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S2 E39 – Losing Everything to Find Recovery with Jake Dunavant

Jake Dunavant shows up looking like a suburban dad with a Costco card. But don’t get it twisted. This man has walked through hell with a needle in his arm, kids in the next room, and nothing but chaos between him and redemption. A former union carpenter turned Senior Outreach Coordinator at Illinois Recovery Center, Jake is here to spill all the gut-punching, jaw-dropping, totally human details of his road from varsity wrestling to full-blown heroin addiction to reclaiming his family and purpose.

In this wild ride of an episode, the crew dives deep into Jake’s early intro to weed and booze, the rapid-fire escalation to cocaine and opioids, and the business-decision logic of IV heroin use. You’ll hear about the overdoses (plural), the Narcan resurrections, and the terrifying moment DFS swooped in and took his babies while he and his wife were literally overdosing in the same house. And yeah, he came this close to letting it all go to shit.

But against all odds, Jake and his wife Tabitha clawed their way back. Custody. Careers. Clean time. Faith. Family. All of it. He opens up about overcompensating as a parent, watching his son fumble a chance to compliment a girl (it’s hilarious), and how guilt-fueled parenting almost screwed them up all over again.

You’ll also get the full backstory on how he “courted” his now-wife with a dresser full of pink oxys. Take as many as you want, babe. And the deeply emotional, unshakeable power of hearing your newborn cry, only to stop the second he hears your voice. Yeah, even while you’re high as hell.

This one’s messy. It’s raw. It’s fucking real. If you’ve ever been there, or know someone who has, this episode will hit home in the deepest, ugliest, and most healing way.

Time Stamps (Do Not Skip These):

• 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Sponsors
• 06:00 Introducing Jake Dunavant: A Personal Story
• 14:03 The Role of Alcohol and Drugs in Youth
• 19:56 The Escalation of Substance Use
• 21:03 The Dangers of Modern Substance Use
• 23:03 Parenting Through Addiction
• 29:15 Overcoming Addiction and Regaining Custody
• 32:11 The Narcan Experience
• 36:16 The Role of Family and Faith in Recovery
• 39:31 Empathy and Understanding in Addiction
• 42:38 The Complexity of Love and Addiction
• 45:11 The Journey from Pills to Heroin
• 50:00 Reflections on Early Relationships and Substance Use
• 50:40 The Power of Connection and Humor
• 53:01 Navigating Relationships and Substance Use
• 55:02 The Impact of Parenthood on Addiction
• 59:00 The Struggles of Addiction and Family Dynamics
• 01:02:02 Detox and the Journey to Recovery
• 01:06:55 Life After Jail: A New Beginning
• 01:13:36 The Cycle of Addiction and Recovery
• 01:17:39 Finding Support and Connection
• 01:18:16 The Struggles of Addiction
• 01:19:32 Family Dynamics and Foster Care
• 01:20:31 Resentment and Recovery
• 01:21:10 Hitting Rock Bottom
• 01:25:11 The Role of Compassionate Intervention
• 01:27:15 Peer Support and Recovery
• 01:29:13 The Impact of Medication in Recovery
• 01:33:19 Building a New Life After Addiction
• 01:40:12 The Journey to Recovery Begins
• 01:43:07 Navigating Sober Living Challenges
• 01:46:25 Building Accountability and Humility
• 01:49:05 Rebuilding Relationships and Family Dynamics
• 01:51:57 Full Circle: From Recovery to Helping Others
• 02:00:04 Lived Experience: A Valuable Perspective
• 02:10:06 Gratitude and Hope in Recovery

Guest: Jake Dunavant – Senior Outreach Coordinator at Illinois Recovery Center, former heroin addict, father, husband, and all-around beast of recovery.

Check out Illinois Recovery Center: https://www.illinoisrecoverycenter.com