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From Rock Bottom to 10 Years Sober: Marci Hopkins’ Powerful Recovery Story

February 24, 2026

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  • The initial step toward turning chaos into clarity is surrender, which means turning over the problem to a higher power and focusing only on what one can control. 
  • Recovery is not about willpower but requires transformation through rewiring the brain via small, daily habit changes and developing tools for solution-based living. 
  • Parents whose children are using must act immediately, get educated, seek help for themselves, and understand that street drugs necessitate immediate intervention like rehab, as burying a child is the ultimate devastation. 

Segments

Sponsor Introduction and Book Release
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(00:00:36)
  • Key Takeaway: OneCall Placement offers substance use disorder referral services at 888-831-1581, affiliated with Carrera and One Method Treatment Centers.
  • Summary: Marci Hopkins, author of Chaos to Clarity and host of Wake Up With Marci, is introduced, celebrating 10 years of sobriety. She is currently promoting her new book, Wake Up, You’re Not Broken: What to Expect in the First 30 Days of Sobriety, set for release on January 5th.
Rock Bottom and DUI Wake-Up
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(00:04:08)
  • Key Takeaway: Marci Hopkins’ rock bottom occurred on October 3, 2015, culminating in a DUI after using alcohol as liquid courage for a modeling gig.
  • Summary: The DUI served as the wake-up call, though Marci admits to past shame regarding picking up her children while drinking. Her alcoholism was normalized due to generational alcoholism, stemming from childhood sexual abuse which she used alcohol to cope with later in life.
Confronting Trauma and Mother’s Death
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(00:08:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Marci confronted her stepfather years after the abuse, and her mother, who stayed with him initially, eventually divorced him due to escalating issues.
  • Summary: Marci’s mother died from addiction five years prior to the recording, leading to complicated grief where Marci felt peace that her mother’s suffering ended. She realized she was mourning the mother she wished she had, a common experience when parents are lost to addiction.
Surrender and Recovery Misconceptions
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(00:15:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Surrender in recovery is not giving up, but turning the problem over to a higher power while actively focusing on controllable actions.
  • Summary: People misunderstand recovery by believing it relies solely on willpower or that it means giving up fun; in reality, it involves creating change and rewiring the brain through daily habits. The fear often stems from not knowing how to live without the substance, though true joy and laughter are found sober.
Breaking Stigma and Shatterproof
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(00:22:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Marci advocates that addiction is a disease, not a moral failing, and parents must act urgently rather than caring about social stigma, especially with fentanyl risks.
  • Summary: Marci promoted the national nonprofit Shatterproof, which works to break the stigma around substance use disorder, highlighting the tragedy of parents hiding addiction deaths. Resources like Shatterproof’s Atlas program can help families find in-network treatment options, sometimes covering significant portions of initial costs.
Faith and Spiritual Reconnection
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(00:29:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Marci reconnected with God during early sobriety by praying at a small chapel altar, leading to a strong spiritual connection that guides her life.
  • Summary: While raised religious, Marci felt disconnected during her addiction, but found solace in prayer during early recovery, leading to a strong energetic connection to God. She now sees signs from the other side, which informs the subtitle of her book.
Motherhood and Forgiveness
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(00:32:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Motherhood fueled Marci’s sobriety because the fear of losing her children provided the strength needed to change her victim mentality.
  • Summary: Marci uses the AA tool of ‘popping the tape’ to visualize the wreckage of drinking when tempted, preventing relapse. She achieved self-forgiveness a couple of years into sobriety, which was freeing and allowed her to forgive others, recognizing her part in the chaos.
Transcendence and Book Summaries
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(00:44:53)
  • Key Takeaway: Transcendence means moving from the hell of addiction or trauma into thriving by implementing tools and changing one’s mindset.
  • Summary: Chaos to Clarity is a memoir detailing trauma, addiction, and transformation, offering tools for self-love and forgiveness. Wake Up, You’re Not Broken serves as a daily companion guide for the first 30 days of sobriety, covering cravings, triggers, and the science behind early recovery, acknowledging that AA alone may not be sufficient treatment.