I Had Unlimited Access to Opiates & Benzos as a Pharmacy Tech... Then I Found 7OH | Ep 179

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig sits down with Lauren Hayes for an incredibly honest conversation about addiction, trauma, recovery, and the dangers of emerging substances that many people still know very little about.

Lauren's story begins with a chaotic childhood that led her into risky situations at a very young age. By the fourth grade, she was already partying with high school students, setting the stage for years of unhealthy coping mechanisms and destructive choices.

At 15, she met the man who would become her husband, and by 18 she was a mother. Soon after, she discovered she was expecting twins while living in a tiny apartment and struggling to make ends meet.

As life became more overwhelming, Lauren found herself battling an eating disorder that influenced many of her decisions surrounding substances and self-image. Everything changed when she began working at a pharmacy. What started as taking a couple of hydrocodone pills quickly spiraled into a serious addiction. With access to medications and opportunities that few people have, Lauren found herself trapped in a cycle she couldn't control.

Throughout the episode, she shares the realities of addiction, her experiences seeking help from healthcare providers, and the long road toward recovery. But recovery wasn't a straight line. From moving to Florida for a fresh start, to returning to Ohio, surviving mental health crises, family tragedies, DUIs, theft charges, and the collapse of a 20-year marriage, Lauren's story is one of resilience through repeated setbacks.

The conversation takes a particularly important turn as Lauren discusses her experience with 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a powerful compound found in some kratom-derived products. She explains how quickly it took hold of her life, how it felt compared to prescription opioids, and how it eventually led her into dangerous combinations with stimulants and methamphetamine.

Lauren also shares the terrifying moment her addiction nearly killed her, how her son helped save her life, and why she believes more people need to understand the risks associated with substances that are often misunderstood or underestimated.

This episode is a powerful story of survival, motherhood, addiction, recovery, and hope.

🔥 Expect emotion. Expect truth. Expect hope.

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