Breaking Free

Breaking Free

What is it like to be addicted to opioids? How can a loved one help? Breaking Free tells the stories of those suffering from addiction and those fighting to save them -- from inside one of the nation's largest jails. Listen and learn from people trapped in the nation's Opioid Crisis. This a periodic public awareness podcast produced by the Cook County Sheriff's Office.

Episodes

A Wheelman in a Crisis

February 12, 2019 • 23 mins
In the journey of recovery, those with Opioid Use Disorder will hopefully get in touch with a professional who can help them figure out the kind of treatment they need. Do they need medication? What about 12-step programs or a residential facility? How long should they stay in it? Philip Maes has been that person for countless individuals in the Opioid Crisis. He is a Certified Addictions Registered Nurse and a care coordinator for...
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A New Road To Treatment

February 12, 2019 • 35 mins
Doctors are questioning long-held beliefs on how to treat substance abuse and coming up with new answers -- but those living in the Opioid Crisis may be in the dark. Popular culture has us believe in a particular approach to treatment: a confrontational intervention, followed by ultimatums from family and friends, then a long stint at an in-patient rehab facility. In this installment we pick apart these beliefs with Dr. Jonatha...
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Rock Bottom

February 12, 2019 • 29 mins
When do you intervene with someone suffering from substance abuse? Do they have to hit "Rock Bottom" before accepting treatment? In this installment, Dr. Christopher Holden explains the modern thinking on how to approach these difficult situations and when – And he discusses what steps to take if the person accepts treatment or refuses it. Dr. Holden is the director of addiction services at the University of Illinois Hospital & He...
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Treatment Demystified

February 12, 2019 • 36 mins
Trying to find treatment in the Opioid Crisis is bewildering. There are flashy ads for expensive, out-of-state residential facilities. Then there are free 12-step meetings in a nearby church basement. Too often a doctor isn’t even part of the discussion. In this installment, Dr. Nicole Gastala provides some clear guidance. She knows the treatment system many are facing – its limits and its potential. Dr. Gastala helped start a ...
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Highs and Lows: A Window Into Drug Treatment in Cook County Jail

September 21, 2018 • 8 mins
Women in drug treatment at one of the largest jails in the United States share the highs and lows of their day before a group session on how their own trauma links to substance abuse. The women, who come from all walks of life, live together as they learn how to identify and control their addiction. Most of the women are addicted to opioids and have seen how it has destroyed their families and killed friends as the crisis ravages t...
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From the Brink of Death: One Man Explains His Addiction

July 16, 2018 • 16 mins
This man nearly died on the floor of a courthouse bathroom -- his 14th overdose, by his count. Why is this addiction so powerful? What can loved ones do to help? This man gives some answers in this Public Awareness podcast from the Cook County Sheriff's Office. Please share this man's story to help spread understanding of a crisis that is killing tens of thousands every year. For more information on the crisis and how to seek he...
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