Episode: 12 – Substance Use Nostalgia

In Episode 12 of The Support and Kindness Podcast, Greg and co-hosts Derek, Rich, Liam, and Jay unpack “substance use nostalgia” – the tendency to romanticize past drug or alcohol use and forget the consequences. They explain how internal and external triggers (like music, places, emotional upheaval, and old friends) can spark cravings, and they offer practical tools such as the 3 R’s (Recognize, Remind, Remove) and HALT (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired) to manage urges. Through candid personal stories, they show that nostalgic thoughts about using are normal, not a sign of failure, and that positive recovery-based nostalgia can become a powerful source of strength. The episode closes with resources like 988, findtreatment.gov, SMART Recovery, and SAMHSA, plus a reminder: you don’t have to face cravings or recovery alone.