This episode is the third episode of a four part series on stigma.

This episode is done in collaboration with Central Coast Overdose Prevention (CCODP) and was made possible by California Overdose Prevention Network Accelerator funding from the Public Health Institute's Center for Health Leadership and Impact.

In this episode, Wendy Solorio shares her raw, emotional journey as a mother supporting her daughter Gabrielle through addiction and into recovery, highlighting the often-overlooked impact on families and caregivers.

• First recognizing her daughter's addiction during high school while dealing with guilt and shame as a parent
• Reaching emotional breaking points while preparing for the worst possible outcomes
• Navigating the healthcare system and waiting for treatment beds during crisis moments
• Facing financial devastation with treatment costs of $40,000 and maxing out multiple credit cards
• Experiencing stigma from coworkers, friends, and even law enforcement
• Dealing with the trauma that remains even after 2.5 years of her daughter's sobriety
• Finding support through therapy, medication, and select family members
• Advocating for better education among first responders and healthcare providers
• Emphasizing the critical role of substance use navigators in emergency departments
• Offering advice to other parents: "Care for the caregiver, never stop self-educating, have tough conversations"

To contact Dr. Grover: ammadeeasy@fastmail.com

This episode is the second episode of a four part series on stigma.

This episode is done in collaboration with Central Coast Overdose Prevention (CCODP) and was made possible by California Overdose Prevention Network Accelerator funding from the Public Health Institute's Center for Health Leadership and Impact.

In this episode, Gabrielle shares her powerful journey from fentanyl addiction to recovery, highlighting the unexpected moment of compassion from a correctional officer that changed everything. Her story reveals how respect and dignity can transform recovery outcomes, while exploring the deep impact of self-stigma and family support.

She shares her experience:

• Hitting rock bottom on Christmas Eve 2022 after stealing her mother's car during active fentanyl addiction
• Experiencing six overdoses, with each one bringing her closer to death
• Finding transformation through a year-long program at Teen Challenge
• Encountering a correctional officer who showed unexpected compassion and dignity
• Battling intense self-stigma despite having family who never gave up on her
• Receiving an ultimatum from her pregnant sister that became a powerful motivator
• Learning that recovery meant becoming a different person, not just the same person without drugs
• Moving from shame about her addiction to being open about her recovery journey
• Finding ways to help others by showing kindness and treating "humans like humans"
• Building a life she couldn't have imagined three years ago, working six days a week and helping with her sister's child

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, remember you don't have to do it alone. There are many avenues to recovery, and compassion can make all the difference.

To Contact Dr. Grover: ammadeeasy@fastmail.com

This episode is the first episode of a four part series on stigma.

This episode is done in collaboration with Central Coast Overdose Prevention (CCODP) and was made possible by California Overdose Prevention Network Accelerator funding from the Public Health Institute's Center for Health Leadership and Impact.

In this episode, Ana Alamo shares her powerful journey from addiction to recovery, revealing how her personal struggles now help her connect with clients as a peer support specialist.

• Born and raised in Salinas, Anna experienced childhood trauma at age five that shaped her early years
• She started using cannabis in middle school and developed a pattern of fighting and substance use
• Her use progressed to using pills including Norcos and Xanax from age 20-25
• Legal trouble became her wake-up call after being involved with fentanyl-laced pills that caused someone's death
• She now works as a peer support specialist and recently graduated with an Associate's degree in Addiction Studies
• She uses her lived experience to connect authentically with clients, especially teenage girls
• She does her best to balance accountability with compassion
• Family took approximately four years to fully trust her again
• Therapy helped her develop vulnerability and begin the ongoing process of self-forgiveness
• She plans to continue her education at CSUMB pursuing psychology

We discuss the stigma and judgement that she felt along the journey through her addiction

And we also discuss how she makes sure her clients with addiction don't feel judgment or stigma from her now that she is a peer support specialist

If you're struggling with addiction, know that recovery is possible. Ana's story shows how our darkest moments can become our greatest strengths in helping others.

To contact Dr. Grover: ammadeeasy@fastmail.com