242 Odyssey House Journals - Jackie Buckman

242 Odyssey House Journals - Jackie Buckman

How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This conversation between host Randall Carlisle and therapist Jackie Buckman gives a clear, honest look at what recovery can really look like – messy, moving, and full of second chances. Jackie shares how her drinking began around 13, first as “fun” and numbing, then as a go-to coping tool for any feeling she didn’t like.

Things spiralled during university in California and back in Utah, where her lifelong friends eventually told her she had to move out because of her drinking and stealing their alcohol. That painful moment, delivered with “kindness and compassion,” became a turning point. She talks about checking herself into treatment at Recovery Works, initially planning on an eight‑week break before going back to substances.

Instead, just a couple of sober weeks showed her that life could feel different: her suicidality eased and the “pink cloud” of early recovery gave her a glimpse of peace she hadn’t known before. Now a clinical social worker, Jackie works with young people who often start using at 10–15 years old. Rather than scare tactics, she focuses on honest education about brain chemistry, why drugs feel good, and how to find other ways to get those “happy chemicals”.

She sees her role as “planting a seed”, knowing it might take years before a conversation makes sense to someone. Jackie also faces the harsh reality that not everyone survives addiction. She speaks candidly about grief, relapse, and why she stays in the field anyway. A coin she received in treatment reads, “Pain is necessary, suffering is optional,” a line she uses to frame both her work and her own recovery.

If you’re curious about youth addiction, relapse, or finding meaning in helping others, this candid chat offers a grounded look at recovery that doesn’t sugarcoat the struggle – but doesn’t give up on hope, either.