Dr. Jason Giles: How a Physician Overcame Fentanyl Addiction and Found Recovery

Hi Friend, Thanks for downloading this episode, my name is Arlina and I’ll be your host.

I’m going to tell you all about this week’s guest, but before I do, it’s National Recovery Month!

To contribute to recovery awareness, I am going to be publishing a series of weekly mini episodes for those who are thinking about getting sober or those who need a little bit of a sobriety reset. In fact, that’s what I’m going to call it: Sobriety Reset. They will be short episodes focusing on the basics of sobriety. Everything from how to prepare for your first week sober, how to talk to family & friends about it, and what to do when you feel overwhelmed by cravings. This idea is to present the mindset, tools, and practices that will help you reach 100 days and make sobriety stick! I’ll post these to Youtube as well, so be sure to subscribe & share with a friend!

BTW, if you do share this will a friend, or you leave a review on apple podcasts, I just want to let you know how much it means to me personally. I have been publishing this podcast for over 9 years and sometimes I feel like I’m shouting into the void. I see the download numbers, but I don’t get a lot of reviews or messages, so when when I do, it gives me the encouragement to keep going. Yesterday I saw a few lovely comments on Instagram, one saying “Arlina’s podcast got me through some dark times”. Another said “I’ve been following Arlina for a while now and she’s the real deal.” Seriously, it almost made me cry. I might be sober for a long time, but I’m still human, and it still feels good to receive encouragement. So thank you from the bottom of my heart!

In this conversation, I’m speaking with Dr. Jason Giles, author of Outsmart Your Addiction. Dr Giles shares his powerful journey from fentanyl addiction as an anesthesiologist, to 25 years of recovery.

What really struck me about his story is that you can be very smart, extremely ambitious, successful by all standards, and still be vulnerable to addiction.

He courageously opens up about battling imposter syndrome, the belief that life without substances meant “the fun was over,” and the turning points that led him to seek help. Dr. Giles reflects on the role of spiritual awakening, the importance of asking for help, and the lessons he’s learned about recovery, neuroscience, and resilience. The discussion highlights how shifting our internal narrative can be the key to lasting change and why he remains hopeful about the future of recovery.

So without further delay, please enjoy this episode, and let me know what you think!

Connect with Jason: https://jasongilesmd.substack.com/

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