“There used to be a 1-800 number, you pay someone $50 and they’d give you the number… You could call and in 3 days you would have whatever shipped to your door.” Self described as a late bloomer who was really trying to avoid all the bad stuff that she had seen and heard about alcoholism and addiction Missy opens up about how, unfortunately for her, as a person with a substance use disorder - we often become the thing we don’t want to be like. In Ep. 017, we visit being raised in AA, knowing the Serenity Prayer by the age of 6; to modifying MRI’s in the heyday of pain clinics; to having over a decade clean in the birthplace of the pill mill. Not Your Average IV User is discoverable on Apple Podcast and Spotify. You can help us out by telling all the people you love that this project exists.

A hallmark sign of substance use disorders are the repeated failures of fulfilling major life roles and the continued use despite those consequences. The types of shortcomings that sacrifice jobs, lead to criminal records, and disconnects families. In Ep. 016, Josh talks about watching his life go by on the fringes of society and how treatment & long term recovery have offered him an opportunity to get back into the fold of his own life: an employee; a son; and most important to him - a Dad. Josh’s story is the epitome of how generational chains can be broken & how an entire family can benefit from recovery. Not Your Average IV User is discoverable on Apple Podcast and Spotify. You can help us out by telling all the people you love that this project exists.

It's important for people to know that in some instances, individuals start using drugs because it offers a value to their life. Drugs can sometimes show up as a benefit. 

However, at some point, people with substance use disorders reach a point of diminishing return. The drug stop working like they used to. The drug turns on an individual - from being a benefit, to be a totally destructive force in their lives. 

In Ep. 015, Makenzie talks about the fade from positive to negative regarding her drug use, some things she's done to get into and stay in recovery, and talks about the importance of taking care of your own needs. 

Not You Average IV User is discoverable on Apple Podcast and Spotify. You can help us out by telling all the people you love that this project exists. 

Garett is just a guy. 

Chronic homelessness is defined as a person being homeless for more than one year or experiencing being homeless four or more times in a three year span.

On any given night in the U.S. there are around 100,000 people living chronic homelessness. For more than 5 years, Sarah cycled through various public parks, hospitals, and treatment - just trying to find some reprieve.

In Ep. 013, Sarah talks about the struggles of trying to survive on the streets, how accessing treatment gave her a chance at a new life, and how she has leveraged those resources into being fully reintegrated back into her community.

Today Sarah is an avid CrossFitter, Head Bitch in Charge at Spartan Solutions (her words), and Pride of the Portsmouth v. China initiative.

Not Your Average IV User is discoverable on Apple Podcast and Spotify. You can help us out by telling all the people you love that this project exists.

We don’t have any say-so about what sort of situation we’re born into.

You don’t pick your family history and dynamics. You don’t decide to be from a small town. You don’t choose to grow up in the cradle of the opioid epidemic. But, whatever cards we’re dealt are the ones we’ve got to play.

In Ep. 012, Austin - more popularly known these days as Lil Brows, talks about what it was like in the early days of “experimenting” with his friend circle, how he was finally able to conceptualize what he needed to do to stay sober, and discusses his recent stardom as an independent recording artist.

Austin’s story is one that highlights a couple key points that can be monumental in creating your own success:

1. Where your from is not a limitation.
2. If you’ve got a dream - follow it.
3. Get out of your own way.

Not Your Average IV User is discoverable on Apple Podcast and Spotify. You can help us out by telling all the people you love that this project exists.

One of the first questions I got asked when forming the idea of Not Your Average IV User: “Who is the audience?” “Everyone.”, I thought. Have we not all been, in some way, effected by the opioid epidemic and overdose crisis? In reality, though, I know you can’t be everything to everyone. That’s especially hard when you’re content revolves around one of the most hotly debated, controversial, and polarizing topics around. Every episode of NYAIVU invites an individual guest to tell their story; to hopefully address specific topics or stigmas about addiction; to provide some education about substance use disorders, their treatment, & recovery pathways; to give a little hope. Our first 10 episodes have revolved around people who are actually in recovery. In Ep. 011, we welcome Josh Lawson, our first non-recovery guest to talk about his experience. Josh refers to himself and a recovery ally. He has done work in the faith based and community development space to support those in recovery - and has recently thrown his hat in the ring as a candidate for County Commissioner. Not Your Average IV User is discoverable on Apple Podcast and Spotify. You can help us out by telling all the people you love that this project exists.

Around 90% of people who become addicted had their first drink or drug before they were 18 years old.

Recently, a phenomenon in the helping field, professionals are seeing the age of our patients and clients rapidly decrease (people coming into care much younger) and the severity of their symptoms is rapidly increasing (people presenting much sicker).

In short - people with substance use disorders are getting much more addicted, much younger.

What is the prognosis for individuals who seek treatment before their brain is even fully developed?

In Ep. 010, Brooke talks about her experience in treatment at 20 years old, some good advice she got along the way, plus how she has leveraged that into continued sobriety and the creation of a sustainable lifestyle that not only positively impacts her - but a pretty large group of badass women around her.

Not Your Average IV User is discoverable on Apple Podcast and Spotify. You can help us out by telling all the people you love that this project exists.

The opioid epidemic saw a very different strategy employed to try to combat the issue. The federal government passed the affordable healthcare act (Thanks Obama). States adopted Medicaid expansion. Treatment center opened and expanded. Courts started mandating medical interventions to address substance use disorders. 

While it’s nice to think that this more humanized approach to combating opiates is because we learned from our mistakes, it’s important to acknowledge and examine that the crack epidemic largely effected urban, black communities and opioids largely impacted suburban, white communities. 

In the biz, we call this a disparity. 

In Ep. 008, Michael opens up about his experience in the streets, the under-representation of the black community in treatment centers and recovery, and how he was ultimately able to wrap his head around the idea that there were people outside his circle who had his best interest in mind regarding his long term sobriety. 

Not Your Average IV User is discoverable on Apple Podcast and Spotify. You can help us out by telling all the people you love that this project exists.