The tragic missteps of drug-induced homicide laws - Article

"Proponents of DIH laws compare them to DUI laws, but this is a false equivalence. Even DUI laws, which are among the most commonly prosecuted, fail to prevent repeat offenses."

Grieving Overdose Death Podcast

Susan Claire's beautiful podcast was created to give a voice to those who have lost someone close to them from an accidental overdose. Parents, spouses, sisters, brothers and others are interviewed to celebrate the life of their loved one who died from an overdose and to remember this person as more than their addiction.

Heroes of the Addiction Crisis

On Medium.com / Authority Magazine
"I am the most proud when I can address stigma from the perspective of the family. When I can speak to politicians at the local, state and federal level about what families need and how their policies impact family members, I feel like I am speaking up for the me of the past.
I also consider it a privilege to work with family members after their loved one has lost their battle. It is so hard to find someone who has actually been where they are and to be able to witness their pain and just hold space for them is an honor. It isn’t easy but I feel it is the service I’ve been called to do. When someone breathes out that 'thank you,' I know exactly where they are coming from."

Illegal Opioids Are Hurting Too Many of Us. We Need a New Approach

RAND Campaign
Fatal overdoses are on the rise in the United States as potent, synthetic opioids—such as fentanyl—proliferate. But deaths are just the tip of America's iceberg-sized opioid problem. To save and improve lives, policymakers will need to take a holistic approach. People who use opioids and their families should be at the heart of this new response.

What I Wish The World Understood

I wish the world understood that addiction is a family disease. It's a community disease. It's a disease enabled by ignorance; prejudice and discrimination; and policies rooted in years of bias, arrogance, and intolerance. Addiction does not discriminate based on color, socioeconomic status, or

how much someone is loved.

I wish I had known.

Presented at "Families Can't Wait"

National Federation of Families 2022

Hopestream Episode 113

"Sometimes there's a story so unbelievable it's hard to know where to start when telling it. This is one of those. My guests are a mother (Pattie Vargas) and daughter (Rebekah Mutch) and they trusted me with sharing their family's journey to hell plus the miraculous twist that no one saw coming."

Brenda Zane

The Real Hopecast

In this episode we welcome the mother daughter team of Pattie Vargas and Rebekah Mutch discussing their resilient journey...the loss of a marriage...the disease of addiction...the death of a son, and believing for hope and resilience in the face of heartbreak.

We will also discuss the clinical trial being conducted at Isaiah House Treatment Center for the N.E.T. (Neuro Electric Treatment) device, which is used to eliminate symptoms of withdrawals from opiates with no medication needed.

The Mother Lab

"On this very special episode of The Mother Lab, I chat with three moms who are touched by addiction in different ways. Sharing my personal experience, and listening to theirs, we cry, and we find hope together. It isn't always easy to talk about -- and many don't want to, but that's why we MUST.

Meet Pattie, Diana, and Aleksa."

Nicolette Emmino

Your Bright Recovery

Pattie Vargas lost her son, Joel, in November 2017, to overdose. After this tragic experience, Pattie found new purpose in advocating for meaningful change in the way we address Substance Use Disorder and the accompanying stigma and trauma.

These Ghosts Must Be Heard

H Lee has a conversation with advocate, mother, state rep with The Recovery Advocacy Project, blogger and author, Pattie Vargas. Hear the story of her son, Joel Mutch, a smart and creative young man, who she lost in 2017 to Opioid Use Disorder.

Stories of A Parent Coach: Recovering Together

For those struggling with substance use, the decision to seek treatment can be filled with emotions – anxiety, fear, frustration, even uncertainty. For parents and family members, these emotional moments and conversations can be difficult to navigate, wondering what’s the best way to help a loved one.

I Love You In a Place With No Space and Time

"Today, I have another grief episode for you, but it's not from a sibling perspective--it is from a parent perspective. My friend, Pattie Vargas, lost her son, Joel around Thanksgiving in 2017. She talks about Joel and how different grief has been for her."

Jaclyn Brown

Why It's Important to Support Harm Reduction

This has been the deadliest year on record for overdose deaths and yet we have many tools that can save loved ones. This webinar is designed to help you understand what harm reduction is, why it can save lives, and the steps communities and families can take to prevent the often-deadly outcomes of the opioid epidemic.