269 Odyssey House Journals - Jake269 Odyssey House Journals - Jake
Odyssey House Journals
Jake shares his experience of growing up with parental addiction, sliding into opioids and fentanyl, and eventually finding meaning through treatment at Odyssey House. The conversation focuses on pain, self-forgiveness, and practical ways to support recovery for both individuals and their families.
29:42•6 Nov 2026
From Fentanyl Hell to Self‑Forgiveness: Jake’s Journey on Odyssey House Journals
Episode Overview
- Opioid addiction often begins with pain relief and perceived productivity before turning into desperate maintenance and suffering.
- Unresolved grief and self-blame can undermine long-term treatment success, even after completing a rigorous programme.
- Talking about feelings and processing past pain, alongside structure and work, helps build genuine self-love and forgiveness.
- Small daily habits, such as making your bed, act as early "wins" that shape identity and support long-term sobriety.
- Families can't force someone into recovery but can offer steady presence, love, and honest advice while respecting the person’s journey.
“When you're going through withdrawals, it feels like you're dying, like your soul's being ripped out of your body.”
What emotional and inspiring tales of recovery are out there? This episode of Odyssey House Journals spotlights Jake, whose candid account of opioid addiction and healing is both hard-hitting and surprisingly hopeful. Hosted by TV news veteran Randall Carlisle, the conversation has the relaxed feel of two people chatting across a table, but the subject matter pulls no punches.
Jake talks openly about growing up in a chaotic home in Ogden, with a mother who was a "very bad alcoholic" and a father using meth. Percocets at a factory job were his entry point: they seemed like "the answer to all my problems" and felt like being "hugged by a warm blanket." From there, things escalated to heroin and then fentanyl, which turned from comfort to torment.
At his worst, withdrawals felt like "your soul's being ripped out of your body," and life became "basically suffering." He describes a decade in addiction, deep grief after his mum’s death, and a first long-term programme where he did well on the surface but never dealt with the pain inside. Jake contrasts that with Odyssey House, where working, programming and talking about feelings help him find genuine self-love and forgiveness.
He now has around six months in the programme, dreams of working in recovery, and already holds his CPSS, aiming for further credentials. The episode also digs into everyday habits, like making your bed, as "little wins" that slowly build a new identity. Jake shares thoughtful advice for families: you can't force change; you can "just be there," offer love and honest guidance, and let people come to their own decision.
His focus now is "living in amends"—giving more than he takes and protecting his sobriety with firm boundaries. If you’re curious how someone goes from wanting to die to wanting to help others live, this conversation is well worth your time.
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.