My Dad Died From The Same Addiction I Escaped

Listen to this episode from F#CK THE STIGMA on Spotify. In episode 31 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Maggie who opens up about her journey through addiction, recovery, and rebuilding her life. She shares what it was like growing up around addiction, experimenting as a teen, and facing early arrests and probation. From her first rehab stay—where she admits she tried to “beat the system”—to the depths of opiate and heroin addiction in Kensington, Maggie’s story is raw and eye-opening. She talks about the repeated attempts at treatment, the turning point of true surrender, and how community became essential to her recovery. Now years sober, Maggie reflects on becoming a parent in recovery, working in treatment, navigating mental health challenges, and finding spirituality and purpose in long-term sobriety. This episode is a real, honest look at what it takes to rebuild and heal after addiction.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that challenge stigma and bring awareness to mental health and addiction.Chapters |00:00 Intro and Podcast Mission00:35 Maggie's Early Years & Family Background02:00 Childhood Experiences with Addiction04:34 Noticing Differences & First Encounters07:14 Teen Experimentation and Escalation13:10 High School Arrests & Probation Struggles17:00 First Rehab and Intentions to ‘Beat the System’19:09 Opiates, Heroin, and Full-Blown Addiction23:18 Going Deeper: Kensington and Consequences27:30 Multiple Attempts at Treatment32:00 The Role of Community and True Surrender38:29 Early Recovery, Growth, & New Challenges44:24 Becoming a Sober Parent and Building a New Life47:07 Working in Treatment & Family Recovery52:18 Mental Health, Stigma, and Support Needs55:26 Spirituality in Recovery01:03:42 Long-term Sobriety and Changing Recovery Paths01:07:07 Biggest Highlights and Reflections01:09:54 Ongoing Mental Health and Support in Recovery01:13:23 Final Thoughts and ClosingFTS Medication Assistance Program | Apply today : https://www.fthestigma.com/pages/rx-assistanceDonate to support! : https://www.fthestigma.com/pages/donateFuck the Stigma is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that believes people shouldn’t be judged or labeled based on their mental health status. Whether you are struggling with an addiction or have been taking meds for a diagnosis, our community doesn’t judge and seeks to collectively end the stigma around mental health. Our mission is to normalize mental health and mental illness as widespread, treatable, and acceptable. We do this by providing useful resources, improving access to services for those who need help, sharing stories, and building a community of young people who all agree… Follow us! Website | https://fthestigma.com/Instagram | https://instagram.com/fukthestigmaTikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@fthestigmaFacebook | https://www.facebook.com/FTStigmaX | https://x.com/fthestigmaTags in this video ↓fthestigma, podcast, addiction, recovery, trauma, anxiety, depression, ptsd, mentalhealth, mentalillness, nonprofit, vulnerability, youth, healthandwellness, god, sobriety, relapse, treatment, loss, grief, addicts, recovery, addict, relationships, psychological, experience, spiritual, spirituality, alcoholic, addiction recovery, insanity, psychosis, story, neglect, jail, prescription, alcoholic, alcoholism, treatment, diagnosis, prison, criminal, psychology, doctor, dealer, baltimore diagnosis, felony, felonies, DUI, DWI, forgiveness, #fthestigma #podcast #addiction #overdoseawareness #nonprofit #mentalhealth #mentalillness