Episode Details

Natasha Trajkovski’s journey from a young mother battling severe endometriosis to opioid dependency—and ultimately, recovery—exposes the dangerous intersection of chronic pain, overprescription, and addiction. Starting with a prescription meant to ease postpartum pain, her opioid use spiraled out of control, reaching 800mg daily and leaving her unable to function. Despite surgeries and multiple doctors, her pain persisted—and so did her reliance. Now opioid-free for two and a half years, Natasha is turning her trauma into purpose, training to become a drug and alcohol nurse. Meanwhile, experts like Dr. Adam Straub reveal how decades of overprescribing rewired patients’ brains, making withdrawal worse than pain—and why gradual tapering, not abrupt cessation, is the only humane path forward. With initiatives like Monash’s Support-Meds program rising to meet the crisis, Natasha’s story is a powerful call to action: we must fix the system before more lives are lost.

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