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Addiction Was the Smallest Part of My Problem | Tonie D. 

Toni Dreyer grew up in chaos, the eldest of seven, surviving childhood molestation, abuse, and neglect. By her twenties, she was a mother of multiple children, homeless, addicted to crack, and caught in a cycle of trauma and survival.

But Toni's story didn’t end there. After prison and years of addiction, a chance meeting with a mental health worker changed her life. Today, she’s a counselor helping others get back on their feet, and reconnecting with the children she once lost.

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Why I Tell My Patients: ‘Relapse Isn’t the End of the Story’ | Michael C.

Michael Cardinale grew up in a close-knit, middle-class New Jersey family where alcohol was always around, but no one talked about it. From his first drink in 7th grade, he knew he liked how alcohol made him feel. What followed were years of blackout drinking, school expulsions, and denial, mirrored by his mother’s own struggle with addiction.

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Drinking Was Normal, Until It Wasn't: How Griffin House Reclaimed His Life | Griffin H.

Meet singer-songwriter Griffin House, who grew up in an all-American town where alcohol was a quiet but ever-present influence. What started as innocent drinks in his grandfather’s bar became a decades-long emotional crutch that nearly cost him everything. Griffin opens up about the internal war he faced knowing he needed to quit but still wanting to drink, and the turning points that brought him back to life.

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How Michael Hid His Addiction Behind Success and Found Redemption in Recovery | Michael’s Journey

Meet Michael, a once-successful financial advisor from Westchester, New York, whose life on the outside looked perfect: a great job, marriage, a beautiful home. But behind closed doors, he battled a relentless storm of self-doubt, fear, and addiction.

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From Blood Buckets to Boardrooms: Lucky Church’s Journey Through Trauma, Addiction & Triumph | Lucky C.

Meet Lucky; a man who grew up surrounded by addiction, abandonment, and survival. Dropped off by his mother at age five and left to navigate a home filled with drugs, violence, and emotional neglect, Lucky witnessed overdoses, carried buckets of blood for his dying stepfather, and battled his own demons with alcohol and food. Though he avoided the substances that consumed his family, he couldn’t escape the emotional toll—until a near-fatal heart surgery forced him to face the truth and fight for a new life.

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FROM SEX TRAFFICKING to SOBRIETY | A Brutal Journey Through Addiction & Redemption | Ali V. - Part 2

She had a master’s degree in criminology—and yet, she ended up addicted to heroin, walking the streets of Kensington, Philadelphia, caught in a world of drugs, prostitution, and grooming. In this raw and eye-opening episode of Crosstalk Podcasts, we sit down with a courageous woman who shares the brutal truth of how addiction hijacked her life and the incredible turning point that brought her back.

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From Secrets to Sobriety: How Alison Van Horn Broke the Cycle of Addiction - Part 1

What started as "normal" partying escalated into hiding heroin use from her boyfriend and family. Alison lived a double life—functioning, excelling in school, and planning a legal career—while spiraling deeper into addiction. Eventually, the drugs, the lying, and the debt caught up with her. Her turning point came when she admitted her struggle to her sister, who despite also battling addiction couldn't save her. Alison found the strength to seek real help, maintain her sobriety, and become a leader in the recovery community.

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“No Love, No Direction, No Hope Until One Man Showed Me How to Live” | Jimmy R.

Meet Jimmy—a man whose early life was scarred by abuse, alcoholism, and abandonment. His father, a traumatized WWII veteran, once told him, “I never loved you.” That moment, and many like it, shaped a young man who would spiral into addiction, bouncing from jails to detox centers, chasing relief and belonging.

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When Addiction Starts with College Parties | Zac C.

Zach Clarke’s journey from addiction to recovery is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit. From growing up in a loving home to battling substance abuse, hitting rock bottom, and ultimately finding purpose in helping others, his story proves that recovery is possible for anyone willing to take that first step.

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Addiction Does Not Define A Person | Sarah F.

From childhood insecurities to a devastating battle with addiction, Sarah's journey led her to the brink of destruction—until she found the strength to fight back. Now, over two years sober, she shares how she reclaimed her life, proving that recovery is possible for anyone willing to take the first step.

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