Sarah opens up about starting opioids at 20, a rapid slide to heroin, pregnancy on methadone, jail, and the drug court program that helped her turn it around. After a later Xanax relapse during COVID, she did the work—therapy, structure, and service—and is now certified and working as a counselor at a maintenance clinic. This candid conversation with Wendy Beck and Rich Bennett shows what sustainable recovery really looks like—and why hope matters. 

Sponsored by Rage Against Addiction 

Guest Bio:  

Sarah is a Harford County native, mom, and recovery professional. After entering opioid use at 20 and escalating to heroin in 2012, she experienced jail and drug court, achieved long-term abstinence from opiates and cocaine (since Sept. 27, 2016), overcame a benzodiazepine relapse in 2020–2021 (clean since Nov. 4, 2020), earned her Peer Recovery Specialist credential and ADT approval, and now counsels patients at a medication-assisted treatment clinic. 

Main Topics: 

·         Podathon for Recovery: 12 Days of Hope benefiting Rage Against Addiction

·         Starting opioids at 20; rapid progression from pills to heroin (2012)

·         Pregnancy on methadone, stigma, and learning MAT safety

·         IV use, crack/cocaine, legal consequences, and visible decline

·         Jail detox and entry into Drug Court; Judge-led accountability

·         Long-term sobriety from opiates/cocaine; COVID-era Xanax relapse and dangers of benzo withdrawal

·         Therapy, boundaries, routines, fitness, and gratitude as core recovery tools

·         Working in recovery: peer support vs. clinicians; women-specific needs; mom guilt and shame

·         Maintenance meds (methadone/Suboxone): misuse stigma vs. real stability

·         Parenting conversations about peer pressure and openness with kids

·         Burnout prevention for recovery workers (self-care, phone boundaries, weekly therapy)  

Resources mentioned: 

·         Donate to Rage Against Addiction 

·         Center for A

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