The Key to Kicking the Cycle of Addiction | The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe

On this special edition of “The Way I Heard It,” I chat with Scott Strode about his rise from the ashes of addiction, why he started The Phoenix-a free, sober active community-and how he's transforming the way our country approaches recovery with human resilience and connection.
#mikerowe #thewayiheardit #addiction #community
Listen to the entire podcast episode #304 on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
Subscribe to my channel: @therealmikerowe
As of today, The Phoenix has a community of more than 364,000 members. Join the movement and download "The Phoenix: A Sober Community" app: links.thephoenix.org/MRYT
Big thanks to Stand Together, a philanthropic community that helps changemakers tackle the root causes of our country’s biggest problems. Learn more about them: bit.ly/3wa9pxN and subscribe to their channel: @StandTogetherCC
If you like me, and even if you don't, follow me. Much obliged.
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[@PetraEmmy]

We are celebrating 29 years of sobriety in my home today!

[@macethorns1168]

I'll drink to that!

[@bkp1283]

God Bless you . Give up on feeling hopelessness.Be strong,walk away from it . GOD has been with you the whole time.just take his hand.you are never alone.

[@crackpipejoe3508]

Cheer's, Lets Drink!!!!🍺

[@zackbraff8878]

Congratulations!

[@marthahench9885]

That's fantastic. Congratulations 🎉🎉🎉

[@justjo4059]

The opposite of addiction isn't sobriety. It's connection. I love this. ❤

[@KeelyIleanBaker]

I have 31 days clean from my alcohol today. Really happy. I’m done with that crap. I cost my family so much time and agony… and I can’t wait to be back with them. I wasn’t ready to face my Demons, so I was trying to drink them away. It was the stupidest thing I have ever done in my life. To My Family, the one that chose to keep me, that didn’t have to choose to keep me, my Husband’s wonderful family… I am so sorry, I am truly so so sorry. But I feel so blessed, because you still want me.

[@alexhiggins3958]

Keep going. You’ve got this!!

[@KeelyIleanBaker]

@@alexhiggins3958 day 40! And going strong 💪 💜 😁

[@JesusChrist-xb7jq]

One of the excuses that many of us alcoholics use is that if we stop drinking, we won’t be able to socialize or have fun anymore. This is an incredible solution to both. I wish this was available when I first got sober. Amazing work! Speaking of which, in 11 days I’ll have 13 years.

[@cartier13]

Lucky 13, congrats!

[@Mach11976]

6 years and 6 months clean. I'm better off then I have ever been, I'm happy, productive and housed. Waited until I was 57 don't suggest that but what ever works for you.

[@jimcoleman749]

For the record, Boston is a GREAT place to get sober. I got sober there in January 1983 and just celebrated 41 years. Thank you for a great video!

[@quigleyclampett6132]

I work in a hospital that has a 3 day withdrawal program. They stay 3 days get food and drugs to get off drugs and we discharge them to an inpatient rehab for 7 days.2-3 weeks later we see them again! I have no idea it if we can ever stop addiction. Just a massive draw on medical field when we can help people that want to get well. Thank you Mike for all you do. Please run for president!

[@Grndl42]

Involuntary intake program?

[@9inchardox927]

3 days is a waste of time and you know it

[@JesusChrist-xb7jq]

@@9inchardox927I think that was the whole point of their comment.

[@mariamunroe6861]

Please I am 62 yrs old and have been blessed not to be a addicted to any drug..., but I know plenty of People including 4 in my family, I come from a family of 9 children... Please don't say People do not want help, a lot of People are homeless, go detox for 3 days and then 4 weeks in rehab..., then are kicked back out to the street..., House these People first, and Opioid Adiction is not a choice..., maybe first time They do it , not there after...

[@MaraJadeSkky]

​@mariamunroe6861 speaking as an opiate addict with a decade clean, it absolutely is a choice to use. Withdrawals from opiates will not kill you, it sucks, it's hard. But you won't die.

[@joecarey4356]

I am 43. I started doing drug around 16. What saved me was being locked up. Multiple times. Im sober now for over 5 years. I am from Philadelphia. Kenso was my spot. It's scary now because they let them stay on the street and die. I know that if i go back out there, i won't make it. Because they won't hold people accountable.

[@ajb4682]

Yeah, you dodged a lot of bullets sobering up when you did. It's wild out there now. It was wild before, but it's an apocalypse now. Death everywhere

[@dwaynecoy1871]

No program or process is effective unless the addict gets to the point in their life in which they have had enough and they want to get clean and sober or stop whatever they are addicted to. If they haven't reach that point in their life, then no program is going to work and they will eventually slip and have a relapse. That doesn't necessarily mean failure, however. It's all a process and it's important to keep trying until they reach the point where they truly want to stop and can find a way to live without their addiction.

[@tango_uniform]

There are those who got hooked as a result of medical procedure and probably want to get straight more than those who take drugs recreationally. The first step for the latter is to exchange all of your friends for a group of people who care. I think the fallacy is that everyone on drugs or experiencing homelessness is treated in a cookie-cutter fashion.

[@elvisinky]

Anyone under the umbrella of addiction be it the one addicted or the loved ones watching have to accept one and only one truth that matters. No amount of love, money, tears, worry or facility will be successful until the one with the addiction truly wants to get clean. Until that happens it never will happen.

[@genageeraert8039]

You can’t fix addiction the person who is addicted needs to want it.

[@ronsimpson143]

I struggle with depression and anxiety. When I lost my job and could not find another, I came to the realization that I was worth more to my family dead that alive. The life insurance policy would help my family more than my unemployment did. It was a brutal time for me. I was able to talk to my doctor about it and he put me on some meds, that helped but did not address the real problem. But the meds did something else. A pushed people away. I became someone I did not recognize. I finally got a job and that helped more than the meds the doc put me on.

[@theresaw1117]

Love this! As a mother of a son who has been sober for 15 years I know how hard the road to recovery is! Instead of kicking the can down the road as most cities do it's time to try something else! Thank you Mike!

[@stilcrazychris]

Congratulations to everyone that's celebrating their sobriety. My husband has been sober for around 26 years now & I have to praise God for it all. Because without God I wouldn't have my family back, my kids wouldn't have a father either. He probably would be dead by how if I didn't take a stand & tell him we was going to church or there wouldn't be him & me no more. I was tired of being a punching bag & having a gun to my head & the kids seeing all this playing out in front of them. I thought either he's going to kill me or we would be a happy family. We'll we still have the normal family problems, not enough money to pay the bills & the price of gas, like everyone else, but there's no more of the alcohol involved & I thank God. My husband would have to tell you about his addiction & how hard it is for him & what keeps him sober. I'm really proud of him for what he's been through & how he's handled it all. God bless all of you & never give up. God's with you every step of the way. You all are kicking addiction a$$, great job & im feel high as a kite with joy for all of you. GOD BLESS!!

[@JesusChrist-xb7jq]

There have been studies on mice that were given cocaine in their water, and they would keep drinking it until they died. But, if they were put in an environment where they could explore, exercise, and learn, they were less likely to go back into the environment where they could get more of the drug. This looks like the human equivalent of that.

[@geraldskinner63]

Pretty damn cool! Best wishes to anyone who struggles with any addiction period. We all fall down, it’s good to know there are folks that will help you get back up.

[@Itsgonnabemayy]

My dad is a recovering alcoholic, he’s had many relapses but 2 years ago he stopped for good but a year after quitting he was diagnosed with a rare disease called Marchiafava bignami which has been diagnosed 250 times since discovered. It’s a horrible condition that effects the corpus colosseum in the brain. Basically one side of his brain doesn’t talk to the other. This impacts everything from his memory to walking. My dads a big fan of you Mike, we would watch dirty jobs together. I wish more was known about this disease but until more people know nothing will happen.

[@spongebobsqueeze]

Connection is the cure for addiction.

[@prestonbanksoutdoors939]

Thank you Mike for sharing this info.with the masses,this is a burden we need to help with if possible

[@annan4866]

I like that it is called the Phoenix, rising from the ashes. ❤

[@gwbuilder5779]

💯% The first step to the road of recovery is actually wanting to change your situation. If an addicted person is only going to rehab because of court ordered or family pressure there will be no success. When an individual chooses to change, the journey can begin.

[@Adam-nv9zo]

This is great. Seems like a wonderful program. Thank you for uploading this, Mike.

[@TruthOverLies]

An addict won’t truly be able & ready to get clean until they run out of people to blame.

[@GenuinelyCurious120]

What if it's yourself your blaming? Nice blanket statement, Your kid deserves better.

[@mikaeleastman5210]

@@GenuinelyCurious120I'm an addict.I dont blame others

[@gene_takovic57]

Great video Mike. Hopefully, the next generation of addicts can grasp this BEFORE they go down that road that has been traveled by millions. IMO, it starts with good parents teaching their kids what is right and wrong, what is good and bad.

[@rogerdale5451]

For me it was the covid lockdown nightmare that started me up drinking again. I'm digging out bit by bit, getting out and doing things I used to do. These people are so young and beautiful. It's wonderful to see.

[@Coconutoilcrazy]

I love this! Thank you for putting this out there for all to see and hopefully get involved

[@charlesblount6858]

Without a spirituality link to this program, this program, like so many, will not last.

[@bkp1283]

From New England. Just let it go ,give up on hopelessness.say I've had enough of giving up .God has been with you the whole time .his hand is out to you just take it .Be strong take God's hand.and let go of hopelessness.

[@wendybryan9857]

Well that was just fantastic

[@OrganizeCreateDecorate]

What an awesome program! God bless you all.

[@oh8wingman]

One of the toughest things about getting past my addiction, alcoholism, was realizing the fact that all of my so called "friends" were in fact my worst enemies. It was always, "Oh come on man, have a beer. Just one won't hurt you." You see, they could not allow you to leave the communal rut you were all in. The fact that you might better yourself and leave them behind was intolerable. Once I was clear of them, I learned that it was all on me and I found other ways to occupy my time the need for my "crutch" lessened with each passing day.

[@StefWokeUp]

I love this! 🙌🏼 Great concept. I can see why it works. Thanks for sharing.

[@leefruits7241]

Seeing this is beyond amazing. I'm going to dig in and see how this program can help in my small town. The closest AA type meeting is 125 miles away, and the majority of help round here only comes after being arrested and choosing a sparse recovery program to avoid jail. Phoenix may be a key to getting helping this little, far removed community.

[@atorres11720]

Thanks sir.

[@andreahughes1500]

Thanks for covering this. I am a nurse and always looking for ways to support our patients with addiction. Every bit helps!

[@9inchardox927]

DONT prescribe addictive drugs, Dont manufacture addictive drugs, Dont contaminate addictive drugs, real simple, and I know where it all comes from, people that prescribe them...

[@andreahughes1500]

Unfortunately, those drugs are occasionally needed in controlled amounts. Consider the person who was in a massive car accident with tremendous pain and injury. Consider the person who needs to be sedated for a surgery. Consider.

[@9inchardox927]

No sorry, unless your Dying, nope there are plenty of other drugs for temporary pain relief, if they are going to recover, it should never be a addictive drug@@andreahughes1500

[@11jdstein]

Terrific story and approach that follows multiple options to inspire and find community.

[@annescholten9313]

Great content, Mike❤❤❤

[@OFCbigduke613]

I'm sitting here watching this and am hung over. I'm 57 and I have been trying to control my drinking and have quit off and on. I gotta do something soon.

[@547doug]

start small

[@essietangle9931]

We cheer for each and every one ❗️🎉👍

[@judydoshier1114]

Awesome program

[@zayneunderwood1488]

That is truly an impressive program... I wish it well... 😮🎉

[@Grace.AlwaysGrace.]

Thank you.

[@Pack.Leader]

Right on. 👊🕊❤

[@FlamingBasketballClub]

Good on Scott for recognizing that drug addiction is a bi partisan issue.

[@captvidio1]

I have 17 years sobriety. I'm not going to write a book about it . I watched your feature saw no destitute People who had lost everything it looked like everyone there was on their company insurance.

[@Cmc-lg8ik]

I have 2 autoimmune diseases that have no biologics and isn't quite recognized by the medical community yet. I am a younger widow with no help at home. There are days the pain is excruciating and my internal medicine doc has tried everything, and nothing helps. So i had to go on opiates to at least have quality of life and able to do the things i need to care for myself and my cat, pay my bills, get my groceries, etc. But I am totally pissed at being " lumped in" with the "Opioid crisis". I get shamed at the pharmacy, every time i pick up my prescription. There are people like me who would rather be on a non opioid to help with our disease pain. If there were a biologic, i would be the first in line! So to anyone who reads this....just because you are on a prescribed opioid, don't put us in the class of drug abusers, or part of the opioid crisis. My disease is autoimmune. I didn't cause it. I hope for science to find a remedy. But dont shame the few who use it as a last resort to be able to function. 😢

[@bobinmontana777]

Sober myself, former addiction counselor. Never have I seen access to facilities, equipment or fun activities as depicted in this video without a hefty cost. This program had nearly 20 million dollars in revenue in 2022. For most addicts hitting bottom they lack funds, insurance or corporate backing to pay for treatment. I wish Mike had gone into the financial cost.

[@miche2023]

Thanks for this video, Mike! I will share it with all my friends. I have healed from addictions through my own health practices. Many in my family did not. Blessings to both of you! ✌️❤️

[@christopherbright1048]

A#1 Mike

[@HeatGeek1]

Very cool. I dont know if they are still in operation, but "Step 13", also in Denver is a very interesting sobriety program.

[@gemelindacjp7976]

I think they changed their name.

[@KLP99]

This made my eyes leak! I'm a white collar professional, but I've had 27 different surgeries all over my body. I became addicted after a total A/C shoulder separation. It was horrible, but I couldn't buy drugs off the street. I didn't know how, for one thing, and my wife knows where my guns are and watches our bank like a hawk. So, I told her everything. I've always had a prescription for codeine or morphine. It's a constant that keeps me comfortable enough to be able to work. With my wife's help I've been able to cut the doses by more than 60%. I feel the pain more, but I'm able to ignore it, for the most part. There are still 5 surgeries to come, but I'm putting them off as long as I can. I really feel for these people, who have seen more in a few years than I've seen in my 69 years. They are winners. Thank you Mike for presenting The Phoenix to us. Thank you Scott Strode, for your brilliance.

[@Themanisred]

This is why we need R.F.K junior for president. He understands. Addiction. He understands the issues that this country is facing and he has real solutions that will work in legal avenues.

[@cjgia4898]

I pray we can do something sooner around here. It's getting to be weekly and it's overwhelming. 😞

[@robviousobviously5757]

Bravo... wife is a therapist... has been for 30 plus years... bravo

[@wendywright5486]

EMDR therapy was a game changer no drugs ,no calling myself an addict,12yrs cocaine free, after almost 25yrs addicted ❤

[@juleswallace3483]

For me the opposite of addiction is eternal truth.

[@dungeonquesting8075]

Great

[@CathyHautz04]

❤❤❤

[@bugeyedwillypetfarm9625]

You're road to be agine is in You're in your self

[@xpndblhero5170]

I would love to do something like this but I'm not motivated enough to start one and get other people involved.... I'd rather go and do the climbing, hiking, bike rides and possibly some weight lifting.

[@rmcgraw7943]

Bummer, no events in the state of Georgia

[@veramae4098]

One can inherit a tendency to become an addict. It's not an absolute, just a tendency. My father was an alcoholic, his father was an alcoholic, I have a cousin whose an alcoholic. I'm worried. Towards the end of Covid I started abusing alcoholic. I'm now on my 13th try to quit. 4 months sober. I have clinical depression and sometimes I think about some kind of illegal drug to be happy. But I remember a small cartoon in an AA magazine my Dad received: A little man stands in front of a saloon, he's tempted, but he thinks: What comes next? Getting drunk and messy. No.

[@CertifiedSkank]

Having purpose in life, whatever that means to an individual, will be the only solution to this problem.

[@alansterling3481]

I wonder how many addictive traits are amplified by social isolation? I have seen more people return to addictive behavior after having gone through rehab as a single person. I see fewer people by an order of magnitude go back after having a social rehab situation. I say we try to get back to being involved with our friends, communities and neighborhoods. We are in this together, after all.

[@devandestudios128]

So in other words, trade a negative addiction for a positive addiction? I mean, saying you're "ending addiction" is really just a matter of semantics, because that isn't the case. With pessimism out of the way, let's add some optimism, because having a positive impact on people's lives is empowering in itself.

[@drock7601]

This really nails it guys! Absolutely brilliant!!!

[@Jer742]

I would love to try this program sucks that it only located in San Fran. I would rather a program like this to stop drinking than aa

[@GreenWitch1]

Much better program than the cultish AA!

[@preshisify]

the rehab industrial complex and great revolving door, newsom just tripled it with proposition one, AND added homeless people too

[@ajb4682]

Man... I quit cigarettes, again, a couple weeks ago. I am having the hardest time with caffeine 😭. Its crippling me. Funny thing, ive used every substance on the planet at least oncenfor fun and never had an addictive personality. Unbeknownst to me coffee is a drug and I did not know that when I started drinking it. It is the on thing i am truly addicted to.

[@venidamcdaniel1913]

So many roadblocks to people trying to get clean n start a new life. If have a police record it’s devastating. Can’t get job. A lot have lost everything. Don’t have car license etc. all these things are horrendous obstacles to overcome and unless they have family with deep pockets they are not going to make it. Will become depressed and return to drugs. EVERYTIME they have a victory they are met with more roadblocks. It’s a shame. See it all the time in my area. And those that have been clean for awhile then use again think they can take as much as they did before and OD. So many of my daughter’s friends are dead for this reason and fentanyl. Our area hard hit with drugs. At least 20 people whose graduated with my children died in last 3 years.

[@melissazwieg2988]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@PapaJohn1969]

Until a person who is addicted wants to give up the addiction. It’s the most difficult part of addiction.

[@medicatedforyoursafety9349]

I’m California sober

[@scjustin2002]

Read Allen Carr’s quit the easy way.

[@me-qx2rp]

Why does it have to be an app. I don't want apps, how about a site I can see if there is anything in my area.

[@bryanduchane2371]

I would love to get off this shit, but I have chronic pain from severe trauma of severe neck injury that has required multiple surgeries. If I could get off this shit, I would hurt so bad life wouldn't be worth living! Until there is a treatment for chronic pain, I'll be a slave to Opioids.... Believe me, I've tried almost everything to get rid of the pain and nothing has worked at all!

[@carrolllawson7429]

Food for Thought, are Americans becoming more addicted because of the drugs, or are we teaching our children at a very young age addiction type habits. Sugar enriched foods, cell phones, social media. These are all forms of Addiction also. Let me know what you think.

[@genericwatcher2439]

If you don't replace what you removed with something else, you will fall back into what you used to do.

[@bugeyedwillypetfarm9625]

Only you can fix you been down that road

[@marytomlin2566]

A lot of addict start down that road because of the drugs that their doctor prescribed for them. As did my daughter was given due to horrible car accident. Then took the drugs away because they didn't help. What was she to do? She was hooked! So the out come, she died at 36, 6 years ago.

[@bkp1283]

You have never been alone the whole time . except that fact .take his hand.

[@RealMTBAddict]

Get smart phones out of kids' hands under 18!

[@mariamunroe6861]

Mike I have a huge respect for You..., Tell me is this program offered to the homeless?, and a lot of People want to stop, but Opioid addiction is not a choice....and so much more I could say....

[@Badger1776]

Let’s see if this is in Tucson…

[@CertifiedSkank]

I’m celebrating 10 years of California Sobriety next week.

[@markstemmett5296]

How about we hold big pharma to account

[@zackbraff8878]

Im a recovering alcoholic. 1 year 4 months. I do not like seeing the comments about people encuraging drinking. Its not funny! Some people cannot handle being bullied like that and end up doing something stupid or dangerous. If you dont have anything helpful or encouraging to someone wanting to change. You really are a low form of human and you should really get some mental health help. Addiction is not a joke people die from it, its not an easy target for rude people. We are stonger humans then you for being able to over come something that controlled our every action. Unlike the people to taunt and make the joke "ill drink to that or lets drink to that* its not funny you need mental health help.

[@laskey2175]

The question is if you want to treat addiction as a crime or as a health problem.

[@GenuinelyCurious120]

My battles with addiction have destroyed my view of "free will". It doesn't exist, fate is real.

[@BruceWing]

It’s constrained, but free will exists… within the bounds of the constraints.

[@shazam6274]

1) You have to have sobriety to choose to be sober, 2) Anyone in a recovery program who says they have "substance abuse" or the "disease of alcoholism" will fail, and is full of it.

[@bro7269]

You are so full of sh*t…..

[@Wil_Liam1]

You CAN NOT HELP an addict of any kind who does not truly want help... All you'll end up doing is enabling them further..

[@user-ej1mg6tj6u]

I need help now, this doesn’t offer base level, down in dirt help.

[@bugeyedwillypetfarm9625]

Hit the the bottom to find to find the top

[@billylyf6995]

Since when is Katie spelt like Keith. Anyways keep it up superstars

[@justjudy7320]

The law of attraction is Real and True and any thought we hold for as little as 17 seconds another one similar to it will come behind it🎉 what people don't realize is that each and every one of us is climbing up the emotional scale on any given Topic at any given moment and that scale in those emotions bring us to a general frequency😮 we don't have heartbeats we have heart frequencies😮 we are like radio towers when your bandwidth is that contentment or above health wealth and abundance showers down upon you in all forms😮 all those thoughts and emotions below contentment bring all those things that the majority of humanity is complaining about😮 if people were focused on the things they appreciate in life rather than the things they don't like the world would be in a much better place and so with the individuals in it😮 Michael go hang out in a nursing home haha I know Mom and Dad but when you watch people in the actual death process those people who were grumpy by nature which certainly would not be either of your parents their last hours and moments are very movement oriented jittery squirmy just movement😮 those people who are happy by Nature their last hours and moments are very calm and Serene😮 the vibration of our soul has to pull itself out of the meat soup and when the meat suit and the vibration in it is down below contentment it's got a little bit further to travel up to the higher realms❤😂❤ that's what happens when your general bandwidth is further down the tower of current😮😮 I heard Dr Bruce Lipton say a while back that the movie The Matrix was not really a movie but it was in fact a documentary😮❤

[@ACaquatics21]

I really wish Mike would run for President of the US... He could help bring this country back from the dark path it has been on.

[@marlenalinne]

@ACaquatics21. Mike does an outstanding job at whatever project he takes on, but that's because he's calling his own shots. If he was elected president he would be at the mercy of Congress, because THEY would call the shots. The president is only as good as Congress will allow him to be, so Mike needs to stay right where he is and continue to do what he excels at.

[@cyndiemcmartin6010]

RFKJr has asked him to consider the VP position

[@mistydawnhenderson1561]

They need truth . The truth of God. That's where they will find purpose and hope. This world wants to give them more drugs to get off drugs... which is circular thinking...that's suicide circular thinking is a death sentence ❤

[@marilynmccormick1658]

Do you think heredity plays a role in addiction, mainly of alcohol?

[@medicatedforyoursafety9349]

One of the biggest most overlooked addictions is sugar and corn syrup. More addctive than cocaine. Prove me wrong.