No, You Can’t Fire Someone Because They Need SUD Treatment
HR execs be aware, you cannot fire an employee because they need substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. With the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reporting that almost 11 million full-time workers in the United States have substance abuse disorder (SUD), it’s critical…
From the Podcast: Amy Peterson: Used and Abused as a Child and Recovering as an Adult
Amy Peterson is Ashley Loeb Blassingame’s guest on Episode 11 of The Courage To Change: A Recovery Podcast. Sexually abused and trafficked from a young age, Amy has utilized ongoing therapy to start healing from this long-term abuse, along with the substance abuse she used…
From the Podcast: Kim Jorgensen-Richard – Intergenerational Trauma in an Alcoholic Home
Kim Jorgensen-Richard is a lifelong resident of Southeastern Massachusetts. She is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) and a woman in recovery from trauma and addiction. She first began her recovery journey in 1987 at a detox facility in Fall River, Massachusetts. In the…
From the Podcast: Morgan Pagels: Heroin and Homelessness – The Aftermath of Growing Up in an Alcoholic Home
In Episode 27 of The Courage To Change: A Recovery Podcast, Morgan Pagels shared her story with podcast host Ashley Loeb Blassingame. We’ve edited and condensed it here for a fast read. You can listen to the entire interview here. Predictably Unpredictably – Growing Up…
From the Podcast: Michele Murphy: Journey Into Recovery From Codependency
Michele Murphy recently celebrated 20 years of sobriety. She owns a virtual long-term post-discharge company that offers a comprehensive aftercare program called Modern Recovery. During Episode 34 of The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast, Michele talks with host Ashley Loeb Blassingame on her incredible…
On Mother’s Day and Everyday, Support for Women
This Sunday is Mother’s Day and we want to acknowledge the important role that mothers play in our lives and in society. This year especially, many mothers find themselves pulling extra duty – women are carrying a heavy load at home during this pandemic, more…
5 Myths About Employees With Substance Use Disorder
With 4 million Americans in treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs), and another 20.7 million in need of treatment, one would think that SUDs would be well understood. But in fact, there are many misconceptions about the illness. And when it comes to SUDs in…
From the Podcast: Jonathan Wells: Coming Out, Fighting Through Addiction And Trauma, And His Journey To Recovery
In episode 25 of The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast, Jonathan Wells shared his experience coming out, fighting through addiction and trauma, and his journey to recovery. We’ve edited and condensed Jonathan’s story for a fast read. You can listen to the entire interview…
From the Podcast: Bella Baskin: Finding Her Inner Voice
In Episode 14 of The Courage To Change: A Recovery Podcast, Bella shared her story with podcast host Ashley Loeb Blassingame. We’ve edited and condensed it here for a fast read. You can listen to the entire interview here. Bella Baskin is the 29-year-old founder…
From the Podcast: Dan Sanfellipo: The Harrowing Story of Trauma, Addiction and the Consequences of Over half His Life in Prison
Dan Sanfellipo started his incarceration journey when he was 13 years old. Dan is now 46 years old and has served just less than half of it — 22 ½ years — in prison. His story of struggling through addiction, trauma, prison, and eventually finding…
From the Podcast: Peter Loeb: From Watching a Daughter Struggle With Addiction To Starting Lionrock With Her
On a very special episode of The Courage To Change: A Recovery Podcast, Peter Loeb talked to his daughter, our podcast host, Ashley Loeb Blassingame. We’ve edited and condensed it here for a faster read. You can listen to the entire interview here. Peter is…
I Don’t Want My Employer to Know: Hiding the need for SUD treatment
It feels like a dilemma: I need to use my health insurance to get help with my drinking or drug problems, but I’m worried that my employer will find out that I have a problem. I’m worried my employer will fire me, or otherwise penalize…