Is It Addiction?

Is It Addiction?

How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This season opener of Addict II Athlete sets out to answer that by going right back to basics with Coach Blu Robinson, a mental health therapist and addiction counsellor drawing on 25 years of experience and his own recovery story.

The conversation focuses on a simple but challenging question: **"Is it addiction?"** Coach Blu breaks down common myths, like the idea that addiction is only a moral failing or only a brain disease. He argues it can be "everything and then some" and repeatedly returns to one core idea: people use substances to cover pain. Whether it’s trauma, anxiety, depression, or loneliness, he frames addiction as an attempt to self‑soothe when healthier tools aren’t yet available.

You’ll hear his take on the difference between substance abuse and dependence, why waiting for "rock bottom" can be dangerous, and how early support can change outcomes. He shares candid views on the 12 steps – respecting their value, but questioning how they’re often applied. His objection to the phrase "once an addict, always an addict" leads to one of the episode’s strongest lines: **"Addiction is a part of us.

It is absolutely not who we are."** Coach Blu also talks frankly about the treatment industry: high‑cost residential programmes, insurance limitations, overloaded caseloads, and the importance of checking who is actually qualified to provide therapy. He defends medication‑assisted treatment as evidence‑based and life‑saving, pushing back on the idea that it’s "cheating". The tone stays practical and down‑to‑earth, aimed at anyone affected by addiction—those struggling themselves, their families, and people curious about how recovery really works.

You’ll come away with a clearer sense of what addiction is, why it’s so hard to quit, and what questions to ask if you’re seeking help. Which old beliefs about addiction might you be ready to retire after hearing this?