Reality TV often captures the highlight reel, not the heartbreak behind it. But for Dakota Mortensen, known for his appearance on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, the spotlight revealed something far more complex: a man who has struggled with addiction, loss, and the weight of public perception.
In this episode of Recoverycast, Dakota opens up about growing up in a loving family, the injury that led to his first encounter with pain pills, and the spiral that followed. His story is one of resilience and redemption, from divorce and overdosing to rebuilding his life through faith, fatherhood, and the fight for self-love.
For anyone who’s ever felt trapped by addiction, shame, or the opinions of others, Dakota’s journey is a masterclass in what it means to keep going, and to hold on to even the smallest sliver of hope when everything feels lost.
1. “I Had the Perfect Childhood and Still Fell Into Addiction”
Dakota’s story begins on a farm in rural Idaho, surrounded by family, hard work, and small-town values. By all accounts, he had an “awesome upbringing.” His parents were loving, his siblings were athletic, and he lived for basketball.
“Basketball was my whole life,” he recalls. “I should have known then that I had an addictive personality.” His dedication to the sport bordered on obsession, which would be a preview of how he’d later chase the numbness of a high with the same intensity.
A knee injury during his senior year changed everything. A friend offered him a few painkillers after practice, assuring him they’d “help with the pain.” The relief was immediate, and at the time, the danger was invisible. “I didn’t even know what they were,” he says. “I just knew they worked.”
From that moment, he was hooked. Not just on the pills, but on the escape they provided.
2. “Addiction Doesn’t Care Where You Come From”
Like many teens, Dakota didn’t understand what addiction was, or how quickly it could take over. “I told myself I wasn’t addicted,” he admits. “I heard the announcements at school about pills being bad, but my brain started convincing me I was different.”
Even as his parents caught him with drugs and tried to intervene, he rationalized his behavior. He wasn’t a “typical addict.” He was a hardworking kid from a good family, and that narrative made it even harder to see the truth.
Dakota reflects on this as a warning to others: addiction doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t care if you’re an athlete or a straight-A kid from a stable home. “If I could fall into it, anyone could,” he says.
3. “Losing Everything Showed Me What Really Mattered”
As his addiction deepened, Dakota’s life began to unravel. College basketball scholarships disappeared. He quit the sport he once loved. “I didn’t want anything anymore,” he says. “I was fine with nothing. My purpose was just to get high.”
He lied. He stole. He drained his parents’ jars of quarters, the kind families saved for years. “Looking back, it was probably five to seven grand,” he admits.
The real breaking point came when his high school sweetheart (and future wife) walked in on him using heroin. “I saw her face, and I felt nothing,” he remembers. “I couldn’t feel anything. It was like I had no soul.”
That moment, watching the pain in her eyes while feeling utterly numb, marked the beginning of his rock bottom.
4. “Rock Bottom Wasn’t One Moment, It Was a Series of Moments”
After his wife left, Dakota’s world collapsed. “She was the only thing keeping me alive,” he admits. “When she left, I wanted to kill myself.”
He bought a gram of heroin with the intent to overdose. But before he could use, something unexpected happened. His cousin called out of the blue. “He worked at a rehab center,” Dakota says. “He took me in.”
It was the lifeline he didn’t know he needed. For the first time, he prayed. “I wasn’t spiritual, but I said a prayer, just to see what would happen,” he recalls. “And then my cousin called.”
That coincidence became a turning point. In treatment, he began rebuilding from the inside out. He reconnected with faith and learned that recovery wasn’t about perfection, but persistence.
5. “Every Day Sober Felt Like a Miracle”
Early recovery wasn’t glamorous. It was grueling. “Withdrawal is hell,” Dakota says. “But every sober day felt like a miracle.”
For the first time, he began to feel hope, those small moments of self-belief that once seemed impossible. “I started having positive thoughts,” he shares. “Just small things like, maybe I can do this.”
His cousin, who is in recovery himself, mentored him through the darkest days. “It was hardcore,” Dakota laughs, “but it’s what I needed.”
Through faith, therapy, and sheer will, Dakota built a foundation for sobriety that would carry him into his next chapter, fatherhood.
6. “Becoming a Dad Saved My Life”
Nothing prepared Dakota for how fatherhood would change him. “I never thought I’d have a kid,” he says. “Every time I talk about my son, I cry.”
Having a child gave his recovery new meaning. “If I had given up back then, I wouldn’t have my son. He’s my whole world.”
He describes fatherhood as the most humbling, healing experience of his life. “Kids remind you how life is supposed to be, innocent, joyful, present.”
When the world felt judgmental or heavy, his son kept him grounded in love and purpose.
7. “Sobriety Isn’t About Counting Days, It’s About Living Them”
Dakota’s approach to recovery changed drastically after multiple relapses. “I used to obsess over how many days I had sober,” he says. “Now, I just focus on living my life.”
He’s found peace in simplicity, taking it one day at a time. “When I fixate on the number, it stresses me out,” he explains. “This time, I just try to live well, every day.”
Instead of defining success by time, he measures it by presence, joy, and balance. It’s not about perfection, it’s about progress.
8. “Reality TV Tested My Sobriety and My Self-Love”
When Dakota joined The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, he wasn’t prepared for the scrutiny. “It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done,” he admits. “People questioned everything, even if I was still sober.”
He describes the paranoia of public perception, using eyedrops before filming so people wouldn’t assume he was high. “There were nights I cried myself to sleep,” he shares.
But the experience forced him to confront something deeper: self-love. “I had to ask myself, do I like who I am, even if the world doesn’t?”
Learning to separate his identity from others’ opinions became another layer of recovery, one that tested his strength in new ways.
9. “Recovery Isn’t Perfect, But It’s Possible”
Even with over three years sober, Dakota says recovery is still beautiful, messy, and ongoing. “You think getting sober fixes everything,” he laughs. “But that’s when the real work begins.”
He’s learned to manage new forms of addiction, overworking, people-pleasing, and perfectionism, and finds stability through working out, therapy, and staying connected to his sober community.
“Take care of yourself,” he urges. “Find what grounds you, the things that help you feel alive, and don’t drift too far from them.”
10. “There’s Always Hope, Even If It’s Just a Sliver”
If there’s one message Dakota wants to leave listeners with, it’s this: never give up on hope.
“No matter how low you feel, there’s always hope,” he says. “You can be in one place today and in a completely different place next month.”
Hope doesn’t have to be huge, it just has to exist. For Dakota, it looked like a prayer, a phone call, a second chance, a son. And for others, it might be the courage to ask for help for the first time.
Life in the streets, for many, promises a path to wealth, respect, and a certain kind of freedom. Yet, as countless stories of struggle and redemption show, this path often leads to a different reality—one of addiction, incarceration, and a profound disconnection from one’s true self. This is a journey intimately understood by Deonte, a man whose life was defined by the street hustle until a series of humbling events forced him to confront his truth. In a powerful conversation on the Giving Voice to Addiction podcast, Deonte shares his raw, unfiltered story of moving from a life of crime and substance abuse to one of purpose, authenticity, and leadership within the recovery community. His journey is a testament to the idea that you are more than your mistakes, and it offers a blueprint for anyone seeking to reclaim their life from the shadows of their past.
The common misconception is that a past filled with misdeeds and addiction disqualifies a person from a meaningful future. Deonte challenges this notion head-on, proving that the same experiences that once held him captive are now the foundation of his advocacy. He’s transformed his past from a source of shame into a source of strength, inspiring others to do the same. His story is not just about overcoming addiction; it’s about a complete lifestyle reform, moving from a criminal mindset to a purpose-driven life. Through his narrative, we’ll explore how his lowest moments became the catalysts for his greatest transformation, and how his unwavering commitment to his authentic self has paved the way for a powerful new purpose.
1. Reforming Your Lifestyle is the First Step
When Deonte talks about his recovery, he doesn’t just mention overcoming opiate addiction; he speaks of “lifestyle reform.” This distinction is crucial. For him, the drug use was a symptom of a larger problem—the chaotic, draining, and criminal lifestyle of the streets. He explains, “The lifestyle that we’re exposed to, it plays a huge part in feeding… substance use, chemical dependency.” The constant hustle of selling drugs, the violence of gang life, and the need to always be on guard spiritually and emotionally drained him. This lifestyle, while offering a false sense of freedom and control, actually took him away from his family and community, chipping away at his authentic identity.
The environment we inhabit and the choices we make within it have a profound impact on our well-being. For Deonte, the criminal environment not only fueled his addiction but also distorted his sense of self. He found himself making choices that were “probably not true to [his] authentic self,” and this internal conflict left him feeling exhausted and hollow. His recovery, therefore, wasn’t just about quitting drugs; it was about completely overhauling his life—changing his environment, his relationships, and his mindset. This holistic approach is often the key to lasting recovery.
2. The Link Between Trauma, Grief, and Addiction
Deonte’s drug use escalated dramatically after a devastating personal loss—the death of his brother while he was in prison. This tragedy, combined with the lack of support he expected upon his release, left him vulnerable and seeking a way to numb his pain. He found himself “really just trying to shield the pain of my brother passing.” This highlights a critical, often-overlooked aspect of addiction: its deep connection to trauma and unresolved grief.
Upon his release from prison, Deonte was met with competition instead of the brotherhood he had anticipated. The absence of his brother, who was meant to be his support system, created a void he desperately tried to fill. He describes how the addiction began to “catch on and just get worse and worse and just… trying to deal and cope with that.” This is a common pattern; without healthy coping mechanisms, individuals facing intense emotional pain may turn to substances to escape or suppress their feelings. The lack of accountability he experienced after cutting off his supportive friends further enabled his spiraling use, demonstrating the importance of a strong, healthy support network in navigating grief and recovery.
Deonte’s story takes a compelling turn as he describes his transition from a drug dealer to an addict. For him, selling drugs was about “the idea, let’s get rich… get a certain number and then get out the game.” This is a classic example of the illusion of control—the belief that one can engage in a dangerous activity without succumbing to its pitfalls. He never intended to become a user, but as his circumstances changed and his emotional pain grew, he became vulnerable. As he eloquently states, “money is really what fed it.” With access to money and drugs, the lines between business and personal use blurred.
“I was actually, I had intentions on being, you know, a big mech, you know, or just trying to get, a certain number and then get out the game. It never goes that way, you know, it is, it is never enough. Or you get to that number and then it’s more.”
This slippery slope is a powerful warning. The false sense of security that comes with having money and access can quickly lead to an amplified use. What began as a taste of Percocets in prison evolved into a full-blown dependency on heroin after his finances and emotional state took a hit. His descent from a respected dealer to a desperate user looking around his room to see what he could sell was his rock bottom. It was a humbling experience that forced him to confront the truth of his situation.
Deonte’s lowest point wasn’t a dramatic overdose or a violent confrontation; it was the quiet, humiliating moment he stood in his room, contemplating what he could sell to get his next fix. He reflects, “I had all this access, all these connections, to now I’m somebody looking around they room like, what could I sell? That’s when I knew like, this is, this is my rock bottom.” This moment of profound vulnerability was a turning point. It stripped away his ego and forced him to see himself for what he had become—the very person he used to look down on.
This rock bottom experience led him to seek help through medicated assisted treatment (MAT), specifically Suboxone. He describes MAT as what “helped me… address it and really start to like, get a plan and be able to manage it.” Medicated assisted treatment, which combines medication with counseling and behavioral therapies, has been proven to be highly effective in treating opioid use disorder and reducing the risk of overdose. This was a crucial first step, but his journey was not linear. Like many in recovery, he experienced relapses, but each slip-up taught him something new. It wasn’t until a second incarceration—which he calls “the best thing that ever happened to [him]”—that he found true, lasting sobriety.
5. Finding Path, Plan, and Purpose
Deonte’s final incarceration was the moment God “sat him down,” as he puts it. It was a bizarre twist of fate—being set up by an acquaintance over a stolen car he didn’t even know was stolen—that landed him back in prison. He could have been bitter, but instead, he saw it as an intervention. It was in this moment that he found his path, plan, and purpose. The motivation to change was multifaceted: the birth of his second daughter, his mother’s plea, and the realization that he was tired of being part of a cycle of loss and violence.
“I was just looking around like, I’m tired of being a part of this. I’m tired of what this done did to me and my people. And I think that’s really just, it sparked something in me to take action.”
This newfound purpose became his driving force. He decided to become the one to “narrate this story,” taking his past and turning it into a tool for change. His path is now advocating for others, speaking out about his experiences, and getting involved in community organizations. This act of service not only helps others but also reinforces his own recovery. The sense of purpose and the opportunity to give back fills the void that drugs and the streets once occupied.
6. The Power of Community and Shared Experience
One of the most powerful messages Deonte offers is the importance of surrounding yourself with people who are on a similar path. He tells people who feel “too far gone” to “get around recovery, people get around success stories, feel it, touch it, you know, get involved.” He emphasizes that while everyone’s journey is different, seeing someone who has walked a similar path and succeeded can provide the spark of hope needed to start.
As a peer provider, Deonte works with incarcerated individuals, sharing his story and showing them that recovery is possible. His visibility—on podcasts, on the news, even on billboards—is a powerful tool for hope. When they see a person who is “similar to me… being accepted and celebrated,” it challenges the stigma and encourages them to believe in their own potential for change. This sense of belonging and shared experience is a cornerstone of effective recovery. A meta-analysis published in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment confirmed that peer support services are effective in improving substance use outcomes.
7. The Liberation of Living Your Authentic Self
For Deonte, the ultimate reward of recovery is authenticity. He describes his former self as a “lost, confused, broken man,” but the man he is today is “purpose driven” and “liberated.” He explains that his street identity was something he “built… because I thought that I had to be this guy.” In reality, his authentic self was the person who loved riding horses with his grandfather.
“the man in front of you is somebody who’s took accountability. Also not perfect by any means, just open and transparent about that, but also making that real effort and and you know, just taking that initiative really be that change that I wanna see in the world.”
This liberation from a false identity is the true essence of his recovery. He’s no longer operating in “fear, shame, and guilt.” By embracing his past, taking accountability, and openly sharing his story, he has found a freedom that the streets could never offer. His journey serves as a beacon for anyone who feels trapped by their past, demonstrating that the truest form of freedom comes from within, through the courageous act of self-reclamation.
Conclusion: A New Blueprint for Life
Deonte’s story is a compelling narrative of transformation. He moved from a life of fleeting, false freedom to one of enduring, authentic liberation. His path was not easy or linear, marked by setbacks and moments of despair, but each challenge became a catalyst for growth. He learned that a criminal lifestyle is not a life at all, but a constant state of spiritual and emotional exhaustion. He discovered that true strength lies not in the ego of the streets, but in the vulnerability of admitting you need help.
His experience offers a new blueprint for those struggling with addiction and a criminal past. It starts with recognizing the need for a lifestyle reform, acknowledging the deep roots of trauma and grief, and understanding that the illusion of control is a dangerous trap. The path to recovery is paved with community, peer support, and the courage to live an authentic, purpose-driven life. Deonte’s message is a powerful one: you are more than your mistakes, and your story has the power to not only change your life but to inspire others to find their own path to freedom.
When you’re struggling with addiction, life can feel chaotic, unmanageable, and hopeless. You might feel stuck in a cycle of substance use, debt, and strained relationships, unable to see a way out. However, as one man’s story shows, breaking free from the cycle is possible. Harry, a former patient at Ocean Bay Recovery, shares his journey from feeling completely broken to building a life he’s proud of. His story offers a powerful message of hope and provides valuable insights into the signs that indicate it’s time to seek professional help.
“My life before I started treatment was obviously pretty chaotic,” Harry says. “I couldn’t really do anything… I was making people in my life unhappy.” This feeling of being unable to function is a common thread for many individuals in active addiction. What begins as a coping mechanism or recreational activity can quickly spiral into a condition that consumes every aspect of your life. It’s not a moral failing or a lack of willpower; it’s a medical condition that requires professional intervention.
While it may seem daunting, understanding the signs and symptoms of a substance use disorder is the first step toward recovery. Harry’s experience highlights several key indicators that it’s time to seek help. By recognizing these signs in yourself or a loved one, you can begin to move toward a healthier, more fulfilling life.
1. You Feel a Sense of Hopelessness or Desperation
One of the most profound signs that it’s time for a change is a feeling of hopelessness. For Harry, this was a constant sense of being stuck in a negative loop. He knew his actions were causing problems, but he felt powerless to stop. “I was just sick, like just tired of the same, the same things always happening,” he recounts. This sentiment of being at the end of your rope is often referred to as the gift of desperation—a turning point where the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the fear of change.
This feeling of desperation can manifest in various ways, such as:
A loss of control: You feel like you can no longer manage your substance use, and it’s controlling you.
Recurring negative consequences: You continue to use despite financial problems, legal issues, or damaged relationships.
A deep sense of exhaustion: You’re simply tired of the cycle of using, hiding, and dealing with the fallout.
This is a critical moment. While it feels like the worst place to be, it’s also a powerful motivator. It’s the point where you acknowledge that your current path is unsustainable and that a new way of life is the only option. “I got to a point where I was finally done,” Harry says. “I knew that I can’t do this on my own.”
2. Your Life is Unmanageable
A hallmark of a substance use disorder is the deterioration of your daily life. What was once routine becomes a monumental struggle. For Harry, this meant he could “barely get to work” and could “barely do anything.” His life was no longer his own, consumed by the demands of his addiction. When your life becomes unmanageable, you may experience:
Inability to hold a job or meet work obligations: Your performance suffers, you miss deadlines, or you’re frequently absent.
Financial instability: Money is spent primarily on drugs or alcohol, leading to debt and an inability to pay for basic necessities.
Neglect of personal hygiene or responsibilities: You stop taking care of yourself, your home, or your family.
This unmanageability is often a key indicator that the problem has moved beyond a simple habit. Addiction hijacks the brain’s reward system, making the substance the central focus of your life. All other priorities—work, family, health—fall by the wayside. Seeking help allows you to regain control and learn the skills needed to manage your life effectively.
3. Your Behavior Harms Yourself and Others
Addiction doesn’t just affect the individual; it creates a ripple effect of destruction that touches everyone around them. Harry spoke of his past self as someone who “kept moving forward with no care for any destruction I was causing behind me.” He recognized that his actions hurt not only himself but also his loved ones. This harm can be:
Emotional: Lying, manipulation, and broken promises erode trust and damage relationships.
Physical: Substance use can lead to reckless behavior, accidents, and health problems.
Financial: Stealing or borrowing money from family and friends to fund the addiction.
When your actions consistently cause pain and damage, it’s a clear sign that you need help. Acknowledging this harm is a crucial step in the recovery process. It’s an act of courage to face the pain you’ve caused and take responsibility for it. Treatment provides a safe space to address these behaviors and learn how to make amends.
4. You’ve Tried to Quit on Your Own and Failed
The struggle with addiction is often marked by repeated attempts to quit that end in relapse. This was something Harry experienced firsthand. He had been to treatment before and knew the difficulty of the journey. He says, “I knew that I couldn’t do on my own.” This realization is a powerful one. Many people believe they can beat addiction through sheer willpower, but this is a common misconception. As the American Addiction Centers note, addiction is a chronic disease that requires comprehensive, long-term treatment.
Trying to quit on your own without professional help can be incredibly dangerous, especially with substances that cause severe withdrawal symptoms. For example, suddenly stopping alcohol or benzodiazepine use can lead to life-threatening complications. Professional medical detox and treatment provide a safe, monitored environment where you can manage withdrawal symptoms and begin the recovery process. If you’ve repeatedly tried to stop using and failed, it’s not a sign of weakness; it’s a sign that you need professional support.
5. The Fear of Change is Holding You Back
Change is scary, even when you know it’s for the best. Harry admitted that part of him didn’t want to go back to treatment because “there was a lot of fear.” He was content with his chaotic life because it was familiar, even if it wasn’t good. This fear of the unknown is a major barrier to seeking help. You might worry about:
Losing your sense of identity
The pain of withdrawal
What life will be like without the substance
Failing again
Harry’s advice to anyone on the fence is simple: “Just do it.” He emphasizes that the fear you feel is a sign that change is necessary. He now recognizes that the fear was far worse than the reality of treatment. “It was an amazing environment, amazing people and so much support, and patient as well,” he said of his experience at Ocean Bay Recovery. This kind of supportive environment can help you face your fears and build a new, sober life.
The Path Forward: From Broken to Rebuilt
Harry’s story is a testament to the transformative power of recovery. He went from a chaotic, unmanageable life to one of stability, purpose, and gratitude. “My life now compared to before I started treatment is… black and white. It’s two completely different things,” he says. He now has a job where he feels valued, manages his finances, and practices gratitude daily.
The key to his success, he explains, wasn’t just talking about change but taking action. “People can tell you all the things you want to hear, but unless you implement things, nothing will change,” he shares. In treatment, he learned concrete, actionable steps like practicing gratitude, being mindful, and living the principles of recovery. These lessons helped him become an “asset to pretty much all aspects” of his life, a profound shift from the liability he once felt he was.
If you recognize these signs in your own life or the life of a loved one, remember that you’re not alone. The first step, however difficult, is reaching out for help. Harry’s advice is simple yet powerful: “If you’re considering it, there’s not much else to lose.”
For many people, the journey into addiction begins with a promise—a promise of escape, a release from pain, or a momentary thrill. Yet, as the years go by, that promise fades, leaving behind a life that feels broken and lost. This was the reality for Mariah, whose path through drug and alcohol addiction led her to a pivotal moment of decision. Her story is a powerful reminder that while addiction can be a deeply isolating experience, the path to recovery is paved with connection, compassion, and the life-changing realization that you are worthy of a better life.
Before seeking help, Mariah described her life as “very broken, lost, and very painful.” Her experience is a common one, as substance use disorders often create a cycle of self-sabotage and despair that can leave a person feeling completely shattered. The initial excitement of drug use gives way to a grim and relentless need, and the individual can find themselves trapped in a state of emotional and physical turmoil. This constant struggle becomes an all-encompassing reality, making it difficult to imagine a life free from the cycle of addiction.
1. The Point of No Return: When the High Fades
There comes a point in active addiction when the substance no longer provides the desired effect. The chase becomes a desperate obligation, and the fleeting moments of escape are replaced by an unyielding sense of emptiness and pain. This is often the moment of clarity, the “rock bottom,” where the illusion of control shatters and the individual realizes they are completely powerless. For Mariah, this moment was marked by a chilling realization that her addiction had stopped serving its original purpose.
“I knew it was time for me to go to treatment when the drugs no longer served me as they used to,” she explains. “I no longer got the same high, got the same excitement. I was just broken. My life was in shambles and I needed help.”
This sentiment is shared by many who enter recovery. The initial euphoria is replaced by a crippling tolerance, forcing the individual to use more just to feel “normal.” The drugs no longer provide the same excitement; instead, they are a desperate attempt to stave off the crushing pain of withdrawal and the profound emptiness that addiction creates. This realization is often the catalyst for seeking help, as the pain of staying the same finally outweighs the fear of change. It signifies a turning point from a life of active substance use to a search for true healing.
2. Overcoming Fear and Stigma
For someone contemplating treatment, the decision to seek help is often met with a wave of fear and uncertainty. The stigma surrounding addiction can make a person feel like a failure, a burden, or “just another number.” Society often portrays people with substance use disorders in a dehumanizing way, which can lead to a powerful fear of being judged or misunderstood. Mariah experienced this firsthand when she first considered treatment.
“When I was going into treatment, I expected to just be treated as another number, just like another drug addict coming off the streets,” she recalls. This fear is a major barrier to seeking help for many people. They anticipate a cold, sterile environment where they will be reduced to a diagnosis rather than treated as a human being in need of care. However, modern, evidence-based treatment centers are designed to challenge these fears by providing a compassionate and person-centered approach. Instead of being just another number, individuals are met with a team of professionals who understand the complexities of addiction and are dedicated to providing personalized care.
3. The Power of a Supportive Environment
The environment in which recovery takes place is crucial to a person’s success. An environment of support and genuine care can completely change a person’s mindset and ability to heal. In treatment, a person is given the opportunity to feel safe and seen for the first time in a long time. They are surrounded by people who understand their struggles and professionals who are trained to help them navigate the complexities of their addiction. Mariah’s experience highlights the profound impact of this type of setting.
“The environment was super supportive, full of love, and just full of people that really wanted to help me genuinely and really wanted the best for me and my life,” she says.
This kind of environment is foundational to the recovery process. It allows an individual to let their guard down and begin to address the underlying issues that fuel their addiction, such as trauma, mental health conditions, and self-esteem issues. The group therapy sessions and one-on-one counseling provide a space for vulnerability and honesty, where a person can share their story without fear of judgment. This sense of community and unconditional support is a powerful antidote to the isolation that addiction fosters. In a supportive environment, people in recovery learn that they are not alone and that their struggles are valid. For more information on what to expect from a quality treatment program, you can explore this guide to addiction treatment centers.
4. The Revelation: Deserving a Better Life
Perhaps the most significant and transformative aspect of Mariah’s journey was the realization that she deserved a better life. Addiction often operates on a foundation of low self-worth. People with substance use disorders frequently feel unworthy of happiness, love, or success, and they may use drugs or alcohol as a form of self-punishment or self-sabotage. Treatment, therefore, is not just about abstaining from substances; it’s about rebuilding a person’s core sense of self and instilling the belief that they are worthy of a fulfilling life.
This was the pivotal lesson that stuck with Mariah. “The one thing that has stuck to me from my experience at Simonds is that I don’t have to live the life I was living anymore,” she shares. “I learned that I truly deserve a better life, and I deserve a lot more. But most of all, that I don’t have to be treated the way I was treating myself. I began my self-love journey.”
This profound shift from a mindset of punishment to one of self-love is the cornerstone of lasting recovery. By learning to treat themselves with kindness, understanding, and acceptance, individuals in recovery can break the cycle of self-hatred that often fuels their addiction. This revelation is not just a passing thought; it’s a fundamental change in how a person views themselves and their potential. It’s the first step in creating a new identity, one that is not defined by their addiction but by their resilience and their capacity for growth. To read more about how to develop a healthier relationship with yourself, you can explore resources on coping skills for anxiety and addiction.
5. Conscious Choices and a New Reality
Recovery is not a single event; it’s a continuous, daily process of making conscious choices. Once a person has had the revelation that they deserve a better life, they must then learn to practice the skills that will build that life. The self-destructive habits of addiction must be replaced with new, positive behaviors that reinforce self-worth and well-being. This is where the hard work of recovery begins, and it’s a process Mariah has embraced.
“I now live a much better life. I have practiced self-compassion, self-acceptance, and self-love as I said. I no longer feel the need to punish myself or self-sabotage,” she says. “Instead, I try my best to make the right choices consciously every day and build my life up the best I can.”
The shift from self-sabotage to conscious, deliberate choice is a monumental change. For someone in active addiction, choices are often dictated by the need for the substance, leading to a life of broken promises and unfulfilled potential. In recovery, a person learns to pause, reflect, and make decisions that align with their new goals and values. This might mean choosing to attend a 12-step meeting instead of isolating, seeking professional help for mental health, or simply engaging in a hobby that brings joy. These small, daily choices add up to a new reality—a life built on a foundation of self-respect and intentionality.
6. The First Step: Believing You’re Worth It
Mariah’s story is a testament to the power of one person’s decision to change their life. Her journey from being lost and broken to living a life filled with self-love is a powerful beacon of hope for anyone struggling with addiction. While the initial fear of treatment may be overwhelming, her advice is simple yet profound.
“If you are considering treatment, the best advice I can give you is just give it a shot. Give yourself a shot,” she urges. “We all deserve a much better life than we’ve been living in our addiction. If you’re considering treatment, it must mean your life was somewhat like mine, broken maybe, maybe lost, maybe even in shambles. Going to treatment, it can really change your mindset and you deserve it.”
This is the central message of Mariah’s journey: you deserve it. You deserve to heal, to find peace, and to build a life that is fulfilling and free from the chains of addiction. The decision to enter treatment is not a sign of weakness; it is an act of incredible strength and a declaration that you believe in your own potential. To take the first step towards recovery, exploring different treatment options can be a great place to start.
A person’s career and family are two of the most important things in their life. When addiction takes hold, it can damage both. For Chris, his life was on a hectic cycle of working, doing household chores, and doing drugs, with no time for a social life or family activities. As a result, his career stalled, he was passed over for promotions, and his family relationships were strained. He knew something had to change, and that change came in the form of seeking treatment for substance abuse.
Chris’s experience highlights how addiction can erode the foundational pillars of a person’s life, from their professional aspirations to their most intimate family connections. It serves as a powerful reminder that addiction isn’t just a personal struggle; it’s a force that can disrupt and dismantle every aspect of a person’s world. In this article, we’ll explore the specific ways addiction can impact your career and family and how treatment can help you reclaim your life.
1. How Addiction Sabotages Your Career
Addiction can have a significant, detrimental impact on your career. When you’re using Addiction can have a profound and damaging effect on your professional life. As a person’s focus shifts from work to their next opportunity to use, job performance inevitably declines. For Chris, this meant his career was “at a halt” and he was consistently “passed over for promotions.” This kind of professional stagnation is a common consequence of substance use.
Common signs that substance abuse is impacting work performance include:
Decreased productivity: You may find it difficult to concentrate, complete tasks, or meet deadlines.
Increased absenteeism: You might start calling in sick more frequently or showing up late.
Poor decision-making: Substance use can impair judgment, leading to bad decisions on the job.
Strained relationships with colleagues: Irritability and mood swings, which are common symptoms of substance abuse, can make it difficult to work with others.
Financial problems: The cost of supporting a drug habit can lead to financial instability, which can, in turn, affect your work performance.
The good news is that many employers are now more equipped to support employees struggling with substance abuse. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides certain protections, and many companies offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) that can provide confidential support and resources.
2. The Impact of Addiction on Your Family
Addiction doesn’t just affect the person using substances; it creates a ripple effect that touches everyone in their circle. Chris’s experience with his family “arguing and just wasn’t good” is a familiar story for many. The trust, communication, and emotional bonds that hold families together can all be severely damaged.
Addiction’s effects on families can include:
Emotional distress: Family members often experience feelings of helplessness, anger, and betrayal.
Financial strain: Money that could be used for household expenses or savings is often diverted to support the addiction.
Breakdown in communication: Family members may become secretive or dishonest to hide the extent of the problem, leading to a breakdown in open and honest communication.
Role reversal: Children may be forced to take on adult responsibilities, such as caring for younger siblings or managing household finances.
Increased conflict: Arguments become more frequent and intense as family members struggle to cope with the chaotic and unpredictable behavior of the person with the addiction.
Families often fall into a cycle of enabling behavior, where they unknowingly support the addiction by making excuses or covering up for the person using. This can prevent the individual from facing the consequences of their actions, delaying their decision to seek help. However, as Chris’s story shows, a crisis point, such as losing out on a promotion or experiencing family strife, can become the catalyst for seeking change.
3. The Unexpected Benefits of Treatment
Chris’s expectation of treatment was that it would simply be a “30 day to dry you out,” but he quickly learned it was much more than that. Treatment, especially at a center like Simonds Recovery Centers, is designed to address the underlying emotional and psychological needs that fuel addiction. It provides a comprehensive approach to healing, not just from the substance but from the behaviors and thought patterns that led to its use.
Treatment programs offer a variety of tools and therapies, including:
Individual and group therapy: These sessions help individuals explore the root causes of their addiction and develop healthy coping mechanisms.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This therapy helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to substance use.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): DBT focuses on teaching skills for mindfulness, emotional regulation, and distress tolerance.
Family counseling: This is a crucial component that helps rebuild trust and communication within the family unit and provides family members with the support they need to heal.
These tools are not just for the time spent in treatment; they are for a lifetime of recovery. Chris learned this firsthand, as the lessons from his treatment “still stick with me.” He now has a foundation to build a new, sober life.
4. Learning to Sit with Uncomfortability
One of the most profound lessons Chris learned in treatment was the importance of “sitting with the uncomfortability.” This is a core concept in recovery. For many people, substance use is a way to escape or numb uncomfortable emotions, such as stress, anxiety, or sadness. In recovery, you learn to face these feelings head-on without resorting to drugs or alcohol.
This is a skill that takes practice and resilience. It means allowing yourself to feel difficult emotions without letting them lead to destructive consequences. As Chris wisely states, you must “don’t let short term emotions make long lasting consequences.” This advice applies to everything from a fleeting craving to a frustrating day at work or a disagreement with a loved one. Learning to tolerate discomfort is a sign of immense personal growth and a cornerstone of long-term sobriety.
Ways to practice sitting with uncomfortability in recovery:
Journaling: Writing down your feelings can help you process them and gain perspective.
Distress tolerance skills: These are specific techniques, often taught in DBT, to help you get through difficult moments without making them worse.
Connecting with your support system: Talking to a sponsor, therapist, or a trusted friend in recovery can provide the encouragement and perspective you need to get through a difficult moment.
5. Taking the First Step: Just Go for It
Chris’s final piece of advice is perhaps the most important: “Just go ahead and do it. Give it a shot.” The decision to seek treatment can be intimidating, but the rewards are immeasurable. It’s an investment in your future, your family, and your overall well-being.
Taking the first step can feel overwhelming, but remember that many people have walked this path before you. There are resources available to help you navigate the process, from finding the right treatment center to understanding your insurance coverage. Your recovery journey starts with a single, courageous choice to ask for help.
If you’re working toward recovery, you deserve every tool that can help you succeed. Contingency management (CM) is one of those tools: a simple but powerful approach that uses rewards to support positive changes.
CM works by giving you tangible, motivational incentives like gift cards or vouchers when you hit recovery milestones. You can think of it as getting recognized for the hard work you’re already doing. CM can help make positive choices like maintaining sobriety, taking medications as prescribed, or showing up to therapy feel more rewarding.
Understanding Contingency Management
Contingency management (CM) uses a simple concept: When you do something positive for your recovery, you get rewarded for it. It’s based on how our brains naturally work—we’re more likely to repeat behaviors that feel good or bring us something we want.
Here’s how it works in practice: When you submit a clean drug test, show up to therapy, or take your medication as prescribed, you receive a tangible reward like a gift card, voucher, or small prize. These aren’t huge rewards (often just $10–20 gift cards), but they provide immediate positive feedback for the healthy choices you’re making.
CM helps bridge the gap between doing the right thing and feeling good about it. Early in recovery, positive behavior change don’t always feel rewarding right away. Contingency management gives you that boost while your brain and body are still healing.
Why doesn’t everyone use CM?
Many treatment centers don’t implement CM properly. Some offer rewards that are too small or wait too long to give them out. Others don’t increase rewards over time, which makes the approach less effective. But the good news is that when CM is done right—with meaningful rewards given quickly after positive behaviors—it can significantly improve your chances of success.1
CM can make a meaningful difference across many areas of recovery and mental health. Here are 7 key ways small rewards can lead to big changes in your life.
1. Helps You Break Free From Opioid Addiction
If you’re struggling with opioid addiction, CM can be a powerful part of your recovery toolkit. Studies show that people using CM are more likely to stay opioid-free2 compared to those receiving only standard counseling, drug testing, or education programs.
Here’s what makes it work: When you submit a clean drug test, you get an immediate reward like a gift card or voucher. This isn’t just about the prize itself; it’s about your brain getting positive feedback for making a healthy choice. Over time, this helps strengthen the connection between staying clean and feeling good about it.
CM works well alongside medication-assisted treatment programs,3 too. If you’re on methadone, buprenorphine, or another medication, adding rewards for negative tests can help you stay more engaged with your treatment and follow through on your recovery plan.
2. Supports Recovery From Stimulants Like Cocaine
Many people dealing with opioid addiction also struggle with stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine, which can make recovery more complicated. Research shows that people using stimulants are about 32% less likely to start medications for opioid use disorder4 like buprenorphine.
CM can help bridge this gap. When you submit drug tests that are free from stimulants, you receive rewards that reinforce your progress. Research shows that CM interventions could be especially valuable for people dealing with both opioid and stimulant use disorder, as they improve treatment engagement while specifically targeting stimulant drug abuse.
Research shows that CM works well for reducing stimulant use,5 especially among people who are already in treatment for opioid addiction. When you submit drug tests that are free from cocaine or other stimulants, you’ll receive positive reinforcement.
CM shows especially strong results for cocaine recovery.6 Whether you’re dealing with cocaine dependence or other stimulants, the combination of testing and rewards can give you the extra support you need during recovery.
3. Makes Quitting Smoking More Achievable
If you’re working on quitting smoking while in recovery, CM can give you the extra support you need. Many people recovering from opioid, stimulant, or alcohol addiction continue smoking, which has serious health impacts and can sometimes make other substances more appealing.7
CM makes quitting smoking more concrete and rewarding. Instead of just hoping you’ll stay tobacco-free, you get tested for carbon monoxide levels in your breath via a quick, easy test that shows whether you’ve been smoking recently. When your CO levels show that you’ve stayed smoke-free, you receive immediate rewards like gift cards or vouchers.
CM works well for smoking cessation8 because nicotine use is so common among people with other addictions. By addressing your smoking with the same rewards-based approach that helps with other substances, you’re building consistent healthy habits across all areas of your recovery.
4. Strengthens Your Alcohol Recovery Journey
If you’re working on reducing your alcohol use, contingency management treatment can provide helpful structure and motivation. Unlike with some other substances, monitoring alcohol use is a bit different. Breathalyzers are useful for detecting current alcohol impairment, but because alcohol leaves your system fairly quickly, they’re not reliable for tracking ongoing abstinence from drug use. For longer-term monitoring, clinicians often use urine tests (such as EtG tests) or blood tests (such as PEth tests), which can detect alcohol use over days or even weeks.
Here’s how it works:
When your lab results confirm you’ve stayed alcohol-free, you earn rewards like gift cards or vouchers.
These objective tests take the guesswork out of tracking your progress, for both you and your treatment team.
Immediate, consistent rewards help reinforce the positive steps you’re taking toward your goals.
Research on CM for alcohol recovery is still developing. Some studies show promising results, such as people staying sober longer and drinking less overall,9 though there’s more research on CM for other substances like opioids and stimulants.
That said, if you’re already using CM as part of your treatment plan for other substances, adding alcohol monitoring may be a natural fit. The same principles apply: immediate rewards for verified abstinence can help strengthen the positive choices you’re making.
5. Keeps You Connected to Your Treatment Team
CM doesn’t just help with staying substance-free—it can also help you stay connected to your treatment and follow through with your recovery plan.
One area where CM shows strong results is medication adherence.10 If you’re prescribed medications as part of your treatment, CM can provide extra motivation to take them consistently. You might receive rewards for picking up prescriptions on time, taking medications as prescribed, or having blood tests that show therapeutic levels of your medication.
CM also works well in outpatient settings11 where you have more independence in managing your recovery. You might receive rewards for attending therapy sessions, completing assigned homework between sessions, or participating actively in group meetings. This immediate positive feedback helps reinforce the connection between doing the work of recovery and feeling good about those efforts.
6. Generally Improves Your Mental and Physical Health
CM can also support your wellness life beyond addiction treatment. When you’re working on building healthy habits in multiple areas of your life, CM can be a structured way to celebrate your progress and stay motivated.
Building Healthy Routines
CM can help you establish and maintain daily routines that work to support mental and physical health outcomes. This might include rewards for going to bed and waking up at consistent times, eating regular meals, taking vitamins or supplements, or doing stress-reducing activities like meditation or journaling.
Physical Activity and Movement
Research shows that CM can motivate people to increase their physical activity,12 which is especially valuable if you’re dealing with mental health challenges like depression and anxiety. You don’t need to commit to intense workouts: CM can reward any movement that works for you, whether that’s taking daily walks, doing stretching exercises, or participating in recreational activities you enjoy.
Managing Health Conditions
If you have ongoing health concerns, CM can help you stay consistent with medical care.13 This might include rewards for attending doctor appointments, completing recommended health screenings, monitoring blood pressure or blood sugar, or following through with physical therapy exercises.
Social Connection and Community
CM can also encourage activities that support your psychosocial and emotional well-being, like participating in support groups, volunteering, maintaining friendships, or engaging in hobbies that connect you with others.
The idea is that recovery involves your whole self—not just avoiding substances, but building a life that feels meaningful and sustainable.
What to Know Before Starting: How to Make CM Work for You
People have a few common concerns before starting CM. Here’s what you need to know.
Will CM be expensive?
CM is designed to be affordable and cost-effective.14 The rewards don’t need to be expensive to work—a lot of programs use $10–20 gift cards or small prizes. When you consider the costs of continued substance use (medical bills, legal issues, missed work), CM often pays for itself by helping you stay healthy and engaged in recovery.
Is it ethical to receive rewards for recovery?
Some people wonder if getting rewarded for sobriety counts as “cheating” or creates dependency on tangible rewards. CM is intended as temporary support while you build new habits. The idea is that it helps, but you won’t need it forever. The rewards help your brain form positive associations with healthy choices,15 and over time, the natural benefits of recovery (better health, relationships, stability) become the main motivators.
How do I find a program that uses CM effectively?
Not all treatment programs offer CM, and some that do might not implement it in the most effective way. Look for programs where staff are specifically trained in contingency management interventions and can explain how their system works. The best CM programs offer rewards quickly after positive behaviors, gradually increase reward values over time,16 and combine CM with other therapies like counseling.
What if my treatment center doesn’t offer CM?
You can ask your treatment team about incorporating CM principles, or look for programs in your area that specialize in this approach. Some people also create informal reward systems for themselves, though programs administered by professional health care providers tend to be more effective.17
Taking Your Next Step
CM is an effective treatment approach that can significantly improve your recovery outcomes. People using CM stay more engaged with treatment and maintain positive changes longer.
Ready to explore your options? Use our treatment finder to find effective, evidence-based treatment programs that support lasting recovery.
FAQs
Q: What is meant by contingency management?
A: Contingency management (CM) is a behavioral therapy technique that reinforces positive behaviors like sobriety and treatment adherence using tangible rewards and incentives.
Q: What is an example of contingency management?
A: An example of CM is when you receive a gift card, voucher, or small prize after submitting a negative drug test. This immediate reward helps reinforce your decision to stay sober and encourages you to continue making healthy choices.
Q: What is a contingency management technique?
A: CM techniques work by giving you immediate rewards right after you demonstrate positive behaviors. This immediate feedback helps your brain connect the healthy choice with something positive, making you more likely to repeat that behavior in the future.
Q: How does contingency management work?
A: CM works by rewarding desired behaviors—like attending therapy sessions or maintaining abstinence—to motivate patients to sustain positive changes in their habits.
Q: How does contingency management work in addiction treatment?
A: In addiction treatment, CM provides patients with rewards like vouchers or prizes for evidence of sobriety, improving treatment retention and reducing substance abuse.
Q: What percentage of addiction treatment programs use contingency management?
A: While research shows CM works well, many treatment programs don’t offer it yet. This is often because staff haven’t been trained in how to use CM effectively, or because programs are still learning how to fund these types of reward systems.
Q: What are the benefits of using contingency management in therapy?
A: CM can increase your motivation to stick with treatment, help you follow through with taking medications or attending sessions, support longer periods of abstinence, and keep you more actively engaged in therapy and recovery activities.
Q: Is contingency management effective for treating substance use disorders (SUD)?
A: Research consistently shows that CM is one of the most effective approaches18 for helping people reduce substance use and maintain recovery. Multiple meta-analyses have demonstrated the effectiveness of contingency management across different types of addiction and treatment settings.
Have you noticed that your pain medication isn’t working as well as it used to? Or wondered why you need higher doses of anxiety medication after using other substances? This might be due to cross-tolerance, a fascinating but often misunderstood process that affects people taking multiple medications or using substances alongside their medications.
Cross-tolerance happens when building tolerance to one substance affects how your body responds to another, seemingly different substance. This isn’t just a curiosity; it has real impacts on medication effectiveness, overdose risk, addiction recovery, and your everyday health management.
Let’s explore how cross-tolerance develops, look at some real-world examples, and discuss practical strategies for managing its effects on your treatment and your health.
What Is Cross-Tolerance?
Cross-tolerance is when your body’s adaptation to one substance lessens your response to another substance that works in similar ways. If your brain gets used to one type of substance, it might also become less responsive to other substances that affect similar receptors.
A condition in which tolerance to one drug results in a lessened response (i.e., increased tolerance) to a related drug.
This happens because many substances share common pathways in your brain and body. In pharmacology, this is understood as a shared mechanism of action, meaning the substances influence the same biological targets in the body.
When you use a substance repeatedly, your brain adapts to maintain balance. It might produce fewer natural chemicals, become less sensitive to the substance’s effects, or create more enzymes to break down the substance faster. These adaptations don’t just affect the original substance—they can also impact other substances that work through the same biological systems.
Different Substances, Similar Neural Pathways
Cross-tolerance is most common between substances that affect the same brain receptors2 or neurotransmitter systems. For example, if you develop tolerance to prescription opioid painkillers, you might also have reduced sensitivity to other opioids, including illegal ones like heroin. This happens because all opioids work on the same receptor system in your brain.
The process isn’t always predictable or complete. You might have strong cross-tolerance between some substances but not others. Your degree of cross-tolerance depends on factors like how similar the substances are, how much you’ve used, how long you’ve been using, and your individual biology.
Cross-tolerance can happen between a lot of different types of substances. The APA notes that cross-tolerance is commonly seen with “amphetamines,1 benzodiazepines, hallucinogens, and opiates, among other drugs.” It can also occur between alcohol and various medications, different types of antidepressants, and even between prescriptions and street drugs.
Why This Matters to You
Understanding cross-tolerance is important for both medical treatment and harm reduction. It affects how doctors prescribe medications, how effective treatments might be, and what risks you face when combining different substances. It’s also a major factor in addiction treatment and recovery planning.
Common Examples of Cross-Tolerance
Cross-tolerance can show up in a lot of different situations, from prescription medications to recreational substances. Here are some of the most important patterns to understand.
Cross-Tolerance Between Opioids
Because they work on the same opioid receptors, all opioids can cause cross-tolerance3 (most commonly, incomplete cross-tolerance) with each other. That means if you’ve been taking prescription painkillers like oxycodone or morphine for a while, your body might also be less sensitive to other opioids, including illegal ones like heroin or fentanyl.
This causes serious risks. Someone who has built tolerance to prescription opioids might think they need a large amount of street opioids to feel effects. But because street drugs are often much stronger and less predictable than prescription medications, this miscalculation can lead to overdose.
For people in medical treatment, opioid cross-tolerance can complicate pain management. If you’ve developed tolerance to one type of pain medication, your doctor might need to try different approaches or higher doses to help manage your pain effectively.
If you or someone you know uses opioids, see our article on How to Use Naloxone to learn about this life-saving overdose reversal medication.
Alcohol and Benzodiazepines
Alcohol and benzodiazepines (like Xanax, Valium, or Ativan) are both agonists that work on the same brain system called GABA.4 That means people who drink regularly often need higher doses of these medications to feel the same effects.
This type of cross-tolerance is especially dangerous because both alcohol and benzos slow down your breathing and heart rate. When people have cross-tolerance, they might use more of both substances, which can lead to life-threatening overdose.
Barbiturates, an older drug class of sedatives sometimes used for seizure control or anesthesia, also act on the GABA system. People with alcohol or benzodiazepine tolerance may also be less sensitive to barbiturates, which makes dosing less predictable and increases overdose risk.
Doctors need to know about your drinking habits when they’re prescribing benzodiazepines. If you have alcohol tolerance, you might need different medications or special monitoring to stay safe.
Prescription stimulants can cause cross-tolerance with cocaine,5 meth, and other stimulants. This includes ADHD medications like Adderall and Ritalin, and it can affect both the effectiveness of ADHD treatment and the risks of using other stimulants.
Psychedelic drugs also show cross-tolerance patterns.7 If you use LSD, you might find that mushrooms (psilocybin) or mescaline don’t work as well for several days afterward. These substances all affect similar brain pathways.
Different types of sedatives and sleep medications often have cross-tolerance too. This includes prescription sleep aids, muscle relaxers, and some seizure medications. If you take one regularly, others in the same category might be less effective.
How Cross-Tolerance Develops in Your Body
Your brain is constantly working to keep things balanced. When you use a substance regularly, your brain notices and starts making changes to cope. You can think of it as a thermostat that’s trying to keep the temperature just right. When a substance comes in and turns up the heat, your brain responds by turning down its own systems to balance things out.
Your brain has special spots called receptors that substances attach to. When you use a substance often, your brain might make fewer of these receptors or make them less sensitive. Your brain also makes its own natural “feel-good” chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. But when you use substances regularly, it starts making less of these natural chemicals.
Cross-tolerance usually develops gradually over weeks or months of regular use, but some people develop it faster than others based on their genetics, age, and overall health. The changes that cause cross-tolerance can last for weeks or even months after you stop using a substance.
Cross-Tolerance and Substance Use
If you use drugs recreationally, cross-tolerance can significantly impact both their effects and the risks involved.
Impact on Drug Effectiveness
Cross-tolerance often means you won’t get the effects you’re expecting from substances. If you’ve built tolerance to one drug, you might find it much harder to achieve the same desired effect with a different drug that has similar effects on your brain.
This can be frustrating and dangerous. You might end up using more of a substance than you planned to, thinking it’s not working. But the problem isn’t with the substance—it’s that your brain has adapted to other substances that work on the same pathways.
Overdose Risks
Cross-tolerance creates a serious risk of overdose that many people don’t realize. Just because you can handle large amounts of one substance doesn’t mean you’re safe with large amounts of another—even if they seem similar.
Here’s why this is so dangerous: tolerance affects how high you feel, but it doesn’t always protect you from overdose. Your brain might be less sensitive to the euphoric effects of heroin, for example, but your respiratory system can still shut down from too much of it.
Street drugs are especially risky because you never know exactly what you’re getting or how strong it is. Someone with opioid tolerance might take what seems like a reasonable amount of street fentanyl, not knowing it’s much more potent than their usual pills.
Fentanyl is an extremely potent synthetic opioid that’s causing overdoses even among people who aren’t aware that it’s in their drugs. Learn more about what you can do to prevent these risks in our article on fentanyl use and addiction.
Complications With Polydrug Use
Cross-tolerance often leads people to mix different substances to get the effects they want. This is called polydrug use, and it’s much more dangerous than using one substance at a time.
The unpredictability of polydrug use makes it especially risky. You might be fine mixing substances one day but have a dangerous reaction the next, depending on factors like how much you’ve eaten, how tired you are, or what other medications you’re taking.
Researchers warn about the dangers of this practice, even going so far as to call it “Russian roulette”. According to one study,
Using benzos or z-drugs and opioids together was likened to playing Russian roulette due to an unregulated drug market, unpredictable potency, availability and contents of illegal drugs and a lack of information about how these drugs work together.
When you combine substances, they can interact in unpredictable ways. Even if you have tolerance to each substance individually, combining them can overwhelm your body’s ability to cope.
For more insight into the risks and treatment options for using multiple substances, see our article on polydrug addiction.
Cross-Tolerance and Medical Treatment
Cross-tolerance can significantly impact your medical care, making treatment more complex and sometimes less effective.
Challenges in Pain Management
The development of tolerance to opioid analgesics like oxycodone or morphine can make managing pain much more difficult. Your doctor might need to prescribe higher doses, try different types of pain medications, or use a completely different approach.
This puts both you and your doctor in a tough spot. Higher doses increase the risk of side effects and addiction. But undertreated pain can seriously impact your quality of life and ability to heal.
Some doctors might be hesitant to prescribe adequate pain medication if they know you have tolerance. It’s important to be honest with your healthcare team about your substance use history so they can find safe, effective ways to manage your pain.
Effects of Psychiatric Medication
Cross-tolerance can affect medications for depression,8 anxiety, bipolar disorder, and other mental health conditions. If you have tolerance to substances that affect the same brain systems as your psychiatric medications, those medications might not work as well.
For example, if you take medication for anxiety and drink heavily, Your provider may adjust your treatment plan to ensure it works effectively and safely. If you use stimulants, your ADHD medication might be less effective. This can make treating mental health conditions much more challenging.
Your psychiatrist needs to know about any substance use to prescribe medications safely and effectively. They might need to adjust doses, try different medications, or monitor you more closely.
Learn more about the importance of regularly reviewing and updating your medication plan in our article on medication management.
Managing Chronic Diseases
Cross-tolerance can impact medications used for conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. When the medication doesn’t work as expected, it can be harder to control these serious health conditions.
This is especially concerning because a lot of chronic diseases require precise medication management. If your medications aren’t working properly due to cross-tolerance, your health condition could get worse.
Surgery and Emergency Care
Cross-tolerance significantly affects surgical procedures and emergency medical care. If you have tolerance to opioids or other substances, anesthesia might not work as expected during surgery.9 You might wake up during procedures or experience inadequate pain control afterward.
Emergency situations become more complicated when cross-tolerance is involved. Emergency room doctors might struggle to provide effective pain relief or sedation if they don’t know about your tolerance. This can make traumatic situations even harder to manage.
It’s important to make sure everyone on your medical care team knows about your substance use history, even in emergencies. This information helps them provide safer, more effective care and can prevent dangerous complications during treatment.
Cancer Treatment and Chemotherapy
Cancer patients often face unique challenges with cross-tolerance. Chemo and other cancer treatments affect how your body processes medications. If you also have substance tolerance, managing pain and other symptoms becomes much more complex.
Cancer pain is often severe and requires strong medications. If you have cross-tolerance to opioids, your oncology team might need to use higher doses, different medications, or alternative pain management approaches. This requires careful coordination between all your healthcare providers.
Addressing Cross-Tolerance in Addiction Recovery
Cross-tolerance creates unique challenges during treatment for substance use disorders.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs use medications like methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone to help people recover from opioid addiction. If you have cross-tolerance, these medications might not work as expected, and your treatment team might need to adjust the approach.
Detox and Withdrawals
Cross-tolerance makes managing withdrawals more complicated. You might experience withdrawal symptoms from multiple substances, even if you were only actively using one. This can make detox longer and more uncomfortable.
Risk of Relapse
Cross-tolerance also affects relapse risk. If you’re in recovery and your usual substances don’t give you the effects you remember, you might be tempted to try stronger substances or use multiple substances together. Both of these approaches are highly dangerous.
Recovery programs need to address cross-tolerance specifically. Good-quality treatment programs will assess your complete substance use history and create a personalized plan that takes any possible effects of cross-tolerance into account.
Cross-Tolerance in Specific Patient Groups
Different groups of people face unique challenges with cross-tolerance that require special consideration and care.
Substance use during pregnancy affects babies’ developing brains, potentially making them more likely to develop tolerance issues later in life. If you’re pregnant and have substance tolerance, specialized maternal care programs11 can help manage both your health and your baby’s safety.
Those who are breastfeeding while managing cross-tolerance need to choose medication carefully. Because so many substances can pass through breast milk, healthcare providers need to select treatments that are safe for nursing babies while still effective for their caregiver.
Medication Interactions for Older Adults
Older adults often take multiple medications for different health conditions, making cross-tolerance more dangerous and more likely. Their bodies also process medications differently than younger people, which also makes the effects of tolerance less predictable.
Family members and caregivers should be aware of cross-tolerance risks in elderly loved ones. Regular medication reviews and honest communication with healthcare providers are especially important for this population.
ADHD medications are a common concern for this age group. Many teens and young adults take stimulant medications for ADHD, and cross-tolerance with other stimulants can affect both their treatment effectiveness and their risk if they use other substances.
College environments often involve alcohol and substance use, which can interact dangerously with prescription medications. Young adults need education about these risks to make informed decisions about their health and safety.
For more information about the risks and treatment options for stimulant medications, see our article on Adderall addiction.
Individual sensitivity: Some people’s brains are naturally more or less sensitive to substances, which affects how quickly tolerance develops.
Frequency and duration of use: Regular, long-term use increases your chances of developing cross-tolerance compared to occasional use.
Age and developmental factors: Teenagers and young adults develop tolerance faster because their brains are still developing and more adaptable to change.
Environmental influences: High stress, trauma, and chaotic environments can speed up tolerance development and make cross-tolerance more likely.
Underlying health conditions: Mental health conditions, chronic pain, and some genetic factors can increase your risk of developing cross-tolerance.
Genetic predisposition: Your family history and genetics affect how your body processes substances and how quickly you develop tolerance.
Polydrug use patterns: Using multiple substances regularly increases your risk of developing cross-tolerance between them.
Metabolism differences: How fast or slow your body breaks down substances affects how quickly tolerance develops.
Managing and Preventing Cross-Tolerance
Professional Treatment Approaches
Healthcare providers use several strategies to manage cross-tolerance effectively. The first step is always a thorough assessment of your substance use history that includes prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, alcohol, and any illegal substances.
Regular medication reviews are essential. Your doctor should check how well your medications are working and watch for signs of tolerance or cross-tolerance. They may need to adjust doses, switch medications, or try a combined approach.
What works for one person might not work for another, especially when cross-tolerance is involved. That’s why it’s so important for your care to take place according to a personalized treatment plan that takes your specific tolerance patterns into account.
Advocating for Yourself in Healthcare Settings
Being honest with your healthcare providers is important for safe, effective treatment. This includes telling them about all substance use, even if you’re worried about judgment. Healthcare providers need this information to keep you safe.
If you’re using multiple substances and not ready to quit, harm reduction strategies can help keep you safer. This includes using one substance at a time when possible, having someone with you who can get help if needed, and knowing the signs of overdose.
If your doctor isn’t already doing them, ask for regular medication reviews. If your medications don’t seem to be working as well as they used to, cross-tolerance might be the reason.
Keep a record of all medications and substances you use, including over-the-counter drugs, supplements, and any recreational substances. This information can be vital in emergency situations and helps your healthcare team make better treatment decisions.
Consider working with specialists who understand cross-tolerance, such as addiction medicine doctors or pain management specialists. These providers have extra training in managing complex tolerance situations and can often offer more effective treatment options.
Common Misconceptions About Drug Tolerance
A lot of dangerous myths surround cross-tolerance that can put people at serious risk. Understanding the truth can help you make safer decisions.
“If I have tolerance to one drug, I’m safe taking larger amounts of similar drugs.”
This is extremely dangerous thinking. Tolerance affects how high you feel, but it doesn’t protect you from overdose. Your brain might be less sensitive to euphoric effects, but your body can still shut down from too much of a substance. Many overdoses happen to people who midjudge their tolerance.15
“Cross-tolerance means all similar drugs affect me the same way.”
Cross-tolerance isn’t complete or predictable. You might have strong tolerance to one opioid but much less tolerance to another. Street drugs especially vary in strength and purity, making this assumption potentially fatal.
“If my medication isn’t working, I just need a higher dose.”
“Cross-tolerance goes away quickly when I stop using substances.”
Brain changes from cross-tolerance can last weeks or months after stopping substance use. Don’t assume your medication sensitivity has returned to normal right away. This is why medical supervision is important during recovery.
“Prescription drugs don’t cause cross-tolerance with illegal drugs.”
Many prescription medications can cause cross-tolerance with illegal substances. Prescription opioids and street opioids, for example, affect the same brain systems. Benzodiazepines prescribed for anxiety can cause cross-tolerance with alcohol. Just because a drug is legal doesn’t mean it can’t have dangerous effects.
“I can prevent cross-tolerance by switching between different drugs.”
Rotating between substances that affect the same brain systems won’t prevent cross-tolerance. In fact, it might make it worse by exposing your brain to multiple substances17 that cause similar adaptations.
Current Research and Future Directions
Research on cross-tolerance continues to reveal important findings that could improve treatment approaches.
Recent studies on heroin addiction recovery show that cross-tolerance to buprenorphine18 (a medication used in addiction treatment) is linked to faster relapse rates. This research is helping doctors understand how to adjust treatment plans for better success.
Future neuroscience research directions include mapping exactly how different substances affect brain pathways, identifying genetic markers that predict cross-tolerance risk, and developing new medications that are less likely to cause cross-tolerance.
Understanding Cross-Tolerance Is the First Step Toward Safer, More Effective Care
Cross-tolerance is a complex but important concept that affects millions of people taking medications or using substances. Understanding how it works can help you make safer decisions and get better medical care.
The key takeaway is that substances often affect each other in ways you might not expect. Being honest with healthcare providers about all substance use—prescription, over-the-counter, and recreational—is essential for your safety and effective treatment.
If you’re struggling with substance use and cross-tolerance is complicating your situation, professional help is available. Find a treatment center near you that understands these complex issues and can provide the specialized care you need.
FAQs
Q: How long does cross-tolerance last after stopping substance use?
A: Cross-tolerance can persist for weeks to months after stopping substance use, depending on how long you used substances, what types you used, and your individual biology. Some people notice their medication sensitivity returning to normal within a few weeks, while others may take several months.
Q: Can cross-tolerance be reversed?
A: Yes, cross-tolerance often decreases over time when you stop using the substances that caused it. However, the process is gradual and varies a lot from person to person. Working with healthcare providers during this time is important for safe medication management.
Q: How do doctors calculate medication doses when cross-tolerance is present?
A: Doctors consider your substance use history, current tolerance levels, and individual response to medications. They often start with standard doses and adjust based on your response, monitoring you closely for both effectiveness and side effects.
Q: Does cross-tolerance affect all medications the same way?
A: No, cross-tolerance only affects medications that work on similar brain pathways as the substances you’ve used. For example, opioid tolerance won’t affect your blood pressure medication, but it might affect other pain medications.
Q: Can you prevent cross-tolerance from developing?
A: The most reliable way to prevent cross-tolerance is to avoid using substances that affect the same brain systems. If you need to take medications long-term, work closely with your doctor to monitor for tolerance and adjust treatment as needed.
Q: Is cross-tolerance the same as drug interactions?
A: No, these are different concepts. Drug interactions happen when substances affect each other directly in your body. Cross-tolerance is when your brain’s adaptation to one substance affects your response to another.
Q: How quickly does cross-tolerance develop?
A: Cross-tolerance can develop anywhere from days to months, depending on the substances involved, how often you use them, and individual factors like genetics and age. Some people notice changes within just a few weeks of regular use.
Q: Can cross-tolerance affect emergency medical treatment?
A: Yes, cross-tolerance can affect emergency treatments, especially pain medications and anesthesia. This is why it’s important to be honest with emergency medical staff about your substance abuse history, even in crisis situations.
Wellbriety is just what it sounds like — wellness and sobriety. The Wellbriety Movement supports Indigenous people in the process of addiction recovery. This holistic approach supports clients’ physical, mental, and spiritual healing.
Origins of the Wellbriety Movement
Don Coyhis, Mohican nation, founded the Wellbriety Movement in 1988.1 He began by teaching people the spiritual methods that helped him heal from alcohol addiction. Over time, these practices would help his daughter heal from meth addiction and grow into a nationwide movement empowering Indigenous communities.
How Is Wellbriety Different From Traditional Programs?
Wellbriety stands out from other recovery programs in several ways. This approach to recovery is open to Indigenous people nationwide. You can also learn from the movement’s published resources.
These teachings are available through White Bison, a nonprofit organization Don Coyhis founded in the 1980s. Based in Colorado Springs, White Bison offers free in-person and online meetings. According to their website, this organization is “dedicated to creating and sustaining a grassroots Wellbriety Movement – providing culturally-based healing to the next seven generations of Indigenous People.”
Coyhis’ philosophy marries several different traditions. For example, members of the Wellbriety Movement follow the Medicine Wheel 12 Steps.2 This framework combines Indigenous spiritual beliefs with the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.
White Bison and the Wellbriety Movement address an urgent need. While drug and alcohol addiction, trauma, and mental health issues can affect anyone, they’re especially prevalent in Indigenous communities. The Red Road, another nonprofit supporting Native communities, notes the scope of this problem: “Despite only representing 2% of the U.S. population, Native Americans have the highest rates of alcohol,3 marijuana, cocaine, and hallucinogen use disorders and the second highest methamphetamine abuse rates.”
Cultural Values
Wellbriety encourages people to heal from addictions by committing to shared cultural values. Many of White Bison’s principles4 direct communities to support each other. For example, they believe that “healing will take place through the application of cultural and spiritual knowledge.” This and other principles inform their holistic approach. In recovery, members come into alignment with themselves, their communities, and the natural world.
Spiritual Focus
Spirituality is central to the Wellbriety Movement. Members believe in a Supreme Being and follow the teachings of community leaders. Many Wellbriety practices honor the Sacred Hoop, which holds great spiritual significance. In 1995, Indigenous Elders met in a sweat lodge and formed it out of a sapling. Since that time, the Sacred Hoop has traveled more than 200,000 miles around the U.S., connecting White Bison leaders with Indigenous communities.
Among other principles, the Wellbriety Movement follows 4 laws of change.7 Coyhis received these laws from an Elder in the 1980s. Today, they are pillars of White Bison’s work.
1. Change Is From Within
This law, Coyhis explains, “means that we must have an internal desire to make changes in our lives.” Only the person with an addiction can commit to recovery. That commitment can’t come from a loved one, or even from your whole community. But when you cultivate an inner desire to heal, you can accomplish remarkable things.
2. In Order for Development To Occur It Must Be Preceded by a Vision
Members of the Wellbriety Movement begin by imagining what their lives would be like without substance abuse. As Coyhis puts it, “What would our lives, our community, or our nation look like if it were working in a good way?” This question invites people to start dreaming about a better future. Once you have a clear vision of your best possible life, you can start bringing it into reality.
3. A Great Learning Must Take Place
This law frames the healing process as a communal effort. Coyhis says that recovery “must include the individual, the family, the community, and the nation acting as an integrated whole.” In most addiction treatment programs, holistic recovery combines the different aspects of the self. Wellbriety takes this a step further, seeking to integrate personal wellness with communal growth.
4. You Must Create a Healing Forest
When it comes to addiction and mental health recovery, your environment is essential. Members of the Wellbriety Movement understand this through the metaphor of the healing forest:8
Imagine a forest of damaged, dying trees. The sickness is in the air, the soil, and the water supply. It’s all around them. You notice one tree that seems especially unwell. You dig it up, move it, and plant it in rich soil. You give it water and sunlight and plant food, and it starts to thrive. When it’s ready, you bring it back to the original forest and replant it. Does that one tree heal the rest of the forest? No, of course not. Back in an unsupportive environment, it just gets sick again.
The forest is a metaphor for the way addiction, poverty, and intergenerational trauma affect Indigenous communities. White Bison teaches that while one person going to rehab or attending therapy can help, it’s not enough. Entire groups of people have to commit to recovering together, supporting each other throughout a complex healing process.
Find Additional Resources and Support for Addiction Recovery
White Bison supports Indigenous communities9 around the country. The nonprofit also trains and certifies residential centers in Indigenous treatment methods. If the Wellbriety Movement resonates with you, look for a rehab that offers this approach to recovery.
Start your healing journey in a rehab that honors your culture.
FAQs
Q: What is the Wellbriety Movement?
A: The Wellbriety Movement is a holistic recovery approach that supports Indigenous people in addiction recovery. Founded by Don Coyhis in 1988, it combines wellness and sobriety to support physical, mental, and spiritual healing using culturally-based methods.
Q: Is Wellbriety part of AA?
A: Wellbriety is not part of AA, but it incorporates AA principles. The movement follows the Medicine Wheel 12 Steps, which combines Indigenous spiritual beliefs with the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Q: What are the principles of Wellbriety?
A: Wellbriety follows 4 laws of change:
Change is from within.
Development must be preceded by a vision.
A great learning must take place.
You must create a healing forest.
The movement also emphasizes cultural values, spiritual focus, and community healing for individual and collective well-being.
Q: How does the Wellbriety program differ from a 12-Step recovery program?
A: While Wellbriety incorporates principles of the 12-Step program, it differs by focusing specifically on Indigenous communities and integrating American Indian spiritual beliefs through the Medicine Wheel 12 Steps. It emphasizes community and cultural healing alongside individual recovery.
Q: How does the Wellbriety approach incorporate Native American traditions in healing?
A: Wellbriety incorporates traditions like talking circles, drum circles, sweat lodge ceremonies, and teachings from the Sacred Hoop. The approach honors Indigenous spiritual beliefs, follows guidance from community Elders, and emphasizes connection to the natural world and cultural knowledge.
Q: How can I find Wellbriety meetings near me?
A: White Bison, the nonprofit organization that supports the Wellbriety Movement, offers free in-person and online meetings. You can visit their website to find Wellbriety Circle meetings and resources in your area.
Q: How can I get involved with the Wellbriety Movement?
A: You can get involved by attending White Bison meetings, accessing their free online resources, or looking for rehab centers that offer Indigenous treatment methods. White Bison also trains and certifies residential centers in Wellbriety approaches.
Addiction is often a symptom of a deeper, underlying issue. It’s a journey into numbness, a way to escape the difficult emotions and insecurities that feel too overwhelming to face. For Michael, his battle with addiction wasn’t just about substances; it was a desperate search for a sense of belonging and self-worth that he believed he could only find by hiding his true self. His story is a powerful testament to the fact that what we seek in external things—whether it’s alcohol, work, or a relationship—can only truly be found when we turn inward. This is Michael’s journey from a life of avoidance to one of authentic empowerment and purpose.
1. The Allure of Numbness: Michael’s Story of Escaping Emotions
Addiction often begins as a seemingly harmless escape, a way to numb the uncomfortable feelings that life presents. For Michael, his journey into addiction started with alcohol as a teenager, a way to cope with crippling anxiety and a sense of not being “enough.” He felt like he had to be a high-performer to be worthy, a feeling that stemmed from watching his family members succeed. The pressure to measure up created a deep-seated anxiety he couldn’t face.
“I didn’t equate my worth to who I was, my authentic self, my curiosity, my creativity, my love,” Michael shares, highlighting a common thread in addiction: seeking external validation to fill an internal void. For him, alcohol was a tool to silence the critical inner voice and the fear of judgment. He describes sitting in a bar for an hour, building up the courage to be himself, only to feel a deep sense of shame the next day. This cycle of using and then feeling unworthy became a recurring pattern.
2. The Duality of Seeking and Avoiding
Michael’s relationship with substances wasn’t just about seeking a high; it was a complex dance of seeking freedom and avoiding pain. “I would say more majority of it is avoiding something,” he admits. He was actively trying to escape difficult emotions, such as the grief and pain he felt when his stepmother was battling bone cancer. This avoidance manifested not only in his alcohol use but also in other compulsive behaviors.
“I was willing to do whatever I had to do not to be in my mind,” he says. This avoidance extended beyond substances, bleeding into his life even in early recovery. He would work 70 hours a week, and people would praise him for being a “hard worker.” In reality, it was another form of escape, a way to avoid dealing with his internal struggles. Michael also turned to pornography and video games as a way to avoid self-reflection and healing.
His story illustrates a critical point about addiction: it’s not just about a single substance. It’s often about a pattern of using external things to cope with internal pain. When one crutch is removed, another can quickly take its place. This is why a holistic approach to recovery that addresses the underlying emotional and psychological issues is so crucial.
3. The Search for an Authentic Self
For years, Michael’s identity was built on what he thought others wanted him to be. He would try to please people, thinking his “gift was being nice to people or listening to ’em, regardless of how they treated me or how they made me feel.” This led to a “beggar mentality,” where he would hang out with anyone who would give him attention, even if it wasn’t good for him.
The turning point came when he started a process of self-discovery. He began asking himself a fundamental question: “What would I do if nobody would ever go with me?” He would write down a list of things he wanted to do, and then he would do them alone. This process was a way of reconnecting with his own desires and interests, a voice that had been silenced for years by his substance use.
“When I was using substances, it robbed me of everything,” Michael explains, describing how his intuition and inner voice died. He says that voice is quiet even in the best of times, but under the influence of substances, it becomes non-existent. This self-exploration became a way of reviving that voice, of listening to his own needs and desires, and of building a life that was authentic to him.
Michael’s path to recovery wasn’t a solitary one. It was a journey into vulnerability, facilitated by the support of a community. After a terrifying experience with withdrawals that led to hospitalization, he finally committed to seeking help. He began attending 12-step meetings, where people showed him a level of kindness and acceptance he had never experienced.
At first, he was skeptical, believing that people were being kind for a reason. He thought they were part of a “cult” and that their kindness had to have a hidden agenda. But then, he experienced a moment that shifted his entire perspective. He was sitting around a fire with a group of people from his recovery group, and he looked around and had an epiphany: “So either all these people actually do love you, and like that’s what’s real, or like all the shit that you’re saying in your head is like, is correct. And I just felt like it was like there’s, it’s much more likely that those like, you know, like those 20 or 30 people or all those instances are what’s real and I’m just full of shit at that moment.”
This realization was life-changing. He began to practice a radical form of honesty, sharing his deepest fears and insecurities with his community. He found that when he would say the “scariest, worst parts of” himself out loud, people didn’t judge him. Instead, they loved him and cared for him. This experience taught him that vulnerability is not a weakness but a source of power and connection.
5. Transforming Destructive Energy into a Force for Good
A profound shift for Michael occurred when he realized that the same energy and devotion he poured into his addictions could be used in other, more positive ways. This concept is a cornerstone of his recovery. Instead of using his tenacity to find a fix, he now channels it into a life of purpose and fulfillment.
He says, “If I was willing to go that far for something that’s fucking killing me, like what could I do for something that’s actually meaningful?” This question became a driving force. He recognized that addiction, in a twisted way, showed him his capacity to care deeply and to be tenacious. He now applies that same intensity to his recovery and his life, pursuing passions and goals with the same vigor he once used to pursue substances.
Michael believes that a fulfilling life in recovery must be just as exciting, passionate, and vibrant as the life he had in addiction. This is his way of ensuring he never feels the need to go back. Instead of just mitigating his anxiety, he now actively seeks out opportunities to be as open and vulnerable as possible. He says this is a way of “pushing down that way” and making it so that substances have no purpose in his life. He no longer needs alcohol to be uninhibited, because he’s learned to be himself without it.
6. The Power of “I Don’t Know”
One of the most valuable lessons Michael has learned is the importance of humility. He reflects on his decade-long struggle with addiction and the realization that he was “completely wrong and out of alignment” with who he was. This experience taught him to question his own certainties.
“If I was that wrong for that long of a period of time, who am I now to say that I’m above, like thinking in another way,” he says. This humility allows him to stay open to new ideas and to learn from others. He believes everyone has “secrets or these keys” that can help you progress faster.
This shift from a mindset of “I know everything” to one of “I don’t know, but I’m willing to learn” has been a catalyst for his growth. He’s found immense power in being vulnerable enough to admit when he needs help and to accept the guidance of others. It’s a fundamental break from the isolation of addiction and a powerful step toward a life of connection and continuous learning.
7. Overcoming the Fear of Being “Too Much”
For Michael, a significant part of his journey was overcoming the fear of being “too much” for others. He had a deep-seated belief that if he were to reveal his true, authentic self—all his flaws, sensitivities, and insecurities—people would reject him. He was afraid they would think he was “weird” or “flawed.”
“I thought people just wouldn’t talk to me after that,” he admits. But when he finally took that leap and shared his darkest thoughts, the opposite happened. People cared and loved him regardless. This experience helped him deconstruct the idea that he needed to perform or pretend to be someone else to be worthy of love.
Michael’s journey is a testament to the idea that true connection is built on authenticity, not perfection. When he stopped trying to be what he thought others wanted, he found that he was freer and that he attracted “really good relationships” with people who were drawn to his vulnerability. He realized that we are all meant to be “unique expressions” and that true fulfillment comes from following the path our own soul tells us.
8. The Unending Nature of Recovery
Michael’s story is a reminder that recovery isn’t a destination; it’s a series of turning points and an ongoing process of self-discovery. Each day presents an opportunity for growth and a chance to make a choice that aligns with his authentic self.
He’s learned to listen to his body and his intuition, to explore what brings him joy, and to be his own best companion. The love he once sought in substances and external validation, he now cultivates within himself. His journey shows that the work of recovery is not about getting sober; it’s about building a life so full of purpose, love, and authenticity that you’ll never want to go back.
From his days lost in a cornfield in rural Wisconsin to finding himself in a jail cell, Kody Green’s journey is a powerful testament to the human spirit’s ability to overcome adversity. Known online as “the schizophrenic hippie,” Kody’s story is a raw and authentic look at the intersection of severe mental illness and substance use. After a psychotic break in college led to years of undiagnosed psychosis and addiction, he was forced to confront his struggles in the unlikeliest of places: jail.
His path to recovery, however, was not a straight line, but a winding road of self-discovery, fueled by a deep-seated desire to find a life of purpose and advocacy. This is the story of how Kody Green built a new life, brick by brick, from the ground up, and in the process, became an influential voice for mental health and addiction recovery.
1. A Difficult Childhood in Rural Wisconsin
Before his own struggles began, Kody was a caregiver for his mother, who lived with schizoaffective disorder. Growing up in a small, rural Wisconsin town, Kody saw firsthand how a lack of resources and a pervasive stigma around mental health and addiction made it difficult for his mother to get the help she needed. “We didn’t know who to go to,” he said. “And unfortunately, something that’s less common, but still something that happens around this area, is people don’t like talking about mental health and addiction.”
This silence forced his family to act as if his mother’s illness didn’t exist, leaving him and his siblings to navigate a difficult situation with little guidance. It wasn’t until Kody was about to leave for college, nearly a decade after her symptoms began, that his mother finally received an official diagnosis.
Kody’s childhood was also marked by financial hardship, as his mother’s illness made it difficult for her to work. This led to him being bullied, but he found solace in his school life, excelling academically and participating in activities like drama club and musicals. He dreamed of becoming a teacher, a path that kept him motivated and focused. “I got picked on a lot. I got bullied a lot because we were…that was my only parent, and she was struggling, so she didn’t work, which means we were, you know, constantly behind on bills. And I had to start working at a really young age.”
Despite the challenges, he was determined to pursue his education, but his plans were derailed by the very same illness that had affected his mother.
2. The Onset of Schizophrenia and a Shift in Reality
When Kody started college, the stress and new environment triggered the onset of his own symptoms. His initial symptom was social isolation, which stemmed from a paranoia that others would “lock [him] up.” This fear was rooted in his experiences with his mother’s illness. Soon after, he began experiencing auditory and visual hallucinations and delusions. The symptoms were so disorienting that he couldn’t recognize he was struggling.
For Kody, these hallucinations manifested as hearing voices and seeing “shadow people.” As his addiction worsened, these hallucinations became more realistic and terrifying. “I thought that it was giving me, you know, help or clarity, it was actually making them worse long-term,” he said. This combination of undiagnosed schizophrenia and a worsening drug addiction quickly led to him losing his job and dropping out of college.
During this period, Kody’s girlfriend (now wife) and mother noticed his struggles immediately. They began a quiet, three-year-long process of gathering resources and information, waiting for the moment he would be ready to accept help.
For many, the road to recovery is a choice, but for Kody Green, his journey began not by choice but by circumstance. After experiencing a psychotic break during his first semester of college, he turned to drugs to cope with the auditory and visual hallucinations. This led to a three-year period of active addiction and undiagnosed psychosis. His path took a critical turn when he was incarcerated.
“The first time ever being in an AA or NA meeting was in jail,” Kody recalled. “And it’s not ’cause I wanted to go—I needed to get outta the room for an hour.”
Jail, for all its flaws as a rehabilitation space, became an unlikely catalyst for Kody. Stripped of his usual distractions, he finally had the opportunity to confront the internal turmoil he had been trying to escape. However, his initial attempts to seek help were met with skepticism from the guards, who assumed he was “pill-seeking.” He discovered that the most empathetic and caring people he met were his fellow inmates—individuals who, like him, were struggling with unaddressed mental health and addiction issues.
4. Forced Sobriety and a Life Reborn
After his incarceration, Kody was able to get clean and reach out for help. Thanks to the resources his mother and wife had compiled, he was able to get a diagnosis, treatment, and medication within two weeks—a timeline he acknowledges is “not a typical timeline for someone to be able to get access to care or any type of diagnosis.” This expedited process was crucial to his recovery. His family history of schizophrenia and their proactive approach gave him a fighting chance.
“As soon as I got my first anti-psychotic medication, I started to have some clarity,” Kody explained. “And the unfortunate thing with that is as soon as I had clarity, I got to see how bad things were.” This moment of clarity was followed by an overwhelming sense of defeat. He was starting over, but with the added weight of a criminal record, damaged relationships, and a diagnosis that carried a heavy stigma.
Kody’s diagnosis was undifferentiated schizophrenia, a subtype that has since been reclassified. At the time, this diagnosis indicated that he showed symptoms of multiple schizophrenia subtypes, including disorganized, catatonic, and paranoid schizophrenia.
5. Finding Purpose in Advocacy and Peer Support
The path to recovery didn’t stop once Kody was sober and medicated. He had to rebuild his life, mourning the one he had planned and accepting the one he had to live. He found a new purpose in advocacy and peer support. “Peer support saved my life,” he said. He found a community in NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), where he realized he wasn’t alone in his struggles. After attending his first peer support group in 2015—the same year he got sober, was released from jail, and was diagnosed—he went on to be elected as the vice president of the board of directors for NAMI Wisconsin.
His advocacy work has since grown into a national platform, where he shares his story as “the schizophrenic hippie.” He has amassed over 2 million followers on social media, been featured in magazines, and written a book. These accomplishments, he says, still feel unreal. “My life is crazy now…Everything that happens in my life currently feels fake.”
6. The Broader Implications of Mental Illness and Incarceration
Kody’s story highlights a critical issue in the justice system: the lack of adequate mental health care for inmates. The majority of people in jail and prison are not career criminals, but rather individuals grappling with addiction and mental illness. As Kody discovered, the correctional system is ill-equipped to provide the help and support needed for rehabilitation. This can create a cycle of recidivism, as people who get sober in jail often relapse upon release because they lack the resources to navigate the challenges of life with a criminal record.
For Kody, the most impactful part of his journey was finding a sense of community. The people he met in jail, his supportive wife and mother, and the individuals he connected with through peer support groups all played a vital role in his recovery. “I had never met people that I identified with more than when I was in jail,” he said. “People could tell that I was struggling…and no one cared except for the people that were there with me.”
This realization became the foundation of his advocacy work. By sharing his story, he aims to create the connections he once craved and build a community where people feel less alone in their struggles. He wants to challenge the public perception of mental illness and addiction, proving that recovery is not only possible but can lead to a more fulfilling and purposeful life than one ever imagined.
