Sit down with Ret. Sgt. Michael Sugrue: Crime, Addiction and First Responder Trauma

What if everything we think we know about crime prevention is backwards? In this compelling episode of Falling to Freedom, host Chad LaComb sits down with retired police sergeant and decorated Air Force veteran Michael Sugrue to uncover a hard truth from the front lines: most crime has a root; it’s fueled by addiction.

From covert narcotics operations in California to the deadly realities of today’s fentanyl crisis, Sgt. Sugrue shares the rare perspective of someone who’s lived deep inside both law enforcement and the world of substance use disorder. He reveals how trauma, broken relationships, and untreated mental health struggles drive people into cycles of addiction, and how the justice system too often chases symptoms instead of causes.

But this is more than a conversation about crime statistics. Sugrue opens up about his own breaking point after a fatal shooting, the silence that nearly destroyed his family and the healing that came when he finally spoke out. Today, as an author, speaker, and mental health advocate, he’s using his voice to reach first responders, veterans, and anyone who’s been told to “suck it up” and suffer in silence.

If you want to go deeper into Michael’s story and learn practical strategies for surviving and overcoming front line trauma, check out his powerful book Relentless Courage: Winning the Battle Against Front line Trauma, co-authored with psychologist Dr. Shauna Springer.

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What do you think: if we focused more on addiction treatment, would crime rates drop? Let us know in the comments.

#AddictionRecovery #CriminalJusticeReform #FirstResponderWellness