Ashley Loeb Blassingame
ckimmich@lionrockrecovery.com (Ashley Loeb Blassingame, Christopher Poulos)
Christopher Poulos: From Federal Prison to the White House
Christopher Poulos: From Federal Prison to the White House
Christopher Poulos: From Federal Prison to the White House
Tuesday 9th July 2019
Christopher Poulos discusses his journey from addiction and prison to becoming an attorney and advocate on 'The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast'.
Explicit
68 minutes
Inspiring
Empowering
Informative
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Encouraging
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Author:
Ashley Loeb Blassingame
Overview:
Categories:
Sobriety Toolkit
Creative Recovery Journeys
Family Recovery from Addiction
Empowering Recovery Journeys
Innovative Treatments & Recovery Paths
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316 (View all)
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Get the buttons here!Christopher Poulos: From Addiction and Incarceration to Advocacy and Change
The number one ingredient to my success has been perseverance
Imagine hitting rock bottom and then rising to influence national policy. That's the story of Christopher Poulos, this week's guest on 'The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast'. Hosted by Ashley Loeb Blassingame, this episode dives into Poulos' incredible transformation from a life marred by addiction and homelessness to becoming an attorney and the Executive Director of the Washington Statewide Reentry Council.
Poulos' journey began with prescription pills as a teenager, spiraling into a severe addiction that led him to cocaine, alcohol, and opiates. He ended up homeless in Portland, Maine, enduring freezing winters and resorting to hospital waiting rooms for warmth. His path took a darker turn with legal troubles, culminating in a federal prison sentence. However, Poulos' time in prison became a turning point.
Through a 12-step program and positive connections within the prison community, he began to rebuild his life. Post-incarceration, he faced significant stigma and discrimination but never wavered in his pursuit of change. He enrolled in law school at the University of Southern Maine, despite facing hurdles during the application process. His resilience paid off as he worked for The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and advised Senator Angus King on addiction and justice policy.
Today, Poulos leads the Washington Statewide Reentry Council, focusing on criminal justice reform and reentry policies. He also supports Recovery Beyond, an organization aiding people in recovery with essential resources like housing and treatment. Poulos emphasizes the power of perseverance and community in recovery, marking January 1st as his sobriety date but acknowledging that his journey started long before. His story is a powerful testament to resilience and the transformative potential of recovery.
Tune in to hear Christopher Poulos' full story on 'The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast'.