Ben Kaye shares his powerful story of recovery after years caught in the world of chemsex—a term used to describe using drugs like crystal meth, GBL, and mephedrone to enhance sex, lower inhibitions, and feel more connected during sexual encounters, especially within the LGBTQ+ community. What started as weekend partying turned into daily drug use and emotional isolation. Ben opens up about how trauma, loneliness, and the search for love led him to addiction, including injecting meth to feel a sense of control and connection. In this honest and eye-opening conversation, Ben explains how chemsex became his way of coping, and how treatment, community, and time helped him rebuild his life. Now a therapist, he helps others find healing too.

00:00 – Intro: Meet Ben Kaye
01:05 – An idyllic childhood shattered at 15
02:21 – First experiences with substances
04:00 – Moving to London, coming out, and the party scene
05:30 – Why the party lifestyle became so appealing
07:00 – Functioning addict or barely functioning?
08:22 – When weekend use turned into daily meth use
09:27 – Injecting crystal meth: how it started
10:45 – What is Chemsex? Breaking it down
12:00 – The rise of Chemsex culture and hookup apps
13:10 – Why young people are at risk
14:24 – Looking for love, not just drugs
15:30 – What intimacy looks like without drugs
16:50 – How Ben got help and started recovery
18:28 – The mental health impact of heavy drug use
20:00 – Starting over through treatment and support
21:50 – Learning to enjoy life sober
23:00 – Becoming a therapist and helping others
25:00 – Advice for anyone starting recovery

🔔 Subscribe for more real stories of healing and hope.
📲 Connect with Ben: https://benkayetherapy.com | @justbenkaye
🎙️ Ben’s Podcast: Really Queer on Spotify & Apple Podcasts

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In this episode of the Recovery Matters podcast, Michelle Ketchum celebrates her first year of sobriety. Michelle discusses her journey from a toxic relationship and substance use to finding the strength to seek help and enter rehab. She shares her experiences of personal growth, the importance of community, and her involvement in sober living and activities through organizations like The Phoenix and Smart Recovery. Michelle also talks about fulfilling her lifelong dream of becoming a published author. Her story is an inspiring example of overcoming adversity and finding hope and support in recovery.

00:00 Introduction and Host Introductions

00:38 Early Life and Family Support

01:30 High School and First Encounters with Drugs

06:28 College Life and Denial of Addiction

13:54 Toxic Relationships and Hitting Rock Bottom

22:28 Facing Rehab Fears

22:57 The Rehab Experience

24:18 Building New Friendships

27:31 Life After Rehab

28:31 Managing a Sober House

30:13 Discovering New Passions

38:05 Becoming an Author

43:36 The Phoenix and Smart Recovery

46:24 Advice for Newcomers

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In this candid episode of the Recovery Matters Podcast, we sit down with Carter Graves, founder of KMFK Safety Services and Executive Director of Grassroots Harm Reduction. Carter shares their journey of growing up in a household shaped by meth use, navigating personal trauma, and redefining recovery through harm reduction and managed methamphetamine use. With courage, humor, and radical transparency, Carter challenges traditional recovery narratives and offers powerful insights into drug policy, peer-led safety, and what it truly means to heal.

Whether you're in recovery, support harm reduction, or are curious about alternatives to abstinence-based models—this conversation will challenge and inspire you.

00:00 - Carter introduces themselves and their definition of recovery
00:27 - Growing up with a single mother and generational meth use
01:48 - The trauma, poverty, and strength of Carter's family story
03:00 - Early substance use: Adderall, ecstasy, and meth
04:30 - Mother’s death and escalation of use
05:56 - The 2020 uprisings and how a street medic changed everything
06:58 - Quitting meth for three years and entering abstinence-based recovery
08:59 - The physical and emotional toll of abstinence
10:00 - Long COVID and reevaluating recovery
11:00 - Creative life, relapse language, and return to use
12:00 - What is reagent drug checking?
13:20 - Origin story: DanceSafe, MDMA testing, and community care
15:09 - Honoring people where they are on the spectrum of use
17:28 - “Brave space” over “safe space”
18:41 - TJ shares faith-based perspective on harm reduction
20:00 - The roots of KMFK and “Candy F***ing Carter”
21:45 - Expanding into condoms, Plan B, and other peer services
23:11 - From underground raves to national recognition
24:56 - Carter’s current roles at PA Groundhogs and more
25:10 - Learning harm reduction tools for meth use
26:50 - Proper dosing, sleep, and hydration strategies
28:20 - Setting personal boundaries and red flags
30:08 - Support system and what keeps Carter grounded
31:30 - Where to find Carter and KMFK online

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

• https://grassrootsharmreduction.org
• https://pagroundhogs.org
• https://linktr.ee/kmfksafetyservices
• KMFK Safety Services on Instagram & Facebook
• 📧 Contact Carter: contactcartergraves@gmail.com

📢 Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share this episode to support honest conversations around addiction recovery, substance use, and harm reduction.

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