Opioids After Surgery for People in Recovery with Phillip and Bob

12/11/22 • 56 min

Addiction & Recovery Conversations with Brett Lovins

For people in recovery from drug and alcohol abuse or addiction, one very precarious circumstance that most will face is using opioids for pain after surgery. Listen in as I discuss this important topic with my two friends from Colorado, Phillip Hayes (college recruiter) and Bob Hickman (retired dentist). Thank you Bob and Phillip for your willingness to be vulnerable and talk about this shortly after surgery in both of your cases.
To pursue this topic further, I'd like to recommend another podcast with actor and comedian Dax Shepherd where he talks with his wife, Kristen Bell, about his 2020 relapse on opioids after a surgery. Link: https://armchairexpertpod.com/pods/day-7
Here's another link to learn more and get help (there are many resources, here is one): https://www.shatterproof.org

Other useful links from Brett:

Sober Curious Consulting - Brett's Recovery Friendly Workplace consulting business.
Brett's YouTube channel
Washington Recovery Alliance - building the capacity of the recovery community to advance substance use recovery and mental health wellness by catalyzing public understanding and shaping public policy in Washington State.
Recovery-Ready Workplace Toolkit - providing information, tools, and resources to help employers from all sectors—government, for-profit, non-profit, and not-for-profit—effectively prevent and respond to substance misuse in the workforce from the Department of Labor.
Data on SUD in the US (2022) - from SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). Link to my favorite PDF for statistics.
Addiction 101 - it’s not a moral failing—it’s a treatable illness. Get the facts about this misunderstood medical condition from my friends at Shatterproof.

Other useful links from Brett:

Sober Curious Consulting - Brett's Recovery Friendly Workplace consulting business.
Brett's YouTube channel
Washington Recovery Alliance - building the capacity of the recovery community to advance substance use recovery and mental health wellness by catalyzing public understanding and shaping public policy in Washington State.
Recovery-Ready Workplace Toolkit - providing information, tools, and resources to help employers from all sectors—government, for-profit, non-profit, and not-for-profit—effectively prevent and respond to substance misuse in the workforce from the Department of Labor.
Data on SUD in the US (2022) - from SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). Link to my favorite PDF for statistics.
Addiction 101 - it’s not a moral failing—it’s a treatable illness. Get the facts about this misunderstood medical condition from my friends at Shatterproof.

Previous Episode

Spiritual Advisor Steve Aronson Talks About Spirituality in Addiction Recovery

Finding my way to people was (and is) an important part of my program of recovery. When I started, I wandered into the only game in town that I knew of: Alcoholics Anonymous. Here were rooms full of people who I discovered drank and did drugs the way I did. But there was the "G" word (God) plastered on the walls. This was problematic for feeling comfortable. I was lucky to meet my sponsor Todd and his sponsor Lane and his sponsor Steve Aronson. Steve has been a spiritual advisor in recovery centers for many years. These three men made room for me to create a start on the meaning of "something bigger than myself". Steve graciously agreed to record something for my podcast. Thank you Steve.

Other useful links from Brett:

Sober Curious Consulting - Brett's Recovery Friendly Workplace consulting business.
Brett's YouTube channel
Washington Recovery Alliance - building the capacity of the recovery community to advance substance use recovery and mental health wellness by catalyzing public understanding and shaping public policy in Washington State.
Recovery-Ready Workplace Toolkit - providing information, tools, and resources to help employers from all sectors—government, for-profit, non-profit, and not-for-profit—effectively prevent and respond to substance misuse in the workforce from the Department of Labor.
Data on SUD in the US (2022) - from SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). Link to my favorite PDF for statistics.
Addiction 101 - it’s not a moral failing—it’s a treatable illness. Get the facts about this misunderstood medical condition from my friends at Shatterproof.

Next Episode

Conversation with my First Sponsor - Todd Edwards

Really happy to bring you a conversation with my first sponsor, Todd Edwards. We cover multiple topics including: swapping stories about our early work together, the steps, helping others, and anonymity. If you or a loved one have issues with drugs and/or alcohol, consider visiting Shatterproof.org as a place to learn more about this disease. This podcast is now available on all of the main podcasting platforms including Apple and Spotify. Hoping these conversations help some people. Thank you for listening.

Other useful links from Brett:

Sober Curious Consulting - Brett's Recovery Friendly Workplace consulting business.
Brett's YouTube channel
Washington Recovery Alliance - building the capacity of the recovery community to advance substance use recovery and mental health wellness by catalyzing public understanding and shaping public policy in Washington State.
Recovery-Ready Workplace Toolkit - providing information, tools, and resources to help employers from all sectors—government, for-profit, non-profit, and not-for-profit—effectively prevent and respond to substance misuse in the workforce from the Department of Labor.
Data on SUD in the US (2022) - from SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). Link to my favorite PDF for statistics.
Addiction 101 - it’s not a moral failing—it’s a treatable illness. Get the facts about this misunderstood medical condition from my friends at Shatterproof.