Location: United States
Member Since: May 09, 2015

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Michele Zumwalt

Biography

After a near death experience from an addiction to prescription drugs, Michele Zumwalt has dedicated her life to helping others find hope and recovery. She is a devoted wife and mother of two beautiful daughters. Michele has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration, Marketing. Her story was featured on the CBS Evening News, “Eye On America,” NPR “Morning Edition,” and was highlighted on numerous television news, radio programs, and in newspaper articles. Michele has been the keynote speaker for many notable organizations such as the Sacramento Women’s Expo, Sacramento Monthly Speaker Meeting, the University of California, Davis, medical student classes, etc. As an advocate for legislative advancement in treating drug addiction, she has successfully changed California State Law, specifically the way opiates are distributed. She is a Law Enforcement Chaplain and a Critical Incident Stress Debrief Facilitator, assisting Police Officers after Officer Involved Shootings and the community in traumatic situations such as death notifications for Sacramento County. She serves as a Finance Elder for Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church. She sits on the Board of Directors for the American River Alano, which serves thousands seeking 12-Step recovery. Michele is Executive Director of a non-profit children’s charity, Contractors Caring for Kids, which she and her husband, John, founded in 1995. Over $500,000 has been raised for local children in need. She has a steadfast faith in God and her life’s purpose is found in serving Him by serving others.

Smashwords Interview

We are hearing so much about prescription drug addiction in the media lately. Just how big is this problem?
It's massive! Prescription drug addiction has recently been called an epidemic in America by the Department of Health & Human Services. Americans are only 4% of the world’s population and yet we take 80% of all narcotic prescription medications. More people die every year from prescription drug overdoses than from car accidents. Every 19 minutes, someone dies from a prescription drug overdose and as a Law Enforcement Chaplain in Sacramento County, I know. I’ve done far too many death notifications and witnessed too many preventable deaths just in our county alone. Since 1999, the number of narcotic prescriptions in the US has quadrupled. That’s why I wrote the book, “Ruby Shoes: Surviving Prescription Drug Addiction,” to bring hope to a hopeless situation.
How did you become addicted to prescription drugs?
Like almost everyone who becomes addicted to prescription drugs, I was caught off guard by the addiction. Most people become addicted because of an injury or some type of chronic pain problem. I developed headaches in college and started on opiates to treat the pain. There’s nothing social about prescription addiction. No one goes to a bar to take some prescriptions. It’s all very benign and clinical. The doctors prescribed it, and so it’s safe, right? The problem is that prescriptions are taken at home alone and when we get in trouble with these powerful drugs, we are alone with the problem. I became addicted very quickly and struggled with this addiction for years. It almost killed me.
Read more of this interview.

Where to find Michele Zumwalt online

Website: http://www.amazon.com/Ruby-Shoes-Surviving-Prescription-Addiction/dp/1512080861
Twitter: @MicheleZumwalt
Facebook: Facebook profile

Where to buy in print

http://www.amazon.com/Ruby-Shoes-Surviving-Prescription-Addiction/dp/1512080861

Books

Ruby Shoes: Surviving Prescription Drug Addiction by
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 42,870. Language: English. Published: February 9, 2016 . Categories: Nonfiction » Self-improvement » Addiction & recovery, Nonfiction » Inspiration » 12-step programs
Millions of people worldwide suffer from prescription drug addiction. “Ruby Shoes” is a true story about a devastating prescription addiction tornado, being lost in a strange world, and the precious gift that takes us HOME. This book offers a personal account of the horrors of prescription drug addiction and a biblical, 12-Step, life application solution to the problem.

Michele Zumwalt's tag cloud

12 steps    addiction    addiction and recovery    addiction to pain pills    celebrate recovery    drug addiction    prescription addiction    prescription drug addiction    recovery books    ruby shoes   

Smashwords book reviews by Michele Zumwalt

  • The Parker Affair on Nov. 19, 2015

    Awesome book! I LOVED it. Rich and wonderful family story that leaves you appreciating the lasting love of the characters. This is a must read!