You Too?

According to NIH, "Opioid use disorder and opioid addiction remain at epidemic levels in the U.S. and worldwide. Three million US citizens and 16 million individuals worldwide have had or currently suffer from opioid use disorder (OUD). More than 500,000 in the United States are dependent on heroin."
John Watson was seventeen when his best friend was in an accident and given Oxycotin for the pain. Kids being kids, John and his friend discovered that this pill made them feel very good. At the time, no one knew the addictive nature of these drugs and John thought he was just having fun and experimenting. Eight years later, he realized he was trapped and could not stop using on his own. When he couldn't find any on the street, he turned to heroin, something he said he would NEVER do. Listen to John tell his story about how opioids highjacked his brain, stole years of his life and almost killed him. Despite knowing he was on a downward spiral for years, his family never turned their back on him. If you want to better understand the realities of opioid addiction and gain hope when it seems all is lost, listen to John Watson's story and you will know that everyone can recover.

The holidays are HARD! Especially when trying to navigate family, functions and the added stress while tyring to stay sober and sane. Liz and Leigh Huckins, a Youturn Health recovery coach team lead, discuss some things that worked for them in early recovery and that they still practice today. We hope everyone can glean some ideas on how to enjoy this time of year while always keeping your recovery in front of everything else.

Leigh was born and raised in Anderson, SC, Leigh has been in recovery since 2014. She graduated from Clemson University and moved to Charleston, SC where she started her career. After living in Charleston for 10 years, her life had spiraled out of control with substances, so she sought treatment and moved back home to Anderson.

Upon completion of treatment, Leigh dove into recovery through different types of recovery meetings and utilized a Recovery Coach. She became a volunteer Recovery Coach at a local Recovery Community Organization and eventually took the Certified Peer Support Specialist Training for South Carolina.

Leigh has been working in the recovery field since 2018 as a CPSS, Program Manager for a RCO, a trainer for CPSS, and most recently joining Youturn as a Team Lead.In her spare time, Leigh enjoys all the fun and constant moving of her three beautiful children, husband, and animals!

Kim Hix has made it her life's mission to spread awareness about fentanyl poisoning. A wife, mother and nutrition, health, and fitness coach of 20 years, Kim knows her way around the wellness space. She knew when her daughter started using drugs as a coping mechanism that she needed to step in.

She was a constant support to her daughter Kelsie helping her navigate treatment and recovery. Once home however, Kelsie managed to get ahold of a Xanax which would prove to be fatal. What she thought was a Xanax was really laced with Fentanyl-enough to cause her to stop breathing.

It was February of 2022 when Kim found Kelsie slumped over in her room and her life changed forever. Fentanyl is the most potent opioid pain reliever available for use in medical treatment. It is roughly 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. Used correctly, it is a useful and powerful pain reliever, but too much will kill you and there is no way to tell how much may be in any drug sold outside of a prescription. It is in cocaine, marijuana, pain pills, anxiety medication, and many more.

Help support Kelsie’s Cause, created by Kim to help spread awareness and education about the dangers of fentanyl. It could save the life of someone you know!

HOME | fentanyl awareness kelsie's cause (kelsiescause.com)

Having a loved one struggling with substance use disorder can be scary enough without googling the word addiction. At Youturn Health we know that educating and supporting the family is the most important piece of the puzzle.

Adam Fisher has written a comprehensive book containing everything from talking to your loved one, to the importance of getting help for your self and even a list of drugs and the effects they have. It is a one stop shop for someone navigating substance use disorder and will leave the reader feeling empowered.

Adam Fisher is a Nationally recognized author from Greenville, South Carolina and a person in long term recovery, with a sobriety date of July 8, 2008. He has just published his 7th book, released in September of 2023, titled “Unbreaking The Brain: Helping your child escape drug addiction”.

Fisher has a wide range of writing styles that include healthcare, sports, historical, comedy, instructional, and fiction to name a few. A complete list of published works can be found on his website: fishwrite.net. Adam holds a degree in Journalism from the University of South Carolina. He is also a Certified Peer Support Specialist, is very active in the local recovery community, and dedicates his life to helping others who suffer from addiction to find a way to a new life.

The Pinal County Sheriff's Office has served residents of Pinal County, Arizona since 1875. With 500 employees and 550 inmates, the Sheriff's Office has a mission to preserve the peace, protect life and property, and promote public safety while upholding the constitution.
Youturn Health and Pinal County have a new partnership to provide employees of Pinal County Sheriff's Office and their families as well as inmates of the Pinal County correctional system with education and peer coaching support. This podcast with Chief Hedrick and his co-workers is about this partnership and how its having a direct impact on prisoners's lives.

"Our shared desire of restoring families to the very best version is and always will be what will sustain our partnership."-Deputy Chief Hedrick

In over 25 years in law enforcement Deputy Chief Hedrick has served in various assignments ranging from FTO to Gangs to Ranger. Chief Hedrick has served the communities he has protected in various capacities such as a GED teacher, Coach, and Church Leader. Matt Hedrick has been married for 30 years to his wife Katy and they have three children.

Meeting people where they are is the theme that runs through Youturn Health. We do not believe that rock bottom is necessary to receive compassion and hope. Sometimes just an ear to listen will change a person's trajectory in life.

Add to that a warm cooked Sunday dinner and you have the beginnings of real change. That is exactly what John Martin and his wife Cassandra provide with their non-profit, Sunday Dinner with a Twist. John was once homeless, addicted to drugs and alcohol, and suicidal.

He credits one man and his higher power for his ability to turn his life around and give back to the community. He says if there is one person who will never give up on you, listens, and shows compassion, anything is possible. We are constantly barraged by messages of doom and gloom in the world today, but John and his wife show us the possibility of beautiful outcomes when we stop, listen, show compassion, and even provide a warm meal.

Learn more about their mission here:


Sunday Dinner With A Twist

John Martin | LinkedIn

Fronzie and Mags Roemer are turning grief into action, and with their fierce determination are hoping to give emotional support animals to anyone struggling with a mental health issue. They were able to have a front row seat to witness the positive impact an ESA can have on someone's life. Although their beloved son and brother Patrick is no longer with us, his spirit lives on in their non-profit aptly named Paws for Patrick.

Paws for Patrick was created to honor the memory of Patrick Roemer through providing support to young people with mental illness through the use of emotional support animals (ESAs) and therapy animals. ​Patrick brought joy to so many people during his short life. His family will always cherish memories of his infectious laugh, heart-warming smile, analytical conversation, authentic creativity, discipline for physical fitness, and especially his love of animals, particularly dogs.

His friends remember him for his sharp and often irreverent wit, his patient and compassionate listening, his loyalty, and fearless competitive nature as witnessed in his participation in wrestling, football, rugby, and obstacle course races.

​Patrick had a very special connection with his animals, particulary his beloved dog, Cici. No matter what was going on in his life, he would find peace, comfort and light when he was with her. After Cici's quick and unexpected death, Patrick adopted Indy, a Cici lookalike, and planned to have her join him when he entered Colorado State University as a freshman in the fall of 2020. Unfortunately, Patrick struggled with depression and anxiety through most of his young life, and this disease took him from his loved ones at the young age of 18.

Patrick's mom Fronzie and his sister Mags are commtted to making sure everyone needing as ESA gets one. We hope you will consider donating time and money to this incredible cause that will save lives. To learn more:

Make a Donation | Paws for Patrick

Emotional Support Animals | Paws for Patrick

Host of the award-winning podcast The One You Feed Eric Ziimmer spends an enlightening hour with Rich and Liz. With a deep desire to help others, Eric shares his story from homelessness and heroin addicition to successful behavior coach, writer and podcast host. Discussing his experiences on the road to wellness, listeners will walk away with tangible solutions and steps to take for their own journeys.

The One You Feed, based on an old parable about two wolves at battle within us. With over 600 episodes and over 30 million downloads, the show features conversations with experts across many fields of study about how to create a life that has less suffering and more fulfillment and meaning.

His story and his work have been featured in the media including TedX, Mind Body Green, Elephant Journal, the BBC and Brain Pickings.

About Eric Zimmer - The One You Feed

Eric Zimmer | LinkedIn

At Youturn Health we love to hightlight stories that illustrate the resiliance of the human spirit that show us anything is possible. If you are a loved one of someone struggling or someone who thinks they will never find a life in recovery, this podcast is for you. We never give up on someone and you should never give up on yourself. It is never too late. If there is breath, there is hope.

Joshua Villarreal is thriving after a long battle with substance use disorder which landed him behind bars and eventually to a suicide attempt. His story begins with his trying cigarettes and progresses to heroin and meth and eventually to his first arrest. Throughout his journey, he remained true to his love of music which would eventually become his life's purpose.

At one point in the story, there is a pivital moment that could have dramatically changed Josh's life forever. Because of a first responder's empathy and ability to see beyond the stigma of drug addiction, Josh was given an option to spending a life behind bars. He grabbed the opportunity, and has never looked back, showing us that everyone deserves a second chance to turn their lives around.