#78: Fighting the Opioid Epidemic in memory of her late son Tommy McClenahan – Meet Colleen Michaelis

The amazing Colleen Michaelis is back to discuss her passion for raising awareness and making changes to the opioid epidemic in the USA.
She wants to not only raise awareness but fight against the stigma of addiction in memory of her beautiful son Tommy McClenahan who sadly passed away of an accidental drug overdose on August 10, 2018.
Drug overdose is the Number 1 cause of death in under 25 year olds.
There is no discrimination of age, race, gender or where you live. Addiction is everywhere.
Colleen wrote about what her first and second months were like without her son and we read the summary. There are little signs and messages we all believe are sent from heaven for her to know that Tommy is still with her.
Colleen encourages everyone to read the book Dopesick by Beth Macy.
“NOT EVERYTHING THAT IS FACED CAN BE CHANGED, BUT NOTHING CAN BE CHANGED IF IT IS NOT FACED”
We hear about graphics of staggering, crazy numbers of drug overdoses.
It is like a 737 plane crashing every single day. That is how many people die daily of drug overdose in this country alone.
When there is stigma surrounding something people don’t talk about it. We have to keep talking about it. It is the most important thing.
FDA approved an even stronger painkiller than Fentanyl, which is frightening.
Colleen is joining Shatterproof which is an organisation all over the country that works to bring awareness and education. They also research the best treatment to give to people that are unable to have access to it. Only 1 in 10 people suffering are able to get good treatment.
There is a 5 K race for Team Tommy in Dallas on November 17. Please join if you can and donate.
Tommy was involved in an organization called Recovery Unplugged, Face the Music in Austin.
Colleen wants more regulation for rehab centers.
She shares with us that for 1 solid year of opioid addiction it takes an average of 8 years of in and out treatment and relapse to get 1 year of sobriety!!!!!!
The grip that drug has on your brain and body is unbelievable. Most people don’t have 8 years.
We learn about Tommy’s Letterman jacket that was missing for 5 years and was returned to his family after his death.
We end the show with an important lesson for everyone. Instead of asking people how many children they have start saying “Tell me about your family”. This will help make things less painful for people that have lost children.
We added the slideshow that was shown at Tommy’s funeral to the end of this podcast on our YouTube channel.