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Mormon Stories 798: Overcoming Opiate Addiction - Thomas Pt. 1

1,982 views · Published 27 September 2017 · 1:13:54 · Indexed 1 November 2026

Channel: Mormon Stories Podcast · 2017 · Education

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In these important episodes of Mormon Stories, we interview Thomas to understand his journey in overcoming opiate addiction.  As opiate use reaches epidemic proportions in the United States and numerous other places in the world, many of our listeners have been impacted by the epidemic in some way.  There are multiple facets to this story we cover including:

*How childhood sexual abuse had a direct affect on Thomas' later drug use
*How the LDS Church's messaging on sexuality played a major role in negatively shaping his self-identity
*Learning to use drugs as a tool to avoid feeling
*What it was like living a life addicted to drugs
*How family, friends, and church authority/members can better help struggling addicts
*The impact his crisis of faith has on his life now, and his vision for the future

We thank Thomas for bravely sharing his story, and know it will impact many, many lives for good.

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq-uR8to5_0
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Kn8Z1kQJN0

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Timecodes:
00:00 Introduction
05:37 Welcome Thomas
06:36 Why talk about this topic in a public forum?
07:27 Is there an epidemic going on?
08:44 Mormon background and upbringing
10:04 Level of orthodoxy
11:47 Comment by a live listener
12:14 What experiences led to wanting to try drugs
13:42 Sexual abuse
17:45 Parents found out
19:37 Mormon context of the abuse
20:24 Brother's passing
23:05 What was tormenting him?
35:04 Effect on Thomas
28:31 LDS messages about sexuality
33:05 Talking about masturbation compared to drugs
39:01 Thomas' thoughts, moving on with his story
42:50 Intense amount to carry. Going into high school years
52:52 Trying to get help?
55:04 What led to the 1st time drug use
1:00:24 Explaining about some common opioids
1:02:59 First time using
1:04:40 Dad finds out, expanding into other drugs
1:06:14 Influence from psychological emotional distress
1:07:44 How to get drugs, finances? Building up
1:09:42 FB comments
1:10:25 Signs in teenage children to see they are using
1:13:43 End titles

#LDS #Mormon #PostMormon #ExMormon #MormonStories

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