Addiction
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The Hidden Struggles of Utah’s ‘Perfect’ Families
They looked like the perfect Utah family. But behind the Christmas cards and Scout badges, Peggy and Steve Ayers were facing addiction, trauma, and heartbreak.
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Why Utah’s Addiction Programs Fail After Detox
Utah’s addiction programs help people get clean, but what happens next? Without housing, jobs, or long-term support, many fall back into old habits.
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Salt Lake’s Whack-a-Mole Battle With Homeless Encampment
Salt Lake police keep clearing camps, but encampments reappear elsewhere. With no long-term solutions, the city is stuck in a whack-a-mole battle.
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Inside Utah’s $17M Magnolia Apartments: Where Compassion Turned Deadly
Magnolia Apartments were built to uplift Utah’s chronically homeless with dignity and support. Five years later, nearly half the residents are dead. What happened inside this $17 million experiment in…
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How Big Pharma Sold America the Lie That Pain Shouldn’t Exist
Is pain the enemy—or the warning we ignored? As opioid deaths rise in Utah, this investigation explores how Big Pharma’s promise of pain-free living became a deadly lie, destroying lives…
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Utah Man Rebuilds Life After 13 Stabbings and Addiction
After years of addiction and homelessness in Salt Lake City—and surviving a brutal stabbing—Jeffrey Kaiser Plante finds hope and purpose at The Other Side Academy, where recovery meets real change.
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When Suburban Dreams Turn Toxic: A Utah Mom’s Opioid Nightmare
She had the house, the kids, the picture-perfect life. But behind closed doors, Marci Slough was unraveling. In a state obsessed with appearances, her transformation from suburban mom to heroin…
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The Bench That Changed Brian Billmeyer’s Life
Brian Billmeyer’s life spiraled into addiction and homelessness until he found himself on a bench at The Other Side Academy. That moment marked the beginning of a journey toward accountability,…
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Utah’s Homeless Crisis: Repeating California’s Mistakes?
Salt Lake City’s homeless crisis isn’t just growing—it’s spiraling out of control. Millions are being funneled into so-called solutions, yet addiction, crime, and chaos dominate the streets. Why is Utah…
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The Other Side Village: A Bold Answer to Homelessness?
Brian shouldn’t be alive today. Years of addiction and homelessness had pushed him to the brink, leaving little hope for survival. Today, he stands as a testament to transformation, coaching…
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Red Barn Academy in Farmington: A Unique Path to Addiction Recovery and Community
In Farmington, Utah, a transformative recovery program is changing lives for those battling addiction. Through a structured community approach, participants gain accountability, life skills, and the tools needed to rebuild…
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Bonding Over Meth: Nicholas Smith’s Startling Path to Recovery, Purpose, and Leadership
At just 13 years old, Nicholas Smith used meth for the first time—with his own mother. Growing up in a home filled with chaos, addiction, and crime, his life seemed…
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From the Streets to Empowerment: Tiffany Blair’s Journey of Survival and Transformation
Tiffany Blair once described her life as using her body like an ATM to survive on the streets. From a childhood spent under viaducts to repeated stints in jail, she…