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What if the bravest moment isn’t the day you celebrate sobriety, but the day you walk through the door to detox? We sit with Jamaica Bartz, executive director of Waterfront Recovery Services in Eureka, to unpack what medical detox looks like, why alcohol withdrawal can be more dangerous than people realize, and how trauma-informed care changes outcomes. Jamaica’s not speaking from a distance. She started using at 15, cycled through jail and warrants, and hit a point where meth wasn’t a party—it was maintenance. Her turnaround is honest, messy, and deeply human.

We break down the nuts and bolts of treatment: screenings, individualized protocols from nurses and a physician, and 24/7 monitoring that makes the first days safer and more bearable. From there, most clients move into 30, 60, or 90 days of residential treatment to rebuild routines, learn relapse prevention, and reconnect with genuine community. We also talk straight about fentanyl: uneven potency, xylazine contamination, and why “safer” methods like smoking can still be fatal. Harm reduction isn’t a slogan; it’s life-saving literacy paired with medical care and clear boundaries.

The heart of this conversation lives in identity and small beginnings. Jamaica shares how trauma sits beneath many addictions, why group therapy and outside referrals matter, and how everyday joys—movies, quiet nights, volunteering with youth—can replace the high with something steadier. If you want to support, Waterfront needs hands and hearts to help maintain sober living homes—painting, siding, and practical upgrades that keep people stable after treatment. Ready to hear a no-bullshit, big-hearted guide to recovery in Humboldt? Press play, then subscribe, share, and leave a review to help more people find real help and real hope.

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About 100% Humboldt with Scott Hammond

Humboldt County CA USA is the home of some of the most iconoclastic, genuine, and interesting folks in the world.

We are getting curious about the movers, shakers, and difference makers in Humboldt County CA-Home of the giant redwoods, 6 Rivers, and the vast Pacific Ocean.

We will discover what makes people live/evolve in the beautiful, diverse, isolated, and ever-changing North Coast of California 100%!

Listen in and learn what it is to be 100% Humboldt!

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