Episode 23: Addiction Recovery & Plant Medicine with Brian, Joe and David
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In this episode, I was able to speak to three such people, who battled addiction with plant medicine in conjunction with traditional methods like the 12-step programs. They went on to help others do the same. So please enjoy these powerful stories of recovery with Brian, from MedicineBox and Joe and David from Inscape Recovery. This group was brought together by Kimberly Adams of LYT Marketing & Media LLC.
Brian’s Topics:
- Brian’s plant medicine/recovery story
- SSRIs & Benzos
- Not depending on “just plant medicine”
- Incorporating mindfulness, nature, food
- Routines & Rituals
Addiction, alcoholism, protests, BLM
3-4 years into recovery, recognized benefits of cannabis
Prozac, benzos for 2 years, hated it, researched how it works
Compared to cannabis and others
Michael Hollister helped get off prozac with medicine, cannabinoid, cannabis, terpenes
Equanimity (Emerald Cup, Cannabis Competition)
Help others get off of pharmaceuticals
The non-conformist addict
12-step okay with big pharma but not plant medicine?
Bill W AA LSD
Ego can get in the way (Psyches, dissolution)
David’s Topics:
- David’s plant medicine/recovery story (recap of previous episode)
- Plant medicines and stigma in traditional recovery models
-recreational versus therapeutic use, DSM V diagnosis for hallucinogen misuse/abuse
-research and data publication (nothing was happening for nearly 60 years!!!)
-honest history of what happened in the 50s and 60s
- Self-care plan and recovery maintenance
Anxiety and panic attacks, couldn’t go to school
Adolescent psychiatric care (benzos)
Began the drug addiction, adding opiates
Methadone, back to 12-step
Wasn’t working, looked for something new
Daily meetings
Things started to get better
Still deep trauma/emotions; panic attacks came back; head trauma
Other pharmaceuticals didn’t work, either
Ended up hooked on benzos/opiates
Serious suicide attempt
Knew prescriptions were going to be a tough road ahead
Awareness shifted (mysteriously), decided to take Ibogaine
Ibogaine opiate detox in Mexico
Ended up in after-care in Mexico for two months
Joe’s Topics:
- Alternative recovery programs
- Building a bridge between traditional recovery modalities and alternative ones
- Joe’s plant medicine/recovery story
Addiction at a young age
Tried 5 “traditional” programs
Stuck. Needed something to get him out of that.
Astonishment broke him free, gave room to explore and grow
Ibogaine, Ayahuasca
Ibogaine helped with withdrawals but cravings still there
Ayahuasca really helped advance the recovery
Felt potential to experience joy in life
Saw the light side of self, opened eyes to happy life
Developed a sense of the mystical
Revealed depth of own ignorance
Advice for listeners, plant medicine?
Go to the 12-step program; build a foundation
Don’t jump right into plant medicines
Good psychotherapy
Uncover trauma with plant medicines that might’ve been at the root of addiction?
Psychotherapy
12-step (4)
Plant medicine helped wear the trauma
Re-embrace the young wounded child
Helped notice destructive patterns of behavior tied to past events, connected
“Not just plant medicine”
After-care; integration; neuroplasticity
Meditation, diet, yoga, meditation, new patterns
Creative outlets
Transpersonal psychologist
Plant medicines are one of many tools
Integrate a number of modalities
Maintenance
What are you up to today to help others? MedicineBox, Inscape
Inscape: personality and addiction; alternative recovery
