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Video Text Transcript of Recovery Now TV Episode 101:00:03:26 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
All we see is the train wrecks.01:00:05:07 --:--:--:--
All we see is the people01:00:06:20 --:--:--:--
shooting up crystal meth
on the street,01:00:08:01 --:--:--:--
and that's
the entertainment of it.01:00:10:04 --:--:--:--
But what they don't see
are those people01:00:11:23 --:--:--:--
that walk up the stairs wrecked.01:00:13:06 --:--:--:--
They walk up the stairs
just to shower,01:00:15:04 --:--:--:--
and a short period later,01:00:16:13 --:--:--:--
they have their family
back in their lives.01:00:18:15 --:--:--:--
There is so much hope
for everyone.01:00:20:06 --:--:--:--
This is Recovery Now.01:00:21:26 01:00:23:27
[applause]01:00:33:12 --:--:--:--
[Sarah Michelle]
I remember I smoked a joint,01:00:35:18 --:--:--:--
and, um,
and I just started crying01:00:37:21 --:--:--:--
because I knew
that it was on.01:00:39:05 --:--:--:--
I knew that I just--
I couldn't stop.01:00:41:03 --:--:--:--
[Lauren]
You know, I was drinking and...01:00:43:16 --:--:--:--
probably using cocaine
and smoking marijuana.01:00:47:17 --:--:--:--
[Zach]
It didn't really stick.01:00:49:00 --:--:--:--
I went into a detox unit
for two weeks,01:00:51:01 --:--:--:--
and I dried out,01:00:52:10 --:--:--:--
and I got stoned
in the parking lot01:00:55:00 --:--:--:--
as I left the detox unit.01:00:57:04 --:--:--:--
And then I discovered
drinking,01:00:58:24 --:--:--:--
and that was really
what took me to my knees.01:01:01:29 01:01:03:28
[Mike Cohan]
Hello, everyone. Welcome.01:01:05:00 --:--:--:--
My name's Mike Cohan,01:01:06:12 01:01:07:25
and welcome to Recovery Now.01:01:12:27 --:--:--:--
This is very exciting.01:01:14:17 --:--:--:--
I can feel the energy
in this room.01:01:16:17 --:--:--:--
It's very amazing01:01:17:25 --:--:--:--
because most of the people
in this room01:01:19:15 --:--:--:--
are in recovery themselves.01:01:21:02 --:--:--:--
The purpose of Recovery Now01:01:22:24 --:--:--:--
is to be able
to show people hope.01:01:25:09 --:--:--:--
The person that walks
in petrified,01:01:27:21 --:--:--:--
the person who's detoxing01:01:28:28 --:--:--:--
and gets through
a couple days of detox01:01:30:18 --:--:--:--
and they see a brighter face,01:01:32:09 --:--:--:--
the person whose family
comes to visit01:01:34:00 --:--:--:--
and gets to hug them
for the first time01:01:35:27 --:--:--:--
when they're sober.01:01:37:02 --:--:--:--
These are all the miracles01:01:38:17 --:--:--:--
that we have
on a daily basis.01:01:40:04 --:--:--:--
We have people
from many different
treatment centers here.01:01:42:15 --:--:--:--
We have people who have
flown cross country01:01:44:15 --:--:--:--
to share their story.01:01:45:25 --:--:--:--
There's different lengths
of sobriety.01:01:47:21 --:--:--:--
It's going to be fun.01:01:48:27 --:--:--:--
So thank you all
so much for coming01:01:50:17 01:01:52:19
and waiting and being
so patient out there.01:01:56:18 --:--:--:--
Can I ask
how old you are?01:01:57:20 --:--:--:--
[Sarah Michelle]
24.01:01:58:24 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
And you celebrated...01:02:00:24 --:--:--:--
[Sarah Michelle]
I have 14 months on the 18th.01:02:02:16 01:02:04:13
[Mike Cohan]
14 months of sobriety.
That's pretty amazing.01:02:07:22 --:--:--:--
I know you told me01:02:08:24 --:--:--:--
that at 14 years old,
you started.01:02:10:10 --:--:--:--
[Sarah Michelle]
Mm-hmm.01:02:11:24 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
Give me an idea
on what that was like.01:02:13:27 --:--:--:--
[Sarah Michelle]
Well, for me, uh,01:02:15:25 --:--:--:--
you know, drinking alcohol
and using drugs01:02:17:28 --:--:--:--
was a way to escape
the way I felt.01:02:19:24 --:--:--:--
You know,
I had some tragedies01:02:21:02 --:--:--:--
happen to me
in my childhood01:02:23:01 --:--:--:--
that I just--01:02:24:14 --:--:--:--
I couldn't listen to my head
anymore, you know?01:02:26:20 --:--:--:--
And I just needed
a way to escape,01:02:28:24 --:--:--:--
and I found
alcohol and drugs,01:02:30:14 --:--:--:--
and it gave me a way out,
you know,01:02:33:06 --:--:--:--
and I just continued
to do it for--01:02:35:18 --:--:--:--
And it got worse,01:02:37:01 --:--:--:--
and I just continued
to do it for years and years,01:02:39:02 --:--:--:--
and I lost a lot of things,
you know,01:02:40:26 --:--:--:--
lost a lot
of respect for myself01:02:43:09 --:--:--:--
and dignity for myself,01:02:44:17 --:--:--:--
and, uh...01:02:46:20 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
Alcohol and what drugs?01:02:48:19 --:--:--:--
[Sarah Michelle]
I started with alcohol
and marijuana.01:02:50:03 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
Ah, the gateway drug01:02:51:21 --:--:--:--
that they all warned us
about.01:02:53:18 --:--:--:--
What did it lead you to?01:02:55:06 --:--:--:--
[Sarah Michelle]
Cocaine, pain pills,
heroin, meth.01:02:57:24 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
So this is at, like,
15 and 16 years old?01:02:59:20 --:--:--:--
[Sarah Michelle]
Mm-hmm.01:03:01:08 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
It's a lot for a 16-year-old
to deal with.01:03:02:21 --:--:--:--
There was something else
involved there, too.01:03:04:14 --:--:--:--
It moved on
to an eating disorder?01:03:05:28 --:--:--:--
[Sarah Michelle]
Mm-hmm.01:03:07:10 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
Can you tell me
a little bit about that?01:03:09:06 --:--:--:--
[Sarah Michelle]
Yeah. I was bulimic
for, um, you know,01:03:11:26 --:--:--:--
it probably started
when I was...about 18 or 19.01:03:15:25 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
Okay.01:03:17:02 --:--:--:--
So-- And, uh, and--
and, you know,01:03:19:06 --:--:--:--
through my heroin use,01:03:20:22 --:--:--:--
it, um, you know, kind of,
like, counteracted each other,01:03:23:16 --:--:--:--
you know, and, um,
it got pretty bad, you know,01:03:26:15 --:--:--:--
and that's why I
actually went to...01:03:28:20 --:--:--:--
treatment for the first time01:03:30:05 --:--:--:--
was for, uh,
chemical dependency
and eating disorder.01:03:32:28 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
And how old were you?01:03:34:03 --:--:--:--
[Sarah Michelle]
Uh, I was 22,
just turned 22.01:03:36:27 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
What program was that?01:03:38:13 --:--:--:--
[Sarah Michelle]
Uh, it was in Mississippi.01:03:40:02 --:--:--:--
It was a, um...01:03:42:05 --:--:--:--
It was the Women's Center.01:03:43:17 --:--:--:--
I was terrified
because I was scared that, um,01:03:45:27 --:--:--:--
you know, I was scared when I
walked through those doors01:03:48:05 --:--:--:--
and knew I couldn't drink
and use any drugs, you know,01:03:50:15 --:--:--:--
and I had to be with myself,01:03:51:29 --:--:--:--
and it terrified me.01:03:53:11 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
How long had you
been there for?01:03:54:28 --:--:--:--
[Sarah Michelle]
I was there three months.01:03:56:11 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
And you stayed sober
for three months?01:03:57:25 --:--:--:--
[Sarah Michelle]
Yeah.01:03:59:12 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
And then you left
that program.01:04:00:20 --:--:--:--
And then what happened?
You went back home?01:04:02:15 --:--:--:--
[Sarah Michelle]
Yeah, I went home
to Kentucky,01:04:04:02 --:--:--:--
and probably two weeks
after I got out,01:04:06:01 --:--:--:--
I, uh, I relapsed.01:04:08:11 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
Okay. What was that like?01:04:09:25 --:--:--:--
[Sarah Michelle]
I remember I smoked a joint,01:04:12:03 --:--:--:--
and, um,
and I just started crying01:04:14:09 --:--:--:--
because
I knew that it was on.01:04:15:28 --:--:--:--
I knew that I just--
I couldn't stop.01:04:18:01 --:--:--:--
Because once I--
once I do, I can't stop.01:04:21:03 --:--:--:--
I don't know how to.01:04:22:12 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
So from there--01:04:23:22 --:--:--:--
you-- you knew right away
when you smoked that joint01:04:25:24 --:--:--:--
that it was on01:04:26:27 --:--:--:--
because you really did
have a problem.01:04:28:11 --:--:--:--
You had three months01:04:29:16 --:--:--:--
of probably intense
lockdown treatment01:04:30:26 --:--:--:--
to let you know
that you had a problem,01:04:32:16 --:--:--:--
and you get out and you use,01:04:33:28 --:--:--:--
and it was like "Yep,
I definitely have a problem."01:04:35:20 --:--:--:--
So what happened then?01:04:37:07 --:--:--:--
[Sarah Michelle]
After I relapsed,
I think it was, um,01:04:39:09 --:--:--:--
about a month, I, uh--01:04:40:20 --:--:--:--
Because, see, when I went
to treatment the first time,01:04:42:22 --:--:--:--
I really--
my primary thing was drugs,01:04:45:17 --:--:--:--
you know,
and the eating disorder,01:04:46:26 --:--:--:--
and so, when I got
out of treatment,01:04:48:16 --:--:--:--
I was like, okay, I can
drink, and I'll be okay.01:04:50:24 --:--:--:--
You know,
I can have a few drinks,01:04:52:14 --:--:--:--
and, you know, that turned
into blackout drunk, you know?01:04:55:04 --:--:--:--
And every time I drank,
I blacked out,01:04:57:01 --:--:--:--
and I couldn't stop,01:04:58:09 --:--:--:--
so I got a DUI,01:04:59:23 --:--:--:--
uh, probably, like, two months
after I got out of treatment.01:05:02:27 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
Okay.01:05:04:04 --:--:--:--
[Sarah Michelle]
And, uh, I started doing meth.01:05:05:28 --:--:--:--
I'm an IV drug user,
so I was doing meth,01:05:07:29 --:--:--:--
and, uh...01:05:09:19 --:--:--:--
and before I knew it,
you know,01:05:11:10 --:--:--:--
I got beat up
by my ex-boyfriend01:05:13:13 --:--:--:--
because I get in abusive
relationships when I'm using,01:05:15:21 --:--:--:--
and, uh, and I got arrested
for a felony.01:05:17:26 --:--:--:--
I went to jail.01:05:19:14 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
So the alcohol experiment
worked out well, then.01:05:22:03 --:--:--:--
[Sarah Michelle laughing]01:05:23:05 --:--:--:--
[audience laughter]01:05:24:27 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
What a deal.01:05:26:13 --:--:--:--
What got you
to the next step?01:05:28:07 --:--:--:--
[Sarah Michelle]
They gave me an ultimatum
that I could go get treatment01:05:30:27 --:--:--:--
or go to prison.01:05:32:10 --:--:--:--
And you know what?01:05:34:15 --:--:--:--
And-- But I never thought
that I could, like,01:05:36:10 --:--:--:--
stay sober, you know.01:05:37:15 --:--:--:--
I came to Dr. Paul's
at the Bay,01:05:39:29 --:--:--:--
and I just threw myself
into the program.01:05:42:10 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
How was that different01:05:43:14 --:--:--:--
from the other program
that you went to?01:05:44:21 --:--:--:--
[Sarah Michelle]
It is not a lockdown facility.01:05:46:05 --:--:--:--
I could leave
and go to meetings01:05:48:08 --:--:--:--
and meet a sponsor,
you know,01:05:49:24 --:--:--:--
and-- and I had to come back
for a curfew,01:05:52:24 --:--:--:--
you know, and it gave me--01:05:54:02 --:--:--:--
It was kind of like
a transition, you know.01:05:55:28 --:--:--:--
I could kind of function
in society01:05:57:21 --:--:--:--
or learn how
to function in society01:05:59:27 --:--:--:--
because I didn't know how to.01:06:01:07 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
It's important, I think,01:06:02:10 --:--:--:--
for everyone
to understand as well01:06:03:21 --:--:--:--
and for the public
to understand01:06:04:29 --:--:--:--
is that there is
a treatment program01:06:06:13 --:--:--:--
for anyone,
any type of person.01:06:07:24 --:--:--:--
You don't have to have
millions of dollars.01:06:10:16 --:--:--:--
You don't
have to have insurance.01:06:11:28 --:--:--:--
There are free programs.01:06:13:04 --:--:--:--
But there's programs
for everyone.01:06:14:27 --:--:--:--
So you're--
This worked for you01:06:16:05 --:--:--:--
because it was
a little bit open.01:06:17:19 --:--:--:--
It was like night and day.01:06:18:27 --:--:--:--
You went from a lockdown01:06:20:14 --:--:--:--
to having the more
real-life experience,01:06:21:27 --:--:--:--
and that's probably
what you needed.01:06:23:04 --:--:--:--
Was there anything
about the program01:06:25:07 --:--:--:--
that really helped you
grab on tightly?01:06:28:01 --:--:--:--
[Sarah Michelle]
Uh, actually, I met this lady,01:06:29:21 --:--:--:--
and, uh, she was my counselor
named Lynn, and she really--01:06:33:12 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
She's here, you know.01:06:34:25 --:--:--:--
She's out here somewhere.01:06:36:12 --:--:--:--
[Sarah Michelle]
She's over there.01:06:37:17 01:06:38:20
[Mike Cohan]
Want to come up here, Lynn?01:06:42:29 --:--:--:--
Hi, Lynn.01:06:43:29 --:--:--:--
[Lynn]
Hi.01:06:45:11 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
Thanks for coming
from Florida,01:06:46:17 --:--:--:--
both of you.
You came together, correct?01:06:47:22 --:--:--:--
[Lynn]
Yes.01:06:48:04 --:--:--:--
[Sarah Michelle]
Mm-hmm.01:06:48:26 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
Could you explain now01:06:50:03 --:--:--:--
how Lynn was instrumental
in your recovery?01:06:51:17 --:--:--:--
[Sarah Michelle]
She was honest with me,
you know.01:06:53:01 --:--:--:--
She didn't try to...01:06:54:27 --:--:--:--
to, you know, to be nice01:06:56:19 --:--:--:--
and to pat me on the back
or anything like that.01:06:58:27 --:--:--:--
She told me things that I
needed to work on in myself,01:07:01:11 --:--:--:--
you know, and things
that I can work on in life.01:07:03:24 --:--:--:--
She just made me
feel comfortable.01:07:05:04 --:--:--:--
It was really a big thing
to, uh--01:07:06:24 --:--:--:--
although not the first time
because I was scared to death01:07:09:02 --:--:--:--
when I first met
with her, but...01:07:10:27 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
What's the five questions
that she was asking you?01:07:13:14 --:--:--:--
[Sarah Michelle]
She'd ask me, um,01:07:14:23 --:--:--:--
I think it was,
like, five questions01:07:16:07 --:--:--:--
about, like,
what age I started
doing what drugs,01:07:19:06 --:--:--:--
and, um, and within
about five minutes,01:07:21:20 01:07:22:28
she basically read me.01:07:24:05 --:--:--:--
[Lynn]
I think what's
dynamic about Sarah01:07:26:21 --:--:--:--
was that, you know,01:07:27:23 --:--:--:--
like she said,
this was her decision,01:07:29:29 --:--:--:--
her choice
to come to treatment01:07:31:16 --:--:--:--
this time around,01:07:32:20 --:--:--:--
and, um, I have kind of01:07:35:12 --:--:--:--
that confrontational
style of-- of counseling,01:07:38:29 --:--:--:--
and she sought me out.01:07:40:12 --:--:--:--
It's amazing. If y--
you had an opportunity01:07:43:22 --:--:--:--
to see, um,
the picture of Sarah--01:07:46:09 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
Yes. We have that.01:07:48:27 --:--:--:--
Can I have that picture?01:07:50:14 --:--:--:--
Kind of like a-- a--01:07:52:04 --:--:--:--
a mixture of Mommie Dearest
with those eyebrows--01:07:56:07 --:--:--:--
[Sarah Michelle laughing]01:07:57:21 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
It's hard. This was
a mug shot, wasn't it?01:07:59:25 --:--:--:--
You had black eyes
from a boyfriend.01:08:01:17 --:--:--:--
[Sarah Michelle]
Uh-huh.01:08:01:23 --:--:--:--
[Lynn]
Two black eyes.01:08:02:27 --:--:--:--
[Sarah Michelle]
Broken nose, busted lip.01:08:04:24 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
The point that we're
trying to make01:08:06:08 --:--:--:--
is that there are
relationships like this01:08:08:04 --:--:--:--
in every treatment
center.01:08:09:13 --:--:--:--
There are people01:08:10:17 --:--:--:--
that are part of
the treatment programs01:08:11:25 --:--:--:--
that share their experience,
strength, and hope.01:08:14:03 --:--:--:--
They combine it
with their education01:08:16:12 --:--:--:--
and their critical
knowledge.01:08:17:24 --:--:--:--
[Lynn]
Absolutely.01:08:18:26 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
But it was a chance for you01:08:20:11 --:--:--:--
to let your guard down,
trust someone,01:08:21:25 --:--:--:--
and then get on
with things.01:08:23:06 --:--:--:--
And this is where
the most important
part comes01:08:25:02 --:--:--:--
because I don't
want to focus too much01:08:26:24 --:--:--:--
how we were train wrecks
before we came in.01:08:29:01 --:--:--:--
What I want to focus on
is what's going on now.01:08:31:10 --:--:--:--
That's what--
That's what excites me.01:08:32:22 --:--:--:--
I want to hear
about Sarah Michelle now.01:08:34:12 --:--:--:--
[Sarah Michelle]
For me, you know,
the biggest thing is01:08:36:26 --:--:--:--
is that I can-- I can
be in a room by myself,01:08:39:16 --:--:--:--
then I-- I'm okay
with myself.01:08:41:17 --:--:--:--
You know,
that's the one thing01:08:42:26 --:--:--:--
is that all the things
on the outside I have01:08:44:28 --:--:--:--
don't mean anything,
you know.01:08:46:05 --:--:--:--
It's how I feel
on the inside, you know,01:08:48:06 --:--:--:--
and I can walk around
with my head up, you know?01:08:50:21 --:--:--:--
I don't have to look
behind my shoulder01:08:52:10 --:--:--:--
to see who's behind me01:08:53:29 --:--:--:--
because I'm terrified
of who could be behind me.01:08:55:11 --:--:--:--
Being sober one day
at a time, you know.01:08:57:07 --:--:--:--
I have a relationship
with my family today that--01:08:59:17 --:--:--:--
that's better than it was01:09:00:26 --:--:--:--
ever before I started
using and drinking.01:09:02:15 --:--:--:--
I went home for Christmas,01:09:03:23 --:--:--:--
and, um, and...01:09:05:19 --:--:--:--
I took pictures
of me with my family,01:09:07:28 --:--:--:--
and I looked like I was
a part of my family01:09:10:17 --:--:--:--
because even before
I started drinking,01:09:11:29 --:--:--:--
I always looked like
"Well, there's Sarah.01:09:13:27 --:--:--:--
She doesn't really blend in
with the family," you know?01:09:16:10 --:--:--:--
And I brought it back,01:09:17:20 --:--:--:--
and I took it right to Lynn
as soon as I got home,01:09:20:10 --:--:--:--
and I was like "Lynn, look.01:09:21:18 --:--:--:--
I look like I fit.
I look like I belong,"01:09:23:23 --:--:--:--
you know, and those
were the things01:09:25:28 --:--:--:--
that I never had before.01:09:27:17 --:--:--:--
You know, my life today--01:09:28:19 --:--:--:--
If I were to write down
something01:09:30:17 --:--:--:--
when I first came to treatment
about what my life could be,01:09:33:03 --:--:--:--
it would be totally different
than what it is today.01:09:35:05 --:--:--:--
Today I just-- I've worked
from the inside out,01:09:37:17 --:--:--:--
and it wasn't--
I mean, it was--01:09:39:01 --:--:--:--
There were some--
There were some hills01:09:40:15 --:--:--:--
I had to climb over,
you know,01:09:41:29 --:--:--:--
but, you know, I don't ever
want to look back, you know.01:09:45:04 --:--:--:--
I'd rather walk
through the things01:09:46:17 --:--:--:--
instead of having to go
back to what it was like.01:09:49:06 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
The miracle of recovery01:09:50:17 --:--:--:--
we get to see
on a daily basis.01:09:52:11 --:--:--:--
Thank you, Sarah Michelle.01:09:53:18 --:--:--:--
We're so grateful
that you're here01:09:54:26 --:--:--:--
and you came from Florida.01:09:56:04 --:--:--:--
And thank you, Lynn,
for coming.01:09:57:15 01:09:58:20
Thank you for sharing
your story with us.01:10:09:20 --:--:--:--
[Female Announcer]
There are many ways
to get addicted.01:10:12:02 --:--:--:--
Fortunately,
there are a number of ways01:10:13:22 --:--:--:--
to start recovery.01:10:15:06 01:10:17:27
Call the Intervention
and Treatment Referral now.01:10:22:13 01:10:25:08
[Mike Cohan]
Let's have our next guest.
We have Zach.01:10:28:04 --:--:--:--
How are you doing?01:10:28:21 --:--:--:--
[Zach]
Good.01:10:29:11 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
Good to see you.01:10:31:07 --:--:--:--
Thanks for coming in.01:10:32:20 --:--:--:--
[Zach]
You're welcome.01:10:33:27 --:--:--:--
So you have a lengthy
sobriety right now.01:10:38:00 --:--:--:--
What is-- How long
have you been sober for?01:10:40:06 --:--:--:--
[Zach]
Three and a half years.01:10:41:08 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
And how old are you?01:10:42:08 --:--:--:--
[Zach]
Uh, 30.01:10:42:29 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
Is this your first time
getting sober?01:10:44:24 --:--:--:--
[Zach]
No, unfortunately, it's not.01:10:46:01 --:--:--:--
Uh, this is my second time.01:10:47:16 --:--:--:--
I got sober the first time
when I was 21,01:10:49:26 --:--:--:--
and it just didn't stick.01:10:51:01 --:--:--:--
Uh, so this time
I got sober when I was 27,01:10:54:14 --:--:--:--
and I've just-- I was,
I think, a little bit
more willing this time.01:10:57:16 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
Tell me what it was like,01:10:58:24 --:--:--:--
I mean, when you were
in your 20s01:11:00:14 --:--:--:--
and you were using.01:11:02:11 --:--:--:--
[Zach]
When I was young,
I was, like, the perfect kid.01:11:04:18 --:--:--:--
I never drank, I never used,
I never did anything.01:11:06:27 --:--:--:--
Uh, when I got into college,
that kind of changed,01:11:10:04 --:--:--:--
and I was in a fraternity,01:11:11:12 --:--:--:--
and I was president
of the fraternity,01:11:13:15 --:--:--:--
and I had a very bad
coming out experience.01:11:15:27 --:--:--:--
It wasn't something
that was necessarily planned.01:11:18:10 --:--:--:--
Um, and when that happened,01:11:19:28 --:--:--:--
I just threw myself
into drugs head first.01:11:22:04 --:--:--:--
I had an overdose on PCP.01:11:25:00 --:--:--:--
Uh, and that led me
into recovery the first time.01:11:28:24 --:--:--:--
It didn't really stick.01:11:29:28 --:--:--:--
I went into a detox unit
for two weeks,01:11:31:29 --:--:--:--
and I dried out,01:11:33:04 --:--:--:--
and I got, um, stoned
in the parking lot01:11:35:29 --:--:--:--
as I left the detox unit.01:11:37:22 --:--:--:--
And then I discovered
drinking,01:11:39:11 --:--:--:--
and that was really
what took me to my knees.01:11:41:25 --:--:--:--
Uh, I drank heavily
for about five years,01:11:43:29 --:--:--:--
uh, until I got sober,01:11:45:15 --:--:--:--
and that's what really
what brought me to the bottom.01:11:47:14 --:--:--:--
And it got to the point01:11:48:22 --:--:--:--
where I couldn't develop
any business.01:11:50:05 --:--:--:--
I couldn't talk to people.
I was afraid of people.01:11:52:07 --:--:--:--
And, you know,
there were antidepressants01:11:54:04 --:--:--:--
that were-- that I was taking.01:11:55:12 --:--:--:--
There was
anti-anxiety medication.01:11:57:22 --:--:--:--
There was an insane
amount of vodka.01:11:59:14 --:--:--:--
Uh, and just to face people,01:12:01:08 --:--:--:--
I had to have
all of those things.01:12:03:03 --:--:--:--
And even then,01:12:04:11 --:--:--:--
it was definitely
not a graceful experience.01:12:06:12 --:--:--:--
it was just awful.01:12:07:19 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
And how old were you
at that point?01:12:08:29 --:--:--:--
[Zach]
I was 27.01:12:10:07 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
You must have looked
like you were 1001:12:11:27 --:--:--:--
because right now you look
like you're 20.01:12:13:17 --:--:--:--
[Zach]
I wish I had a picture.
No, actually, um,01:12:15:13 --:--:--:--
I had the whole Elvis face
thing going on.01:12:17:09 --:--:--:--
I was really kind of swollen.01:12:19:08 --:--:--:--
Uh, I had pneumonia
for several months01:12:21:22 --:--:--:--
just because I--
The doctor--01:12:23:14 --:--:--:--
I kept going to the doctor,01:12:24:21 --:--:--:--
but I didn't tell him
that I was drinking,01:12:26:17 --:--:--:--
so when they
give you medication,
you don't get well.01:12:28:15 --:--:--:--
It was not pretty
when I came in.01:12:30:05 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
But other than that,
everything was great.01:12:31:19 --:--:--:--
[Zach]
Everything was perfect.
Perfect.01:12:34:01 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
You came in. You came
to a treatment center.01:12:35:16 --:--:--:--
[Zach]
I did. Yeah. I had--01:12:36:25 --:--:--:--
My family-- I was living
in Texas at the time.01:12:38:26 --:--:--:--
They lived in Idaho,01:12:40:24 --:--:--:--
and they did kind of an
unofficial intervention,01:12:44:02 --:--:--:--
and my father just flew down.01:12:45:28 --:--:--:--
Uh, he-- they just--
they were worried.01:12:48:06 --:--:--:--
He flew down.01:12:49:12 --:--:--:--
He raided my house,
which was interesting.01:12:51:12 --:--:--:--
He found all sorts
of interesting things.01:12:53:12 --:--:--:--
He stayed with me
for a week01:12:54:27 --:--:--:--
until I could
get into treatment,01:12:56:05 --:--:--:--
and then he flew with me
to treatment,01:12:57:23 --:--:--:--
and he got a hotel room,01:12:58:29 --:--:--:--
and he stayed there
the first week01:13:00:17 --:--:--:--
because he was afraid
that I was going to leave.
He was right there.01:13:02:29 --:--:--:--
Since then, they've been
a real deep part of my life.01:13:07:16 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
So when you went
into treatment?01:13:09:10 --:--:--:--
[Zach]
When I came into treatment,
I wasn't willing.01:13:11:16 --:--:--:--
Um, I came, um, because
my family wanted me to go01:13:15:14 --:--:--:--
and because I had
a lot of credit card debt01:13:17:16 --:--:--:--
and because I thought01:13:18:19 --:--:--:--
I could just turn off
everything for 30 days.01:13:20:15 --:--:--:--
And that was the honest reason
why I went to treatment.01:13:22:23 --:--:--:--
I didn't plan on getting well.01:13:24:07 --:--:--:--
I didn't plan
on anything happening.01:13:25:18 --:--:--:--
There was no plan.
There was just01:13:27:02 --:--:--:--
"I can get away from all
my problems for 30 days."01:13:29:17 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
Was there a shift
when you got in01:13:31:06 --:--:--:--
where you were there
for yourself01:13:32:15 --:--:--:--
and not for your family?01:13:33:19 --:--:--:--
[Zach]
The first two weeks,
you know, I was there,01:13:35:03 --:--:--:--
I didn't relate.01:13:36:07 --:--:--:--
I looked
at all the differences,01:13:37:15 --:--:--:--
and I didn't see
any of the similarities.01:13:38:22 --:--:--:--
We sat there for a week,01:13:40:03 --:--:--:--
and we went to group sessions,01:13:41:11 --:--:--:--
and I heard my story
coming back to me,01:13:43:16 --:--:--:--
you know, from men
that were twice my age,01:13:45:22 --:--:--:--
from women, you know,
that were, you know,01:13:47:25 --:--:--:--
from the Midwest.01:13:49:03 --:--:--:--
I mean, I kept hearing
my story come back,01:13:50:29 --:--:--:--
and I was a little bit
reluctant.01:13:52:10 --:--:--:--
Uh, you know,
and I had a great counselor,01:13:54:28 --:--:--:--
uh, who had a long talk
with me about, you know,01:13:58:20 --:--:--:--
that it doesn't hurt
to at least try,01:14:00:10 --:--:--:--
that what I was doing
was not working.01:14:02:00 --:--:--:--
it made me an absolutely
miserable person,01:14:03:22 --:--:--:--
and so I might as well
just try.01:14:05:15 --:--:--:--
And I don't know why,01:14:07:04 --:--:--:--
but something-- something
about it clicked.01:14:08:20 --:--:--:--
In the program we say
that we seek people01:14:10:16 --:--:--:--
that we want what they have,01:14:12:11 --:--:--:--
and I wanted
what this person had,01:14:14:05 --:--:--:--
and it just amazed me,01:14:15:12 --:--:--:--
and that's when it clicked.01:14:16:27 --:--:--:--
And I didn't do anything
miraculous.01:14:19:17 --:--:--:--
I just took it
one day at a time.01:14:21:05 --:--:--:--
I got a sponsor,01:14:22:06 --:--:--:--
and I didn't know, really,01:14:23:27 --:--:--:--
what was going to happen.01:14:25:01 --:--:--:--
And really, you know,01:14:26:11 --:--:--:--
that's kind of how
my sobriety's been.01:14:27:25 --:--:--:--
It's kind of there's not
this great big master plan.01:14:29:27 --:--:--:--
I wing it on a daily basis.01:14:31:10 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
Thank you for your sobriety.01:14:32:26 --:--:--:--
I mean, to just go in there
kicking and screaming01:14:34:28 --:--:--:--
and having Dad wait
outside the treatment center01:14:37:15 --:--:--:--
for a week just to make
sure that you stay there01:14:39:23 --:--:--:--
and that you're
going to be okay,01:14:41:07 --:--:--:--
and then just taking
that direction01:14:42:15 --:--:--:--
and turning it around,
doing what was asked,01:14:44:14 --:--:--:--
and now you're able
to give that back.01:14:47:17 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
Thank you very much.01:14:48:25 01:14:49:14
[Zach]
You're welcome.01:14:56:25 --:--:--:--
There is hope for everyone,
and we can help.01:14:59:06 --:--:--:--
Please visit our Web site
and watch our show.01:15:02:09 --:--:--:--
This is real.01:15:03:19 01:15:06:09
RecoveryNowTV.com.01:15:09:02 01:15:11:09
[Lauren]
You know, there's nothing
in this world--01:15:12:18 --:--:--:--
there's nothing bad enough
that could happen,01:15:14:22 --:--:--:--
I don't believe,01:15:16:00 --:--:--:--
that will make me want
to go back to the place01:15:18:06 01:15:19:14
where I don't want to live.01:15:23:27 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
How are you?01:15:25:01 --:--:--:--
[Lauren]
Fine. How are you?01:15:26:10 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
Good. Lauren and I
have had the chance01:15:28:13 --:--:--:--
to get to know each other01:15:29:21 --:--:--:--
over the last probably
eight or nine months now.01:15:31:17 --:--:--:--
[Lauren]
Mm-hmm.01:15:32:17 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
And Lauren is really a--01:15:33:28 --:--:--:--
inspiration
behind this project.01:15:36:04 --:--:--:--
I'll briefly say that she
was on the intervention show.01:15:38:12 --:--:--:--
She works at Oasis.01:15:39:25 --:--:--:--
She's going to be doing
interventions for Spencer01:15:42:00 --:--:--:--
and for herself as well.01:15:43:15 --:--:--:--
She does this
to be able to show people01:15:45:15 --:--:--:--
the amazing transition,01:15:46:23 --:--:--:--
and that's what we're
trying to do here.01:15:48:13 --:--:--:--
When you see a picture
of Lauren when she was using01:15:50:21 --:--:--:--
and you see
what you see right now,01:15:52:11 --:--:--:--
you want to know how she
got from point A to point B,01:15:55:01 --:--:--:--
and you want to listen01:15:56:10 --:--:--:--
because she was so
in the depths of her disease.01:15:58:16 --:--:--:--
So, no pressure.01:15:59:25 --:--:--:--
[Lauren]
Okay.01:16:00:26 01:16:01:28
[audience chuckles]01:16:03:08 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
Can you give us
a brief overview01:16:05:12 --:--:--:--
of what it was like,
of what happened?01:16:08:02 --:--:--:--
[Lauren]
You know, I was--
I was drinking01:16:10:02 --:--:--:--
and using cocaine
and smoking marijuana,01:16:13:12 --:--:--:--
and when I had
finished college,01:16:14:28 --:--:--:--
uh, I began to use heroin
maybe weekly,01:16:20:10 --:--:--:--
after graduating
and having an apartment01:16:22:18 --:--:--:--
and a car and everything else.01:16:23:29 --:--:--:--
Uh, I began to use it weekly01:16:26:10 --:--:--:--
and then a couple
of times a week and, uh--01:16:29:20 --:--:--:--
Mind you, at this point,
I'm an educated person01:16:32:07 --:--:--:--
and know-- knew
where this drug would take me,01:16:35:25 --:--:--:--
and-- but for some reason,01:16:37:17 --:--:--:--
I had an ego that would--
told me01:16:39:05 --:--:--:--
I could do it different
or better than everybody else.01:16:41:12 --:--:--:--
and, uh, I continued to use,01:16:44:05 --:--:--:--
and then came a point
where I tried not to use,01:16:47:12 --:--:--:--
and I could not stop.01:16:49:13 --:--:--:--
Uh, I heard a few people01:16:51:01 --:--:--:--
say something similar
to what I'm about to say01:16:53:14 --:--:--:--
because I would be on my way
to go get the drugs,01:16:56:27 --:--:--:--
whatever they may have been
at the time,01:16:58:17 --:--:--:--
crying because
I couldn't not go.01:17:00:22 --:--:--:--
I had to go. I couldn't
stop myself from going.01:17:03:06 --:--:--:--
At one point, what was fun01:17:05:03 --:--:--:--
and what was-- everybody
thought was, uh, you know,01:17:08:17 --:--:--:--
free-- what I thought
was freedom01:17:10:02 --:--:--:--
and I was able to do
whatever I wanted,01:17:11:17 --:--:--:--
it became a prison to me,01:17:13:19 --:--:--:--
and it took away--01:17:14:23 --:--:--:--
it took away
everything I had,01:17:16:11 --:--:--:--
but I don't even really
want to say it took it away.01:17:18:29 --:--:--:--
I gave it away.01:17:20:04 --:--:--:--
I had everything I had
away to the drug.01:17:22:00 --:--:--:--
I lost my job.
I wrecked my car.01:17:24:15 --:--:--:--
I lost my apartment.
I had to move in with my mom.01:17:26:27 --:--:--:--
Uh, I became homeless
at one point. Uh--01:17:30:16 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
I know that you
were a teacher.01:17:31:24 --:--:--:--
[Lauren]
High school.01:17:32:16 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
High school.01:17:33:29 --:--:--:--
You were shooting up,
like, in the bathroom01:17:35:19 --:--:--:--
or was it at work?01:17:36:29 --:--:--:--
Or could you control it
so it was during the day?01:17:39:07 --:--:--:--
[Lauren]
I don't even know
that I was trying--01:17:40:27 --:--:--:--
I was controlling it.
It was controlling me.01:17:43:00 --:--:--:--
Uh, maybe at first
I controlled it,01:17:44:29 --:--:--:--
uh, but I would have to get
a fix before I went to work,01:17:48:28 --:--:--:--
uh, to teach kids in school,01:17:50:11 --:--:--:--
and I would
have to get a fix01:17:52:24 --:--:--:--
during lunch at work01:17:54:05 --:--:--:--
so I can continue
or finish the day.01:17:56:06 --:--:--:--
And it wasn't even to get high01:17:58:01 --:--:--:--
or party or enjoy
myself anymore.01:17:59:21 --:--:--:--
It was so I can function01:18:01:00 --:--:--:--
because it changed over
from a point of01:18:03:15 --:--:--:--
being fun
and being blissful01:18:05:13 --:--:--:--
and being euphoric01:18:06:18 --:--:--:--
to a point of, uh,
complete, utter sickness01:18:09:17 --:--:--:--
that I could not even get up
and take a shower without it.01:18:11:26 --:--:--:--
I had to have it.01:18:13:25 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
I hate when that happens.01:18:15:00 --:--:--:--
[Lauren]
Yeah.01:18:15:13 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
It always does, though.01:18:16:17 --:--:--:--
Chasing that high
for six years, you know?01:18:19:06 --:--:--:--
That first time's
always so glorious,01:18:20:14 --:--:--:--
and then it just gets--01:18:21:20 --:--:--:--
[Lauren]
Oh, you spend
the rest of your time--01:18:23:03 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
...messy.01:18:23:23 --:--:--:--
[Lauren]
...chasing it.01:18:24:05 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
Yeah.01:18:25:07 --:--:--:--
Lauren has always been
very, uh, descriptive01:18:28:18 --:--:--:--
in how you're feeling.01:18:29:27 --:--:--:--
The intervention show
went to her house,01:18:31:21 --:--:--:--
did an intervention,01:18:33:03 --:--:--:--
and I keep watching
the section of it01:18:36:07 --:--:--:--
where you say--01:18:37:14 --:--:--:--
You had just-- You had
just used drugs.01:18:39:16 --:--:--:--
You just
had shot up heroin,01:18:40:28 --:--:--:--
and you sat there
with this horrified
look on your face,01:18:43:09 --:--:--:--
and you said you just
feel like, uh,01:18:45:26 --:--:--:--
you're in your grave already01:18:47:12 --:--:--:--
and you're
waiting for someone
to throw the dirt in.01:18:49:13 --:--:--:--
[Lauren]
Mm-hmm.01:18:50:14 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
Can you talk a little bit01:18:51:22 --:--:--:--
about what you're
doing today?01:18:53:06 --:--:--:--
[Lauren]
Uh, well, today, uh,01:18:54:18 --:--:--:--
I am a personal trainer,01:18:57:04 --:--:--:--
and, uh, I work with addicts
and alcoholics01:18:59:22 --:--:--:--
in recovery, mostly,01:19:01:08 --:--:--:--
and, um, I try to find01:19:03:11 --:--:--:--
ways to offer them
fitness and health01:19:07:01 --:--:--:--
and nutrition for free.01:19:08:19 --:--:--:--
I also, um,01:19:10:04 --:--:--:--
I've also completed
the coursework01:19:11:19 --:--:--:--
to be an interventionist,01:19:13:15 --:--:--:--
and, um, I'm working
on a Masters degree.01:19:17:02 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
And the program
that you went to,01:19:18:15 --:--:--:--
Oasis Treatment Center.01:19:19:03 --:--:--:--
[Lauren]
Yes.01:19:19:21 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
How was that for you?01:19:21:01 --:--:--:--
[Lauren]
I was just like--01:19:22:21 --:--:--:--
I just felt
like such a loser01:19:24:05 --:--:--:--
and that I was never
going to get it,01:19:25:27 --:--:--:--
and the person who's my
sponsor now, Mercy,01:19:28:03 --:--:--:--
uh, she came up,
put her hand on my forearm,01:19:31:04 --:--:--:--
and said "You know what?
It's going to be okay,01:19:32:29 --:--:--:--
and we're going
to take care of you."01:19:35:13 --:--:--:--
And for some reason,
that comforted me.01:19:37:14 --:--:--:--
I needed somebody to tell me
that it was going to be okay01:19:40:02 --:--:--:--
because I didn't know.01:19:41:07 --:--:--:--
I didn't think
it was going to be.01:19:42:27 --:--:--:--
I didn't think I was going
to make it this time, either.01:19:45:11 --:--:--:--
I thought it would be
another try and another fail.01:19:47:13 --:--:--:--
And that wasn't the case.01:19:48:26 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
That's wonderful.01:19:49:26 --:--:--:--
That's a very important thing01:19:51:00 --:--:--:--
for people to understand,01:19:52:03 --:--:--:--
especially
if they're concerned01:19:53:14 --:--:--:--
about going into a facility01:19:54:20 --:--:--:--
because they have
these preconceived ideas01:19:57:21 --:--:--:--
of what it's actually
going to be like, you know?01:19:59:23 --:--:--:--
I think that the media
has made it look hokey.01:20:01:25 --:--:--:--
Everyone's sitting around
holding hands,01:20:03:11 --:--:--:--
and no one's gonna
actually reach out01:20:05:03 --:--:--:--
and say it's going
to be okay01:20:06:21 --:--:--:--
or there's actually--01:20:07:27 --:--:--:--
there's people
at treatment facilities01:20:09:03 --:--:--:--
that have been
through this themselves,01:20:10:16 --:--:--:--
so they're able to share
based on their own experience.01:20:12:16 --:--:--:--
It's amazing
when you look back01:20:13:24 --:--:--:--
and you realize it happened01:20:15:01 --:--:--:--
exactly the way
it was supposed to happen.01:20:16:22 --:--:--:--
So now you're moving01:20:19:00 --:--:--:--
into possibly becoming
an interventionist.01:20:21:07 --:--:--:--
[Lauren]
Yes.01:20:21:26 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
You and I had spoken01:20:23:04 --:--:--:--
about doing interventions
for Spencer Recovery01:20:24:29 --:--:--:--
and you possibly wanting
to open it up01:20:27:27 --:--:--:--
to other people that are
in need of interventions01:20:30:22 --:--:--:--
that maybe aren't able
to put them together01:20:32:27 --:--:--:--
or the families
aren't available01:20:34:14 --:--:--:--
or there's
financial issues
or something like that.01:20:36:01 --:--:--:--
[Lauren]
Right.01:20:37:01 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
Are you currently01:20:38:02 --:--:--:--
helping people
right now?01:20:39:09 --:--:--:--
[Lauren]
Yes, I actually have
someone here with me today.01:20:42:25 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
What's the story there?01:20:43:27 --:--:--:--
[Lauren]
He's from the East Coast,01:20:45:04 --:--:--:--
from Pennsylvania,01:20:46:10 --:--:--:--
and he's-- I'm going
to say he's family01:20:48:25 --:--:--:--
because he's
related to family,01:20:51:03 --:--:--:--
and, uh, and we've known
each other a long time,01:20:54:01 --:--:--:--
and we have the same disease,01:20:55:21 --:--:--:--
and we have the same
drug of choice,01:20:57:20 --:--:--:--
and, you know, I know
what he's going through,01:21:00:02 --:--:--:--
and I know how hard it is,01:21:01:17 --:--:--:--
and I know how hard it is
because, you know,01:21:04:07 --:--:--:--
you just destroy
everything in your life,01:21:06:10 --:--:--:--
so now you don't
have any money.01:21:07:25 --:--:--:--
Now you don't have
any insurance.01:21:09:03 --:--:--:--
How are you going
to get treatment?01:21:10:17 --:--:--:--
How are you going
to get help, you know?01:21:12:08 --:--:--:--
I know there are
free programs out there,01:21:13:25 --:--:--:--
but people that are
in their sickness
and disease01:21:15:21 --:--:--:--
don't know
how to look for them.01:21:17:05 --:--:--:--
They don't know what to do
or who to ask.01:21:18:26 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
So did he reach out to you?01:21:20:05 --:--:--:--
[Lauren]
Yes. Him and his family
reach out to me,01:21:23:10 --:--:--:--
asked what I knew,
what I could do,01:21:25:19 --:--:--:--
how I could help, and--01:21:27:12 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
Well, so-- so he came out.01:21:28:29 --:--:--:--
[Lauren]
He's here.01:21:29:25 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
Okay. So...01:21:31:13 --:--:--:--
what is his name?01:21:32:22 --:--:--:--
[Lauren]
Todd.01:21:33:12 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
Todd, would you like to
come up here for a minute?01:21:35:09 --:--:--:--
Would you mind?01:21:36:15 01:21:38:05
[Man in audience]
All right.01:21:43:12 --:--:--:--
[Female Announcer]
There are many ways01:21:44:16 --:--:--:--
to get addicted.01:21:45:24 --:--:--:--
Fortunately,
there are a number of ways01:21:47:14 --:--:--:--
to start recovery.01:21:48:28 01:21:51:21
Call the Intervention
and Treatment Referral now.01:22:02:21 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
So you know Lauren.01:22:03:26 --:--:--:--
[Todd]
Yes.01:22:04:27 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
You called her for help?01:22:06:29 --:--:--:--
[Todd]
Yes.01:22:07:29 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
What's going on?01:22:09:01 --:--:--:--
[Todd]
Well, basically,
I have, uh...01:22:13:28 --:--:--:--
pretty much lived
a destructive lifestyle01:22:16:25 --:--:--:--
for the past 20 years
of my life,01:22:21:18 --:--:--:--
and, uh,
it's only getting worse,01:22:24:23 --:--:--:--
and, uh,
I have a little boy01:22:28:01 --:--:--:--
that, you know, needs me,01:22:31:23 --:--:--:--
and, uh, you know,01:22:33:22 --:--:--:--
I lost my father
to addiction,01:22:36:21 --:--:--:--
and, uh, I'm trying to...01:22:38:16 --:--:--:--
not let history
repeat itself, pretty much.01:22:40:29 --:--:--:--
I had several attempts
at treatment--01:22:45:03 --:--:--:--
uh, failed attempts,01:22:47:06 --:--:--:--
uh, on the East Coast,
so, you know,01:22:50:09 --:--:--:--
I knew I couldn't
do it over there.01:22:51:29 --:--:--:--
It was just not
going to happen.01:22:53:27 --:--:--:--
I-- I'd go away01:22:55:14 --:--:--:--
for, like, 30 days, 60 days.01:22:58:08 --:--:--:--
I did a couple years
in jail, you know.01:23:02:03 --:--:--:--
But as soon as I got out,
I went right back to it,01:23:04:19 --:--:--:--
you know.01:23:05:28 --:--:--:--
I also sold drugs, too,01:23:07:17 --:--:--:--
so it was, like, a means01:23:08:25 --:--:--:--
for me to get money,
you know,01:23:11:07 --:--:--:--
and, you know, monkeys
can't hold bananas,01:23:13:07 --:--:--:--
so inevitably I would
go right back to it,01:23:18:16 --:--:--:--
and, uh, I finally
came to the realization01:23:21:29 --:--:--:--
that in order for me
to, you know, get sober,01:23:26:09 --:--:--:--
I have to take myself out
of my element, you know, so--01:23:30:03 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
That's very smart.01:23:31:01 --:--:--:--
[Todd]
...I figured--01:23:32:14 --:--:--:--
I lived in New York, P.A.01:23:34:28 --:--:--:--
Why not go to California?01:23:36:16 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
How old is your son?01:23:37:21 --:--:--:--
[Todd]
He's 8.01:23:38:26 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
He's 8, and you have a wife.01:23:40:15 --:--:--:--
[Todd]
Common-law. She's--
We're not married,01:23:43:13 --:--:--:--
but we've been together
for, you know, 13 years.01:23:47:01 --:--:--:--
She's not going
to marry me right now,01:23:49:00 --:--:--:--
you know?01:23:50:15 --:--:--:--
[audience laughter]01:23:51:21 --:--:--:--
[Todd]
What, you know,
smart woman would?01:23:53:28 --:--:--:--
You know what I mean?01:23:55:03 --:--:--:--
But she's waiting there
for me.01:23:56:11 --:--:--:--
She's-- There's hope.01:23:57:12 --:--:--:--
Trying to remain as positive,01:23:59:04 --:--:--:--
I don't--
I'm gonna be honest.01:24:00:14 --:--:--:--
I don't feel like sitting01:24:01:29 --:--:--:--
in front of a studio
audience right now,01:24:03:19 --:--:--:--
not the way I feel01:24:04:24 --:--:--:--
physically,01:24:05:29 --:--:--:--
but if this is
what I have to do--01:24:07:11 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
I think everyone in that room01:24:08:22 --:--:--:--
is sitting up here
with you right now.01:24:10:22 --:--:--:--
They're all feeling it
because they've been there.01:24:12:12 --:--:--:--
[Lauren]
We have.01:24:13:00 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
We have some people01:24:14:07 --:--:--:--
that are in primary
care treatment centers.01:24:15:22 --:--:--:--
We have some people
that are interventionists01:24:17:29 --:--:--:--
that was recovering
alcoholics or addicts.01:24:20:02 --:--:--:--
We have owners
of treatment centers,01:24:22:24 --:--:--:--
and everyone right now
is up here with you,01:24:25:04 --:--:--:--
and no one in any way
is looking down on you01:24:27:09 --:--:--:--
because
we've all been there.01:24:28:18 --:--:--:--
And what we see
in those eyes right now01:24:30:21 --:--:--:--
is someone that's
willing to get sober01:24:32:05 --:--:--:--
and someone who's going
to do whatever they can01:24:34:01 --:--:--:--
because they flew
cross country01:24:35:09 --:--:--:--
not knowing what it was01:24:36:20 --:--:--:--
but just going on the trust
of this wonderful person.01:24:38:28 --:--:--:--
I think that in
the spirit of this show01:24:41:04 --:--:--:--
and getting hope
to other people,01:24:42:26 --:--:--:--
what I would like to offer01:24:44:04 --:--:--:--
from Spencer
Recovery Center--01:24:46:00 --:--:--:--
they're sponsoring
this show today--01:24:48:02 --:--:--:--
what we have here
is a package for you,01:24:50:02 --:--:--:--
and the package
is long-term treatment01:24:53:12 --:--:--:--
where you can go in tonight01:24:55:10 --:--:--:--
and you can start
your detox right away01:24:58:21 --:--:--:--
so you can start to feel
a little bit more comfortable01:25:00:23 --:--:--:--
and see a physician01:25:02:23 --:--:--:--
and get some follow-up
medical care01:25:05:17 --:--:--:--
and group therapy,
individual counseling,01:25:09:01 --:--:--:--
family therapy.01:25:10:10 --:--:--:--
They can do it
over the phone01:25:11:24 --:--:--:--
if they can't come to visit.01:25:13:03 --:--:--:--
It's intensive therapy
throughout the day01:25:14:23 --:--:--:--
the first month.01:25:16:05 --:--:--:--
And then you'll move into
an extended care situation01:25:19:05 --:--:--:--
where you have a little bit
more community integration.01:25:22:10 --:--:--:--
You'll learn how to be
an upstanding member
of society.01:25:25:10 --:--:--:--
You do some volunteer work,
get some job skills,01:25:28:20 --:--:--:--
work on your self-esteem.01:25:30:17 --:--:--:--
Give back right away,
the second month.01:25:32:21 --:--:--:--
All it takes
is willingness from you--01:25:35:06 --:--:--:--
willingness
to take the direction,01:25:37:09 --:--:--:--
and we're here for you.01:25:39:17 --:--:--:--
And it's a long term program.01:25:40:23 --:--:--:--
[Todd]
Thank you.01:25:41:18 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
And it's a private facility,01:25:43:01 --:--:--:--
but we're willing
to do this01:25:44:19 --:--:--:--
because we see, uh,
we see that there is hope.01:25:47:01 --:--:--:--
We want to reach
our hands out to you,01:25:49:03 --:--:--:--
as people did with us,01:25:50:25 --:--:--:--
and all you got to do
is say you want the help01:25:53:14 --:--:--:--
and you're willing to do
whatever it takes.01:25:55:05 --:--:--:--
[Todd]
Thank you.01:25:55:29 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
What do you think?
Do you want to get sober?01:25:57:22 --:--:--:--
[Todd]
Absolutely.
With all my heart.01:25:59:28 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
You are willing to put
all your old ways aside?01:26:02:04 --:--:--:--
[Todd]
Mm-hmm.01:26:03:10 01:26:05:02
[applause]01:26:17:04 --:--:--:--
[Todd]
It's a long time coming,
Mike.01:26:19:02 --:--:--:--
It really is, you know.01:26:22:05 --:--:--:--
But I got to just...01:26:24:24 --:--:--:--
It has to happen now,
you know?01:26:27:20 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
Well, we're behind you
every step of the way,01:26:29:16 --:--:--:--
and this is kind of what
recovery's all about.01:26:32:05 --:--:--:--
So thank you for coming.01:26:33:17 --:--:--:--
Thank you
for taking the chance01:26:34:25 --:--:--:--
and flying across country.01:26:36:10 --:--:--:--
It shows that you want
to do whatever it takes01:26:38:12 --:--:--:--
to have what we have.01:26:39:14 --:--:--:--
[Todd]
Okay.01:26:40:14 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
So...01:26:41:17 --:--:--:--
[Todd]
Thank you.01:26:42:04 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
All right.01:26:42:28 01:26:45:03
[applause]01:26:55:06 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
People are miracles
on so many levels, I think,01:26:57:16 --:--:--:--
whether it be that you have
a couple days of sobriety,01:26:59:24 --:--:--:--
whether it be that you
get through detoxification,01:27:02:15 --:--:--:--
whether it be that you get
sober and get a checkbook back01:27:05:16 --:--:--:--
or you get to pay your taxes01:27:07:03 --:--:--:--
or you don't have to look
in the rear-view mirror01:27:09:05 --:--:--:--
thinking you're going
to get pulled over.01:27:10:21 --:--:--:--
Or you don't come out and you
have that boot on your car01:27:13:07 --:--:--:--
because of all those
parking tickets.01:27:15:11 --:--:--:--
I hope that with this project,01:27:17:17 --:--:--:--
we can show people out there
that are struggling01:27:20:23 --:--:--:--
that it can really be
a wonderful experience01:27:23:15 --:--:--:--
and they, too, can be
miracles on any level.01:27:25:11 --:--:--:--
So thank you all so much
for coming,01:27:27:18 --:--:--:--
and I hope to see you soon.01:27:29:02 01:27:31:23
[applause, whooping]01:28:18:15 --:--:--:--
[Mike Cohan]
There is hope for everyone,
and we can help.01:28:20:26 --:--:--:--
Please visit our Web site
and watch our show.01:28:23:29 --:--:--:--
This is real.01:28:25:09 01:28:27:27
RecoveryNowTV.com.

Episode 1

Meet Mike Cohan, host of Recovery Now. Clean and sober for over six years, Mike explains the Recovery Now mission: to show those who still struggle with drug and alcohol addiction that hope is real. Sarah Michelle, 24, shares her story of adolescent drug addiction, bulimia, and triumphant recovery. Zach has over three years of sobriety and tells his story of recovery from alcoholism. Lauren, an articulate and enthusiastic recovering heroin addict, performs an on-stage intervention on her childhood friend, Todd, who is also a heroin addict. Will he accept help?

Episode 1

Addiction/Recovery Information and Shows