The #RecoveryFirst Podcast with Mike ToddThe #RecoveryFirst Podcast with Mike Todd
The Recovery First Addiction Recovery Podcast by Freedom Recovery Services of Greenville
Mike Todd and Todd outline a recovery-first approach that combines housing, treatment access and harm reduction in Greenville, while highlighting advocacy efforts, family support and a growing sense of unity in the recovery community. The conversation touches on local and national initiatives aimed at safer, more accessible recovery options for everyone affected by addiction.
46:06•8 Jul 2021
Putting Recovery First: Community, Harm Reduction and Hope in Greenville
Episode Overview
- A recovery-first model gives people time, housing and support to focus solely on treatment before work and long-term housing are introduced.
- Harm reduction efforts such as naloxone distribution, syringe services and outreach buses can reduce HIV and hepatitis C and help people move towards treatment.
- A state recovery housing hotline connects people experiencing exploitation or substandard care with peer support specialists and, where needed, law enforcement.
- Family members of people with substance use disorder are not alone and can access dedicated family peer support through recovery community organisations.
- Local, unified recovery communities and coalitions can influence policy, promote syringe exchange and secure funding for recovery services within their own states.
“This is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of and that you're not alone.”
Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? This conversation with host Mike Todd and co-host Todd sets the tone for a season focused squarely on putting recovery first – in Greenville, South Carolina and far beyond. Right from the start, you'll hear how Freedom Recovery Center’s "recovery first" programme gives homeless men a real shot at change by offering housing, transport, nutrition and peer support while they engage in treatment.
Mike explains, "we provide that bridge", describing how someone who "would have never had a chance" can move from a tent to intensive outpatient care and eventually a job. The chat ranges from national headlines to very local solutions. Nikki Sixx’s 20 years alcohol-free get a nod, as does Rhode Island’s move towards drug injection sites.
They talk frankly about harm reduction, syringe exchange and naloxone buses, highlighting the "Jessie Mae" bus that brings clean supplies and compassion directly to people who use drugs. One powerful thread is safety in recovery housing. The pair outline South Carolina’s recovery housing support hotline, set up so people facing exploitation or substandard care can reach a peer support specialist and, where needed, law enforcement.
As Mike puts it, many are "afraid to say anything for fear of just being put out", so the line aims to offer a safer way to speak up. Family members aren’t forgotten either. Mike stresses, "this is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of and that you're not alone", pointing to family peer support across the state.
They also celebrate Greenville’s unusually unified recovery community, upcoming overdose awareness events, recovery walks and a new South Carolina Recovery Coalition giving people in recovery a seat at the policy table. If you're looking for community-focused recovery conversations with a mix of humour, honesty and practical ideas, this episode might have you asking: what could a truly "recovery first" approach look like in your own area?
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