Welcome to the first episode of The Real Dope, where we, sisters Meridith Elliott Powell and Elizabeth Brand, get honest about what it’s really like to love—and live with—someone who struggles with addiction. In this episode, “How Did I Get Here?”, we’re diving headfirst into the most loaded question we hear: “Are they an addict?”

We open up about our own experiences: how confusing and isolating it feels to constantly second-guess what you’re seeing, to bargain with yourself (and with your loved one), and to wonder if you’re the one overreacting. Instead of chasing that elusive label, we share the most powerful shift we made in our own journeys—turning the question back on ourselves and asking, “Is this a problem for me?”

By focusing on our needs and boundaries instead of trying to fix or diagnose someone else, we found agency, healing, and the freedom to make choices—whether it meant staying, going, or simply taking back control over our own lives. Throughout this conversation, we swap stories, laugh, get vulnerable, and remind you: it’s okay to have your own limits, and it’s more than okay to put yourself first on this painful path.

Join us and find the support, validation, and real talk you deserve as we help you navigate life alongside addiction—one step, one story, and one honest conversation at a time.

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