I Had A Degree And A Career While Secretly Addicted To Fentanyl
Rise Above with Kevin Lanning
33,716 views
On paper, Ava Garcia was the kid who had it together — straight-A student, captain of the varsity basketball team, an artist, the responsible firstborn. Underneath it, she was raising herself in the chaos of two parents in active addiction, competing for attention with a younger brother who needed all of it, and by 13 she was already using. She sold Xanax to fund an opioid habit while keeping her grades near-perfect, convinced that as long as she was checking every box, she couldn't really be an addict.
Ava's story is a decade-plus odyssey that most people wouldn't believe: opioids that gave way to a ten-year battle with an eating disorder running in parallel, a chapter living abroad in Israel with a partner deep in his own addiction, alcohol that took over at the end, and a series of treatment centers and relapses. She's remarkably, sometimes darkly funny about it — but she doesn't flinch from the hardest parts, including the night she nearly lost her life and the rock bottom that followed.
What finally turned it was a moment of total desperation, a prayer, and a phone call she describes as nothing short of a miracle — her mother showing up at her door to take her to treatment. Now four years sober, Ava has her life, her health, and herself back, and she's using her story to reach the people who are still where she was.
This is a raw, honest, and ultimately hopeful reminder that no one is too far gone.
Sponsored by Caron Treatment Centers
My recovery journey began at Caron Treatment Centers, and the care I received there changed the course of my life. That's why I'm proud to partner with Caron.
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, Caron has been helping individuals and families find hope and lasting recovery for nearly 70 years. They are in-network with all major insurance providers, and same-day admission is available.
➡️ Learn more: https://www.caron.org/lp/rise-above
📞 Call Caron today: 855-352-0103
Recovery starts with taking the first step.
#RiseAbove #AddictionRecovery #4YearsSober #RecoveryIsPossible #SoberLife #WomenInRecovery #OpioidRecovery #AddictionDoesntDiscriminate #SobrietyJourney #MentalHealth #FromRockBottom #RiseAbovePodcast #KevinLanning #AvaGarcia #SoberMom #FaithInRecovery #YouAreNotAlone #SecondChances #RecoveryJourney #OneMoreThing
00:00 Coming up on four years sober
00:42 Growing up in South Florida with two parents in addiction
03:18 Knowing early that her dad was using
04:06 The straight-A kid competing for attention
05:10 Starting to use at 13 & four different high schools
08:22 Selling Xanax to feed an opioid habit
09:29 Getting kicked out at 18 & moving out on her own
11:05 The eating disorder that ran parallel for a decade
15:09 Addiction as a symptom — chasing the same escape
24:00 Meeting the man who took her to Israel
28:34 A year abroad & a relationship built on drugs
33:00 The scam that trapped her there & the escape home
36:02 Losing everything & the depression that followed
37:45 The darkest night & her mother saving her life
40:28 Treatment, relapse & the eating disorder that wouldn't let go
43:23 Getting hooked on fentanyl & then crack
46:41 Losing the job, the apartment & becoming homeless
47:59 The prayer in the hotel room
48:54 The miracle phone call & her mother at the door
50:00 Day one sober & the road back
53:10 Full abstinence & why every addiction had to go
01:00:00 Life today: four years sober and helping others
👉Instagram: Instagram: riseabovewithkevin
👉 TikTok: TikTok: rawithk
👉 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/riseabovewithk
✅ For Business Inquiries: riseabovewithk@gmail.com
================================
For Collaboration and Business inquiries, please use the contact information below:
📩 Email: riseabovewithk@gmail.com
🔔 Hit that subscribe button for more exclusive, insightful, and inspiring videos: https://www.youtube.com/@Riseabovepod...
=================================
#mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #corecore #motivation #addictionrecovery #inspiration #selflove #selfhelp #loveyourself
Disclaimer: We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred by you acting or not acting as a result of watching any of our publications. You acknowledge that you use the information we provide at your own risk. Do your research.
Copyright Notice: This video and our YouTube channel contain dialogue, music, and images that are the property of Rise Above with Kevin Lanning. You are authorized to share the video link and channel and embed this video in your website or others as long as a link back to our YouTube channel is provided.
© Rise Above with Kevin Lanning
20 Comments
What they told us in ED treatment back in the day, was that it was never about the food.
Ava im so happy for you becoming a mother and by gods grace you survived your illness and your addictions, you should be so proud of yourself, im so happy for you now your life is giving you what you deserve 🎉
Thank you so much for posting Kevin, you're the absolute best!!!❤xxx
I Had A Degree And A Career While Secretly Addicted To Fentanyl
Rise Above with Kevin Lanning
33,716 views
On paper, Ava Garcia was the kid who had it together — straight-A student, captain of the varsity basketball team, an artist, the responsible firstborn. Underneath it, she was raising herself in the chaos of two parents in active addiction, competing for attention with a younger brother who needed all of it, and by 13 she was already using. She sold Xanax to fund an opioid habit while keeping her grades near-perfect, convinced that as long as she was checking every box, she couldn't really be an addict.
Ava's story is a decade-plus odyssey that most people wouldn't believe: opioids that gave way to a ten-year battle with an eating disorder running in parallel, a chapter living abroad in Israel with a partner deep in his own addiction, alcohol that took over at the end, and a series of treatment centers and relapses. She's remarkably, sometimes darkly funny about it — but she doesn't flinch from the hardest parts, including the night she nearly lost her life and the rock bottom that followed.
What finally turned it was a moment of total desperation, a prayer, and a phone call she describes as nothing short of a miracle — her mother showing up at her door to take her to treatment. Now four years sober, Ava has her life, her health, and herself back, and she's using her story to reach the people who are still where she was.
This is a raw, honest, and ultimately hopeful reminder that no one is too far gone.
Sponsored by Caron Treatment Centers
My recovery journey began at Caron Treatment Centers, and the care I received there changed the course of my life. That's why I'm proud to partner with Caron.
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, Caron has been helping individuals and families find hope and lasting recovery for nearly 70 years. They are in-network with all major insurance providers, and same-day admission is available.
➡️ Learn more: https://www.caron.org/lp/rise-above
📞 Call Caron today: 855-352-0103
Recovery starts with taking the first step.
#RiseAbove #AddictionRecovery #4YearsSober #RecoveryIsPossible #SoberLife #WomenInRecovery #OpioidRecovery #AddictionDoesntDiscriminate #SobrietyJourney #MentalHealth #FromRockBottom #RiseAbovePodcast #KevinLanning #AvaGarcia #SoberMom #FaithInRecovery #YouAreNotAlone #SecondChances #RecoveryJourney #OneMoreThing
00:00 Coming up on four years sober
00:42 Growing up in South Florida with two parents in addiction
03:18 Knowing early that her dad was using
04:06 The straight-A kid competing for attention
05:10 Starting to use at 13 & four different high schools
08:22 Selling Xanax to feed an opioid habit
09:29 Getting kicked out at 18 & moving out on her own
11:05 The eating disorder that ran parallel for a decade
15:09 Addiction as a symptom — chasing the same escape
24:00 Meeting the man who took her to Israel
28:34 A year abroad & a relationship built on drugs
33:00 The scam that trapped her there & the escape home
36:02 Losing everything & the depression that followed
37:45 The darkest night & her mother saving her life
40:28 Treatment, relapse & the eating disorder that wouldn't let go
43:23 Getting hooked on fentanyl & then crack
46:41 Losing the job, the apartment & becoming homeless
47:59 The prayer in the hotel room
48:54 The miracle phone call & her mother at the door
50:00 Day one sober & the road back
53:10 Full abstinence & why every addiction had to go
01:00:00 Life today: four years sober and helping others
👉Instagram: Instagram: riseabovewithkevin
👉 TikTok: TikTok: rawithk
👉 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/riseabovewithk
✅ For Business Inquiries: riseabovewithk@gmail.com
================================
For Collaboration and Business inquiries, please use the contact information below:
📩 Email: riseabovewithk@gmail.com
🔔 Hit that subscribe button for more exclusive, insightful, and inspiring videos: https://www.youtube.com/@Riseabovepod...
=================================
#mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #corecore #motivation #addictionrecovery #inspiration #selflove #selfhelp #loveyourself
Disclaimer: We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred by you acting or not acting as a result of watching any of our publications. You acknowledge that you use the information we provide at your own risk. Do your research.
Copyright Notice: This video and our YouTube channel contain dialogue, music, and images that are the property of Rise Above with Kevin Lanning. You are authorized to share the video link and channel and embed this video in your website or others as long as a link back to our YouTube channel is provided.
© Rise Above with Kevin Lanning