This week on Sober Champs, Pete and Aidan sit down with Allison, who opens up about her journey from a seemingly "normal" childhood in North Seattle to full-blown addiction by her teens. Despite coming from a supportive home and academic-focused parents, Allison shares how her restless energy and untreated ADHD led her to chase chaos at an early age.

From acting out in middle school to introducing harder substances into her friend group in high school, Allison paints an honest picture of how addiction doesn’t always stem from trauma. It can also grow quietly in the spaces where we feel unseen or misunderstood.

The conversation dives into early recovery, the illusion of “figuring it out” after rehab, and the dangers of relying on self-knowledge alone. Now over a decade sober, Allison reflects on the importance of community, humility, and the power of learning from others’ experiences before having to hit every wall yourself.

This episode is for anyone who thought they could outsmart addiction… and learned the hard way that healing requires more than just understanding. It requires surrender.