Critical care nurse practitioner Brandi Mac shares the harrowing journey of her daughter’s IV Fentanyl addiction and the moment Brandi shaved her head to release years of trauma.

In this vulnerable episode of Recoverycast, Brandi Mac discusses the reality of navigating nine treatment centers in four years and the "rehab industry" failures that left her family feeling hopeless. As a medical professional, Brandi reflects on her own stigmatized views of addiction prior to it hitting her home, and how she eventually found peace by abandoning "tough love" to lead with empathy. We dive deep into the science and success of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), specifically the life-changing impact of the Sublocade injection, and how Brandi’s daughter found long-term recovery after the family shifted their focus from the addiction back to the person.

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This conversation serves as a guide for families struggling with substance use, offering trauma-informed insights on reentry plans, setting boundaries that you can live with, and the importance of ethical oversight in treatment facilities. Brandi's story is a powerful reminder that as long as there is breath, there is hope.

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⏱️ Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction & The Breaking Point
01:12 – A Medical Professional’s Stigma
03:57 – The First Signs of Addiction
05:00 – IV Fentanyl & The Treatment Cycle
07:30 – Early Exposure: From Percocet to Meth
11:15 – The Failure of the Rehab Industry
13:55 – Why Reentry Plans Matter Most
16:00 – The Trap of "Tough Love"
20:48 – Shaving Her Head: Releasing the Trauma
24:54 – Choosing "What You Can Live With"
28:34 – Small Talk & Reconnecting in Active Use
33:44 – Setting Healthy Boundaries Without Cruelty
35:33 – The Truth About MAT & Sublocade
40:46 – Writing the Book on Chaos & Healing
45:09 – Red Flags in Treatment Centers

❓ Questions the Video Answers:
1. How can parents support a child struggling with Fentanyl addiction?
2. What are the signs of burnout in medical professionals treating substance use?
3. Is Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) just trading one drug for another?
4. What is "ambiguous grief" in the context of family addiction?
5. Why do traditional 30-day treatment programs often fail for opioids?
6. How do I set boundaries without using "tough love" tactics?
7. What is the Sublocade injection, and how does it help with recovery?
8. How can I reconnect and have "small talk" with a loved one in active use?
9. What are the major red flags to look for when choosing a rehab facility?
10. How does the concept of "doing what you can live with" help family healing?
11. Can a family find peace while their loved one is still using?
12. What is the role of compassion and empathy in clinical nursing care?
13. Why is discharge planning and reentry support crucial for sobriety?
14. What are the ethical issues surrounding free flights to treatment centers?
15. How does hair hold trauma during a breaking point?

#FentanylRecovery #MAT #AddictionSupport