Rising Again: From Battling Addiction to Helping Others Fight for Sobriety

Loving someone who is struggling with substance use can be scary, frustrating, heartbreaking, and overwhelming. But there are people who can help families and friends address the struggle with their loved ones so that they can potentially move toward sobriety. Known for his involvement with the show “Intervention,” and with nearly 36 years of experience and over 15,000 interventions to his credit, as well as personal experience of relapse and recovery, Rod Espudo offers invaluable insight for families and shares a story of resilience and hope. 

A Personal Battle

Before he became a recognized name for his time on the TV show “Intervention,” Rod Espudo was dealing with his addiction struggles. A U.S. Veteran, he was facing the challenges of both addiction and PTSD. 

Entering rehab in 1988, Espudo was part of a new generation of individuals struggling with substance abuse. Coming from an affluent family, with no criminal history, he was part of an emerging population that was addicted to opioids and did not fit the standard definition of what a substance user was. 

Once he went through treatment, Espudo was sober for 15 and half years, and then he relapsed over a 5 month period. However, he was able to do the work to get back on the path of recovery and celebrated 20 years of sobriety this April (2024). 

Finding Healing and Purpose

In American Addiction Centers’ 58th episode of Addiction Talk, Joy Sutton spoke to Espudo about his experiences and what led him to where he is today.

Espudo shared that his experience with relapse, in addition to addiction, allowed him to understand and help people dealing with substance use in a way many others might not be able. “I worked with a lot of people that had relapsed you know and I had an experience in it that couldn’t be bought or paid for at any college.” 

Sharing about his experience with trauma while in the military, Espudo explained, “I wasn’t getting loaded and drunk to get high. I was doing it so I could sleep because I couldn’t fall asleep on my own.” 

Continuing, he shared about the person who ultimately helped save his life. His “name was Jim Stillwell and he did three tours in Vietnam…I looked at this man and that man saved my life. That man alone saved my life, okay, and when I talk to people, I don’t take it for granted any conversation that I have with a vet…that man went out of his way for me and that’s what I’ve done every day since I’ve been around.”

As the conversation continued, Espudo shared that his parents recognized his struggles and brought in an interventionist., “When you think about the fact that you met an interventionist who stepped in, who ended up being in your life, still in your life all these years…what you experienced and being able to show you what they experienced and how that was transformative.”

Resilience and Transformation

In American Addiction Centers’ 58th episode of Addiction Talk, Espudo’s experiences with interventionists led him to a new calling and a new path for his life. 

From interventions with service members and Veterans, to interactions with individuals on “Intervention,” Espudo was able to take all that he learned from his experiences and the people who helped him and become a guiding light for others.  

In this episode, Rod will share a behind-the-scenes glimpse into his real-life intervention experiences as well as his time on the TV show “Intervention.” His story exemplifies resilience, demonstrating that even after a relapse following 15 years of sobriety, it is possible to bounce back. Join us as we delve into Rod Espudo’s remarkable journey of hope and transformation.