See The MiracleSee The Miracle
Addict II Athlete Podcast
Dr Jared Hemmert shares how chronic pain treatment led to opioid addiction, jail, multiple rehabs and a near‑suicide, and how therapy, spirituality, cycling and AA reshaped his life. The conversation highlights relapse, shame and daily recovery practices for people in addiction and their families.
1:29:13•3 Feb 2020
From Opioids to the Circle in the Mud: Dr Jared Hemmert’s Miracle
Episode Overview
- Prescription opioids for legitimate back pain can quietly progress into dependence, tolerance and addiction, even for highly trained professionals.
- Jail, forced withdrawal and traumatic treatment can create deep shame and PTSD that need dedicated therapy, such as EMDR, to process.
- Intensive rehab that uses REBT, CBT, spirituality and service can help uncover childhood patterns, address shame, and rebuild emotional maturity.
- Simple principles like focusing only on what’s “inside the circle” and letting go of resentments through service are central to Jared’s ongoing sobriety.
- Relapse does not erase previous recovery; prompt honesty, renewed meetings, therapy and accountability at home can turn a slip into a stronger foundation.
“Everything inside that circle, you have control of. But everything outside of that circle, you have no control of.”
Curious about how others turn relentless pain, addiction, and shame into something meaningful? This episode follows Dr Jared Hemmert, a dentist from Utah, as he shares a brutally honest story that stretches from a simple back injury to opioid dependence, jail, suicide attempts, and, eventually, a new kind of life. Coach Blu keeps the chat relaxed and conversational, but the content hits hard.
Jared talks through how legitimate pain meds for bulging discs slowly turned into heavy opioid use, withdrawal, and desperation. A single forged prescription landed him in jail, where he was stripped of his dignity, placed on suicide watch and left to withdraw in a padded cell. He later admits, "They treated me like a wounded, rabid animal," and explains how that trauma haunted him for years.
You’ll hear how cycling, failed surgeries, and multiple duis all sit alongside diversion programmes, harsh licensing boards, and two very different rehab experiences—one that kept him comfortable, and another that, as his therapist Daisy put it, was designed to "break" him so he could finally rebuild. A standout moment comes when a councillor makes him draw a circle in the mud and says, "Everything inside that circle, you have control of.
But everything outside of that circle, you have no control of." It’s simple, and it changes everything for him. The episode speaks directly to anyone dealing with prescription dependence, professional burnout, relapse shame, or loved ones caught in similar cycles. It’s also aimed at people in faith communities and 12‑step rooms who are trying to make sense of how spirituality, therapy and service fit together.
By the end, you’re left asking: what “miracle” might your own rock bottom be trying to show you, and who could benefit if you turned your mess into a message?
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.
Related Episodes
Similar episodes from other shows in the catalogue.