·S1 E20
He Survived 10 Overdoses and Came Back From the Edge. He Has a Message for Every Terrified Mother.
Episode Description
He was stealing liquor at seven. Smoking by eight. By fifteen, he'd had his first overdose. By twenty-seven, he'd attempted suicide three times and spent eleven days in a coma.
Ash Vardanyan is in long-term recovery — clean since December 15, 2011 — and now runs treatment programs, including work specifically with veterans. In this conversation, he goes through what he calls the real story, not the headline version: the childhood trauma that preceded the addiction, what actually happens inside a relapse, what treatment centers don't tell desperate families, and why he believes shame does as much damage as the drug itself.
Near the end, he speaks directly to two people who may be watching: a parent terrified their child is using, and someone still in it right now.
This is a conversation about addiction, recovery, and the difference between hope and action.
Watch the full episode of INSIGHT — the first Armenian-English podcast on power and influence in the US — and follow for new episodes every week.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, SAMHSA's National Helpline is available 24/7 and confidential: 1-800-662-4357.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
To reach Ash's team directly at LACATC (Los Angeles County Addiction Treatment Center), call (844) 714-1200.
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 – Cold Open
0:50 – Intro
0:55 – Childhood in Armenia and the Roots of Trauma
5:05 – First High: "Gone Without One Smoke"
5:33 – First Overdose at 15
8:24 – Rock Bottom: 10 Overdoses
9:15 – Deciding to End His Life
9:54 – 11 Days in a Coma
10:46 – What People Don't Understand About Addiction
13:46 – Alone in the Room
14:52 – The Night of 400 Pills
17:35 – Raising His Son Differently
19:02 – What's Sold to Desperate Families
31:40 – The "Boy Child" Problem in Armenian Families
38:43 – Rejected by the Military for Being High
40:32 – From Rejected Addict to Treatment Center Founder
47:05 – Building a Home for Veterans in Recovery
48:04 – Clean Since December 15, 2011
49:38 – Is Shame Deadlier Than the Drug?
51:57 – If They Don't Want to Stop, They Won't
53:26 – A Message to Every Terrified Mother
55:03 – A Message to Anyone Still Using
Filmed at The Reserve Lounge, where luxury cigars, private events, and curated experiences come together, an elevated setting for conversation.
Instagram.com/ reserve_lounge
This episode is presented in partnership with Garikimot, luxury lakefront vacation rentals set in the gated Terra Lago community of Indio, California, minutes from Palm Springs and Coachella. Private saltwater pools, lake and mountain views, and space for groups of up to 23. Plan your stay at garikimot.com.
Instagram.com/gariki_mot
Watch the full episode of INSIGHT — the first Armenian-English podcast on power and influence in the US — and follow for new episodes every week.
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