For many Utahns, the concept of getting married at 19 years old is the next step in life. But for Amy McAllister, director of nursing at Ardu Recovery Center in Provo, it was the start of a life-changing alcohol and pill addiction. She recently joined the ‘Project Recovery’ podcast to tell her story of overcoming […]
Opioids, at their core, are meant to help relieve pain. With the help of a health care provider’s direction, they can be very effective and helpful at managing that pain. Unfortunately, opioid misuse has become very common over the past 15 years and has left the nation attempting to repair the damage done during the […]
Christian Smith is a man of many faces. He’s a grandpa, a graduate of the University of Utah and an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But he’ll admit: one of his worst faces is that of a former addict. Smith joined the ‘Project Recovery’ podcast to detail how decades […]
Lauren Llewellyn’s heroin addiction had become so bad she was on the verge of losing everything. She was without her son and feeling completely hopeless and empty. She knew she had to get high. Inside her parent’s home, who graciously took her in, she went into the bathroom downstairs to curb her fix. In her […]
Dr. Robert Simpson is the medical director for Utah Addiction Medicine and is known for his work in harm reduction surrounding addiction — only after he beat his own heroin and cocaine addiction. Growing up with big ambitions “I began shooting heroin and cocaine at about 19-years-old … I went through college. I was addicted […]
A lack of communication coupled with a surging curiosity had led Jason Mauchley to hold on to a dark secret — he was addicted to pornography. Mauchley was 26-years-old and on the verge of celebrating one of the greatest days of his life. He was about to marry the woman he had fallen in love […]
Adderall addiction comes in many forms. For Spencer Nicholas though, it came in the form of a path to normalcy. “I can remember the exact day that it actually started to take effect for me … I could actually sit down and I could listen to the teacher talk. My face would be in my […]
When Casey Tucker was a child, the concept of drug use was not uncommon. He grew up with a mother who allowed drugs in the household and the two of them had very little money. According to Casey, the two rarely got along, which led to violence in the household. His mother often beat him […]
The holidays can be an incredibly merry time full of gifts, great food, and even better people. But it can also be a time of stress, anxiety, and depression, especially for those who are struggling with a substance abuse disorder. In order to better prepare everyone involved, Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley of the […]
If you’ve never seen “Intervention” on A&E, you might not be aware of the lengths family members will go to get their loved ones rid of addiction. While the television show may seem very dramatic, the real-life process of an intervention is absolutely world-shaking to those involved. To try and get a better understanding of […]
Being grateful during the holidays may seem like an easy notion to participate in but for many, this time of the year brings additional stress. Whether it’s financial stress, fatigue, or just general depression, the holidays can bring have the opposite effect of what they should. Especially if you aren’t able to sit down and […]
Surrounded by his family, Enos looked up to them. He looked for acceptance from his older brothers. So when his family thought it would be fun to see how quickly they could get 10-year-old Enos drunk, he happily obliged. Now decades later, he’s trying to piece together a life of alcohol abuse, shame, and embarrassment. […]
Sidnee Kassing thought her life had become unbearable after a recent fight with her parents — until they found the perfect recovery program. Growing up, friends were everything to Sidnee Kassing. In her mind, her friends were even more important than family. This desire to find comradery outside of her family often caused a rift […]
In 2017, approximately 19.7 million people aged 12 or older had a substance use disorder (SUD). Now, mindfulness is being considered an underrated tool in suppressing addiction, according to Dr. Matt Woolley, a clinical psychologist from the University of Utah and co-host of the ‘Project Recovery.’ In the latest episode, he details some of the ways […]
Jacob thought he could hide his pornography addiction forever. Until it started tearing away at every part of his life. “It started when I was eleven years old,” says Jacob, a now 46-year-old man, sitting in front of a microphone during a recording of the Project Recovery podcast. “I didn’t know I was in addiction […]
During an addict’s journey back to living a clean lifestyle no word causes as much stress and anxiety as ‘relapse’. Keaton knows that firsthand. Keaton described his experience with relapse after being sober for ten months on the Project Recovery podcast. “I had done what I thought I needed to do in terms of putting […]
Lizzy was very physically active growing up. She ran track, played soccer, ran cross country, and was a cheerleader in high school. She excelled in college and attended Weber State University’s nursing program. After her first year in the program, she met her now-husband of nine years, Brian. As she looks back now, there were […]
Opioid-involved overdose deaths are officially on the decline in Utah since 2017 — mostly due to the rise in resources surrounding awareness and the prevention of a substance abuse disorder. With the help of the non-profit organization, USARA (Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness), and the state-run campaign, Use Only as Directed, Utahns are becoming […]
Substance abuse can take on many faces. Faces of fear, worry, horror, and unfortunately, bliss. Felicia Marie knows the effects of that substance abuse first hand. By the age of seven, Felicia had started smoking cigarettes, witnessed the divorce of her mom and dad, and saw how substance abuse could corrupt a family. She grew […]
Opioid addiction never hid its face from Andrea Sorensen and her family. It also never stopped her from feeling unconditional love. Even throughout the years, when the addiction began to deteriorate her family from the inside, she says always felt loved. “When I was younger growing up, [addiction] started with my dad. My dad was […]
A week ago, Destiny Garcia sat in her house, surrounded by a documentary film crew. The documentary features Destiny and her story of addiction. Particularly, how she was able to transcend being homeless to become the receptionist for the Salt Lake County Mayor’s office. Destiny sat there, thinking back on all of the darkness in […]
“I’m done with you.” Those were almost the last words Mike Scott ever said to his son after another fight broke out because of his son’s alcohol addiction. Hours later, Mike’s son would crash into a vehicle carrying a family of four after running a red light. That son was Casey Scott, popular broadcast personality […]
Rob Eastman kneeled alongside a bench, taking a deep breath while overlooking the Bountiful Temple. He had just become homeless, was suffering from drug addiction, separated from his wife, and could only see his daughter, Sophie, under supervision. Rob began visualizing Sophie growing up and never knowing who he was and how he got here. […]
Cole Thorpe drove to a nearby park instead of driving into work for the day. This slight detour allowed him to finally understand what he was meant to do in life after suffering for years from alcohol addiction. It was so simple to him now. With every breath, he felt the stress and anxiety leave […]
