Our "What I Wish Someone Had Told Me" series continues with a different perspective on addiction. Jennifer Kiko, Director of Outreach for Congressman Bob Gibbs, joins Jodi Salvo to discuss her experiences with loved ones struggling through addiction.

Jennifer lost her sister to addiction. She explains how, growing up, addiction and similar topics were not discussed within the family. It's all too easy for someone who doesn't understand addiction to say, "Why can't you just stop?" or "You just need to want to quit." For Jennifer's sister, the one person who connected with her and became her supporting person was their uncle. But when he passed away, Jennifer's sister was left alone, and that was the final push.

Now, Jennifer is on a mission to help those struggling with addiction. She has spent many years learning and understanding addiction, and her message to the community is simple yet powerful: even if you don't understand addiction, you can still love people. And if you are someone struggling with addiction, please know that YOU matter, and your recovery matters.

If you've listened to the previous episodes in this series, you've learned how crucial it is for recovering addicts to have a caring and supporting community around them. And if you're in recovery, you need to trust the people who want to walk alongside you and see you thrive.

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