How Heroin at 14 Led to 4 Mini-Strokes and Brain Surgery | Ep 212

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig sits down with Cory Baton for a raw and deeply personal conversation about childhood abuse, addiction, relapse, serious health complications, and the fight to finally build a life in recovery.

Cory opens up about a difficult childhood and the abuse he experienced growing up. By just 14 years old, Cory was already caught in the grip of addiction, using crack cocaine and eventually shooting heroin intravenously. What began at an incredibly young age would turn into years of substance use and consequences that would affect nearly every part of his life.

Cory talks about starting to shoot drugs at 14 and being introduced to OxyContin at 15. His story offers a disturbing look at how early exposure to drugs can quickly escalate and how difficult it can be to break free once addiction takes hold.

After periods of trying to get his life back on track, Cory experienced relapse and found himself facing another devastating chapter. He suffered a stroke and ultimately needed brain surgery, adding an unimaginable medical crisis to an already difficult battle with addiction.

One of the most powerful moments of the conversation comes when Cory describes being on Sullivant Avenue with a walker, physically struggling after everything he had been through, while still trying to find drugs. It's a striking example of just how powerful addiction can become—and how far someone can fall while still chasing the next high.

But Cory's story doesn't end there.

He explains what is different about his sobriety this time and what has changed in his mindset after years of addiction, relapse, and consequences. Cory also shares advice for anyone currently struggling with substance use or trying to find their way back into recovery.

This is an intense and emotional conversation about childhood trauma, crack cocaine, IV heroin use, OxyContin, relapse, stroke, brain surgery, homelessness, and the difficult road toward recovery.

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Recovery is possible.

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