FLOWERS | FLOWERS | BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS
 WASG PODCAST
Episode 1 WASG INTRODUCTION

E. 01 Introduction 

In this episode, Rick Reyes introduces himself and the intentions behind this podcast. Rick has been working in the Addiction Recovery Profession since 2000. Even after being in recovery for multiple years, we all have some bad days, which is why Rick turned to podcasts. As a podcast buff, Rick looks for shows about addiction – he couldn’t quite find what he was looking for. Either the show was too repetitive, or the show was too scientific. His personal goal is to influence, not impress others. When Addicts Say Goodbye is unique because we focus on sharing compelling stories of individuals who have lost their lives from addiction. Not everyone dies from an overdose of these drugs – they may die from medical complications, spend 
their lives in prison or in and out of institutions.
Rick is in recovery; Rick stays strong because of his wife Adriana and son Max. Unfortunately, Rick has lost family members to addiction, and his life will never be the same because of those losses. However, the one thing we will always remember is memories. Rick wants to encourage families to realize they are not alone. With these messages of hope, there will be more people to be present for their kids because of sobriety. Rick will provide resources to his audience – they will never accept advertisements from a specific treatment center however you can check out general resources on their website When Addicts Say Goodbye.

Rick’s younger brother had a friend named Danny. In the future, Rick would love to share Danny’s story. He was a great musician and a cool-looking kid. Unfortunately, he struggled with substance abuse and heroin addiction. There is one song of Danny’s that has always touched Rick. He is dedicated to sharing it during the intro and outro of their podcast.
                                                                              Quotes:
• “If I can just reach one person, it will all be worth it.” -Rick
• “We allow individuals to share the lives of their loved ones.” -Rick
• “Not every program will be the right fit for your loved one.” -Rick
                                                                      Links Mentioned:
When Addicts Say Goodbye – https://www.whenaddictssaygoodbye.com



Episode 2 Sherry's Story 

E. 02 The Blue Rose 

In this episode, Rick Reyes opens the show discussing addiction treatment. His group started to do some experimental sessions where they would ask the clients what they would want to be when they grew up. Not one person said they wanted to be an addict. Rick interviews his dad, who tells a story about Sherry. Sherry was raised in a Baptist environment near Merced, on the right side of the tracks. She was naïve to the reality of those around her. Sherry was 
concerned about those around her and could see their value, even though they couldn’t see their own value. Sherry and her husband had three boys and one girl – 

 she didn’t smoke or drink growing up. Eventually, they left northern California to move to southern California – 10 years into their marriage, the drugs started to come into play. After their last child, Sherry was struggling with losing the baby weight. Someone introduced her to methamphetamine to lose weight; she started taking the drugs with the intention of losing her baby weight. Rick would come home and become suspicious of the people that would be hanging out in their house. Rick always had a problem with alcohol, whereas he never suspected Sherry of any drug or alcohol abuse. 

Then, Sherry’s son, Johnny, describes how much he knew about the situation. Johnny says he knew what was happening as a child. There were people always coming in and out of the house, and the doors would randomly get locked. His siblings knew what was happening and tried their best to shelter the younger ones from what was happening. Rick says he always uses a book to teach about the role a family can have with addiction: Another Chance: Hope and Health for the Alcoholic Family. 

Johnny said at nine years old he killed a 40 oz bottle of alcohol. When he got older, Johnny would smoke weed and inhale air fresheners. Plus, he found his mom’s stash of drugs – he always wanted to see what the big deal was because his family and other people in the house were continually drinking or doing drugs. Johnny says as an adult; the drinking and drugs in the family had a more significant impact on him than it did as a child. 

Rick describes the health complications Sherry experienced as an addict. Every time Rick saw Sherry, her condition was worse and worse. At one point, she couldn’t even get up. Rick tried to help her as much as he could. 

Eventually, her body was so swelled, she couldn’t breathe. Sherry would take cough drops to help her breathe for a second. Rick got involved with addiction treatment the same year his mom passed away. Later, Rick tells a story called “The Small Things.” 

Johnny and his family (2019)

Sherry and Rick Having Some Fun Fishing (Year Unknown)

                                                          Quotes: From WASG Podcast E. 2 

• “If I can just reach one person, it will all be worth it.” -Rick
• “We allow individuals to share the lives of their loved ones.” -Rick
• “Not every program will be the right fit for your loved one.” -Rick

                                                                      Links Mentioned:
When Addicts Say Goodbye –https://www.whenaddictssaygoodbye.com
Episode 3 Justine's Story 

E. 03 Julissa's Mommy 

In this episode, Rick Reyes opens up the show discussing different treatment options addicts have, such as medication-assisted treatment (MAT). The doctor manages their medication, and even people who work in the addiction field have a lot of ignorance when it comes to the benefits of MAT. Rick has seen miracles happen when it comes to these medicines. It is unfortunate when someone comes into the 

program, gets stable, becomes a productive member of society, then people say they are not clean and sober because of the medication.
Today, we are hearing the story about Justine from her mom, Joanne. Growing up, Justine was shy. However, she excelled academically and socially in middle school and beyond. In her junior year of high school, Justine was uncomfortable at her private school and transferred to a public institution instead. Eventually, Justine became a big-time broker in Manhattan and went to college for insurance. One day Justine complained about intense pains in her stomach – she was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. Every time Justine got a flare-up, they gave her pain medication – she became addicted to the pain medication by the time she was twenty-two. By the age of thirty-one, Justine was making six figures. 
Joanne would take Justine to the hospital every six-weeks because of her Crohn's disease. One day in 2012, Justine asked Joanne for money because she was in withdrawal from pain medication. Joanne gave her twenty dollars with the assumption that Justine would start detox that next week. No detox would take Justine because of her co-existing medical diagnosis of Crohn's – if she had a flare up and needed the pain medicine, what were they going to do? Justine eventually got on methadone and then got pregnant from her drug-addicted husband. Her family was concerned about the pregnancy–Justine was so happy, though. For the first time, Joanne saw Justine turn a corner. The stigma of pregnancy and methadone clouded their family. Once Julissa was born, it was a miracle that she had no withdrawal symptoms from the methadone.
Justine maintained her recovery with Methadone and outpatient counseling. Eventually, she got off methadone, and Joanne finally had her daughter again. Her relapse revolved around Xanax and 

heroin. Joanne never saw her overdose coming, she was utterly shocked. Later, Joanne discusses the changes that need to be made to treatment. Many addicts will have months, if not years, where they stay clean and then overdose out of nowhere.  

Quotes From WASG Podcast E.3 

• “When Justine used, she would pass out on the floor.”
• “She loved her daughter.”
• “Justine became very nasty and very secretive.”
• “Something has to change.”

Linked Mentioned: 

ADCSI – https://www.adcsinstitute.com/home
When Addicts Say Goodbye - https://www.whenaddictssaygoodbye.com/
BetterHelp - https://www.betterhelp.com/wasg

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