From Opioids to Natural Medicine: The Story of Russell Langhammer

Russell Langhammer, a survivor, cannabis advocate, microdoser and foremost a dear friend. Originating from Dallas, Texas, Russell has emerged as a dedicated plant medicine advocate in his fight against opioid addiction, traumatic brain injury, terminal illness, and PTSD. Defying dire predictions made by doctors who deemed him nearly disabled—and even declared him dead—these natural remedies revitalized his existence and enabled him to rise from despair.

 

In a life-changing incident in the 2000s, Langhammer sustained a severe back and brain injury while working for American Airlines during a storm at Dallas Airport. This traumatic event triggered his descent into opioid addiction. His struggle began as his doctors prescribed an array of strong opiates and benzodiazepines for pain relief, despite informing him that he might never walk normally again. For years, substances like OxyContin, Dilaudid, Valium, and hydrocodone coursed through his system. Langhammer reflects on those turbulent times, saying, “With hydrocodone, I felt invincible, even at low doses.” Yet it was OxyContin that ensnared him with its atrophying grip.

 

The fallout from his addiction was catastrophic, affecting not just his own life but also that of his family. His grandchildren withdrew, disheartened by the shadow of the vibrant individual they once knew, while his wife ultimately chose to leave him to confront his addiction alone. It took an astounding eight years for his employer to acknowledge the severity of Langhammer’s addiction.

 

 

A Grueling Battle to Heal

Russell used cannabis to facilitate his recovery from opioid dependency and manage chronic back pain, gradually tapering off prescription medications with the use of both THC and CBD. However, his transition was far from swift, nor was it easy. Following Donald Trump’s executive order that banned prescribing benzodiazepines alongside opioids, Langhammer began suffering severe withdrawal symptoms. “It was agonizing. I sought medical help, which led to a sleep aid that put me into a nine-day coma. When I awoke, I realized I had been opioid-free for nine days and had reduced my benzodiazepine intake to three milligrams.”

 

Russell also highlighted that his past fall at the airport had left him with a traumatic brain injury, affecting his concentration, memory, and sleep patterns. However, since starting a microdosing regimen, he reports significant improvements in these symptoms. Alongside countless benefits, he battled PTSD stemming from a lifetime of traumatic experiences. Langhammer found that microdosing helped him untangle the layers of emotional pain and trauma, granting him a new lease on life.