Thoughts from Don Troutman, Founder, Clean & Sober Transitional Living

Recent headlines shouted out that more people died from overdose in 2017 than were killed in the entire 20-year Vietnam War. Equally sobering: alcohol kills more people than all other drugs combined. Yet only one in ten people who needs treatment for drug or alcohol abuse ever gets help. Could your loved one be one of those statistics? Could you?

No one plans to become addicted to drugs or alcohol. Instead, it often begins with playful experimentation. Perhaps that drink lubricates the wheels of conversation or reduces anxiety. Maybe it began with pills prescribed for an injury or surgery. But pretty soon, drinking to excess or drugging is not by choice anymore. Once you’ve turned that corner, you need to drink or drug to make it through the day without physical illness or mental anguish. Then the other dominoes fall: jail, dishonesty, car accidents, child neglect, job loss….

Thoughts from Don Troutman, Founder, Clean & Sober Transitional Living

Generally, when people first begin their recovery “journey,” they aren’t coming off a winning streak. They may have lost jobs or homes, or destroyed cars or marriages. So, when they first enter our doors, they’re just trying to keep their head above water. They’re generally much more concerned about their personal recovery than about judging anyone else in the room – or the CSTL recovery community.

In early recovery, people also tend to think that they are “special” and that no one shares their unique issues with addiction to drugs or alcohol. What they will come to find is that, while our residents are indeed special, no one’s problems are unique. We’ve all struggled with alcohol or drug abuse, and that’s why we’re living here – in a robust community where recovery comes in all shapes, sizes and colors. And that diversity makes us strong.

When I started my first sober living in Rancho Cordova back in 1987, I interviewed potential residents to move into shared housing with people that they did not know. Sometimes, the outcome was very unsuccessful and unacceptable, sort of like a really bad blind date. Then, I ran across this house for sale on Madison Avenue, and that is where I cooked up the secret sauce for Clean & Sober Transitional Living.

Meds to manage addiction can cause unintentional overdose. How's that happening?

Designed to treat addiction, the medication buprenorphine has started to show up as a culprit in some overdose deaths. Why would a person trying to escape addiction misuse the very medication designed to help? Maybe they (or someone esle) doesn't even realize they're on meds with counterindications. Bottom line: It’s not as simple as you might think.