EP 333: Samantha’s Recovery Story

Nov 13, 2023

Samantha Brantley, a recovery advocate and certified peer recovery specialist from Union County, shares her inspiring journey of overcoming addiction. After years of struggle, including time in jail and personal tragedies, she found her path to sobriety and has been clean for over five years. Samantha discusses starting local recovery meetings and launching a misdemeanor recovery court to help others. Her story highlights the importance of community support, breaking stigma, and turning pain into purpose for lasting change.

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ANECDOTE

How A House Fire Triggered Long-Term Addiction

Samantha started using pain pills after a 2005 house fire to keep energy while rebuilding her home.
That occasional use spiraled into long-term opioid addiction that cost her marriage, home, and freedom.

ANECDOTE

Escalation From Local Jail To Prison

Samantha recounts repeated jail stays and a first prison term, followed by fleeing the state with her partner.
That behavior led to a second prison stay and escalating legal consequences.

ANECDOTE

Turning Point: Loss, Guilt, And A Jail Awakening

Samantha missed her mother's funeral while using and later turned herself in, which began a turning point.
In county jail she experienced a profound moment of peace and a decision to change her life.

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Host: Drifter

Guest: Samantha

My name is Samantha Brantley I am 38 and mother of 4 wonderful kids and a very special granddaughter, Shiloh. My addiction started in my early 20s and I have been clean for over 5 years. So when I went through addiction my small, rural community had no resources. Since being clean I have been advocating to get resources there for others that are struggling. I started a recovery meeting last year that is growing. Probation officers and the courts are sending people to our meeting. It seems so small but being able to sign someone's meeting sheet, at a meeting I started, is huge to me. I also have been on the Union County ICARE Board for about a year. ICARE is a prevention coalition that does lots of great things in the schools in my area as well as in the community. I have also been working hand in hand with the misdemeanor court system in my county to launch a recovery court there. The goal of this is to offer resources and programs, with structure, early on with the hope of helping citizens find recovery and life worth living before it feels too late. We also hope this will help break stigma and prevent those struggling from reaching even worse felony convictions. My goal is to spread hope anywhere I can by being living proof that WE DO RECOVER. And we should do it LOUDLY!

Samantha, I'm so grateful to have sat with you as you shared your recovery story! I'm so grateful to know you and Chris and being able to witness in person all you're doing for our community as you help others fight their way out of the trenches of addiction! You, Chris, your team and everyone coming together is a huge inspiration to us all!! You are definitely an amazing example of someone turning their life around!!

THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!!!!!

EP 90: Uncovering Happiness - The Mind and Heart

Other Sober Resources:

I Am Sober App

Getting Sober ...Again

Boom Rethink The Drink

Recovery Movie Meet-Ups

No Sippy No Slippy. Not Another Drop No matter What.
Remember to Pour The Poison Down The Sink!!
Sobertownpodcast.com