroin (2012)·         Pregnancy on methadone, stigma, and learning MAT safety·         IV use, crack/cocaine, legal consequences, and visible decline·         Jail detox and entry into Drug Court; Judge-led accountability·         Long-term sobriety from opiates/cocaine; COVID-era Xanax relapse and dangers of benzo withdrawal·         Therapy, boundaries, routines, fitness, and gratitude as core recovery tools·         Working in recovery: peer support vs. clinicians; women-specific needs; mom guilt and shame·         Maintenance meds (methadone/Suboxone): misuse stigma vs. real stability·         Parenting conversations about peer pressure and openness with kids·         Burnout prevention for recovery workers (self-care, phone boundaries, weekly therapy)  Resources mentioned: ·         Donate to Rage Against Addiction ·         Center for Addiction and Pregnancy, Johns Hopkins Bayview·         Ashley Addiction Treatment (Father Martin’s Ashley) – outpatient detox mentioned·         Harford County Drug Court (Judge referenced)·         NA, AA, Celebrate Recovery, SMART Recovery (paths to recovery)·         Medication-Assisted Treatment (methadone, buprenorphine/Suboxone)·         General warning about Xanax/benzodiazepine risks (seizures, blackouts) Send us Fan MailCelebrate the Magic of Words in Bel Air, Maryland!https://bookfairatbelair.org/Rage Against AddictionRage Against Addiction is a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting addicts and their familiDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showRate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media:Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | FacebookTwitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennettTikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTokSponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills:Hosted on BuzzsproutSquadCastSubscribe by Email