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.