Get a Grip Podcast

How Homelessness Led Me to Heroin, Fentanyl & Almost Losing My Life | Ep 217

September 27, 2026·43 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Jasper for a raw and heartbreaking conversation about homelessness, opioid addiction, heroin, fentanyl, overdose, and the journey toward recovery.Jasper opens up about his childhood and the experiences that shaped him before addiction entered his life. One of the earliest turning points came when he experienced a friend overdosing, giving him a firsthand look at the dangers of addiction.Eventually, Jasper found himself homeless and struggling with opioid addiction. He shares what life was like on the streets and the circumstances that led to him using heroin for the first time while homeless.A work injury would introduce another chapter in his addiction when Jasper was prescribed OxyContin. What began as medication for an injury eventually became part of a much larger battle with opioids. His substance use continued to escalate as he found himself drinking as many as six bottles of liquor a week while also using heroin.Jasper eventually turned to fentanyl for the first time, leading to a terrifying overdose and another life-or-death moment in his addiction.But his story doesn't end there. Jasper opens up about the beginning of his recovery journey and what it has taken to start rebuilding his life after homelessness, heroin, fentanyl, and repeated exposure to the devastating consequences of addiction.This is an honest conversation about how quickly addiction can take hold, the realities of homelessness and opioid addiction, the dangers of fentanyl, and the possibility of finding a way forward.If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Recovery is possible.🔔 Like, comment, and subscribe for more powerful stories about addiction, recovery, resilience, and redemption.Get a Grip Podcast Social Media:TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio & more:https://linktr.ee/officialgetagrippodcast📩 Collaboration & Business Inquiries:getagrippodcast614@gmail.com👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.#GetAGripPodcast #AddictionRecovery #RecoveryJourney #CrackAddiction #Addiction #SoberLife #WeDoRecover #MentalHealth #Recovery #Relapse #Sobriety #DrugAddiction #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionAwareness #RedemptionStory #OvercomingAddiction #RecoveryStory #Hope #Resilience #Healing #addictiontreatment

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