What happens when addiction doesn’t start with a bad choice… but with a legitimate injury, a prescription, or simply the desperate need to sleep?

In this episode of the Blah, Blah, Blah… Something Wellness Podcast, host Tami Sharp is joined by Ken Koch, Cory Sack, and Mike Badgley for a raw, first-responder-specific conversation that moves beyond alcohol and into the realities of opiates, sleep-driven self-medicating, and the “softer” addictions many high performers hide behind—like adrenaline, perfectionism, performance, and chaos.

You’ll hear:

How on-the-job injuries can quietly turn into opioid dependency (even when taken as prescribed)

Why sleep struggles are a major driver of addiction (and why so many first responders self-medicate just to shut their brain off)

The difference between hard addictions (substances) and soft addictions (achievement, overworking, overtraining, constant stimulation)

What isolation does to recovery—and why connection is the antidote

Practical ideas to start shifting your nighttime routine and nervous system without shame, stigma, or “just try harder” advice

If you’re a law enforcement professional, dispatcher, firefighter, EMS provider, corrections, military—or a spouse who’s watching someone you love struggle—this one is for you.

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💬 Want to share what’s working for you?
Drop your best sleep or recovery tools in the comments—what actually helps you shut your mind off and get real rest?

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