How I Wenat From Crack in High School to a Full-Blown Heroin & Meth Addict | Ep 209

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Aaron Garnes sits down with Natalie France for a raw and deeply emotional conversation about addiction, motherhood, abusive relationships, homelessness, heroin, meth, incarceration, pregnancy, and finding recovery after years of chaos.

Natalie opens up about her childhood and her first experiences with alcohol before getting introduced to cocaine at just 16 years old. What started with cocaine quickly progressed into crack during high school, sending her down a path that would eventually lead to a full-blown addiction.

Hoping to escape her addiction and start over, Natalie moved to California looking for a geographical cure. But changing locations couldn't change what was happening inside. She found herself in abusive relationships before meeting her first husband, and eventually discovering OxyContin.

Back in Ohio, Natalie was using OxyContin and meth while raising a newborn. Before long, she found heroin, and her addiction escalated even further. She talks about what it was like trying to work and parent while living as an active addict—and how she managed to keep going despite the chaos surrounding her.

Natalie eventually moved to Georgia, where she spent years taking methadone, gabapentin, and Xanax. She also found herself repeatedly dealing with the legal system over petty crimes committed to support her addiction.

One of the most unbelievable moments of her story happens when Natalie is stopped by an undercover officer after leaving a trap house. In an attempt to avoid getting caught, she swallowed a large amount of meth and ultimately ended up in jail.

But that wasn't her lowest point.

Natalie eventually dropped her kids off, became homeless, and spent approximately a year and a half shooting heroin. Then, at 38 years old, she discovered something that would completely change her life: she was five months pregnant.

At the same time, Natalie was overdosing every day.

Her addiction had reached an unimaginable level. But just when it seemed like there was no way out, her cousin stepped back into her life, took her to rehab, and helped give her another chance.

Natalie talks openly about what her rock bottom really looked like, what finally pushed her into recovery, and what getting sober actually meant after years of addiction. She also shares what happened with her child and how recovery began changing her life.

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