Joanie Sigal
Joanie Sigal
Jeff Johnston - A Grieving Dad - Helping Others and Living a Life Undeterred
Jeff Johnston - A Grieving Dad - Helping Others and Living a Life Undeterred
Jeff Johnston - A Grieving Dad - Helping Others and Living a Life Undeterred
Thursday 14th April 2022
Jeff Johnston turns personal tragedy into advocacy, raising awareness about addiction after losing his son to fentanyl poisoning on 'The Addiction Podcast'.
37 minutes
Inspiring
Empowering
Informative
Hopeful
Compassionate
About this podcast
Author:
Joanie Sigal
Overview:
Categories:
Family Recovery from Addiction
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Sobriety Success Stories
Creative Recovery Journeys
Nutritional Pathways to Recovery
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Episodes:
406 (View all)
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Get the buttons here!Jeff Johnston: Turning Grief into Advocacy Against Addiction
I evolve my grief into something else, into something constructive, not deconstructive.
Jeff Johnston's life took a heartbreaking turn on October 4, 2016. That morning, he received the phone call every parent dreads: his eldest son, Seth, had died from fentanyl poisoning at just 23 years old. Before this tragedy, Jeff was living what many would call the American Dream. He had a loving family and was a successful entrepreneur in Iowa. But that one phone call changed everything.
Faced with overwhelming grief, Jeff had two paths: succumb to anger and despair or use his pain as a catalyst for positive change. He chose the latter. Jeff decided to step back from his career in financial services and channel his energy into advocacy. He began speaking at high schools and community events, sharing Seth's story to raise awareness about substance use and addiction in teens and young adults. Jeff's commitment didn't stop there.
In 2020, he founded Choices Network, Ltd., a non-profit organization dedicated to educating kids, parents, teachers, and coaches on the dangers of substance abuse. He also joined the board of a local treatment facility where Seth had spent time before his death. Throughout this episode of 'The Addiction Podcast - Point of No Return', Jeff opens up about the emotional toll of losing a child and the challenges of navigating the world of addiction recovery.
He discusses various rehab approaches, from traditional 12-step programs to alternative methods that offer hope for lasting change. Jeff's story is a testament to the power of resilience and the impact one person can make in the fight against addiction. His journey serves as a poignant reminder that even in our darkest moments, we have the strength to turn our pain into purpose and help others along the way.