After approximately 13 years of active addiction which ultimately stemmed from my father’s unexpected death due to a motorcycle accident when I was 17 where I was left with a substantial inheritance. My downward spiral began the following morning after my family received the devastating news, beginning with OxyContin and ending with any drug or drink I could get my hands on, ultimately burning through every single bit of money, property, and material items I had received.

After many many arrests, toxic relationships, and harming any human being that would give me the opportunity, my home was raided during a tactical raid for the initiative of a sweep across Huntington called “Take back Huntington” which began to arrest potential drug dealers that had sold drugs to addicts and resulted in overdoses across Huntington. The home I lived in had been involved with numerous calls for EMS assistance for overdoses, with the last and final call resulting in the death of someone.

Finally, I was arrested and jailed in Western Regional Jail. After sitting for a few months I was offered an alternative sentence for Treatment which I accepted. Judge Howard sent me to be housed at the city mission to begin Cabell County Drug Court, then shortly thereafter to Recovery Point of Huntington which was not at all an easy task, two of the hardest Programs in the state, but I was desperate enough to accept any suggestion to better my life. I went on to graduate from both programs and moved on to work at RPH in multiple positions, starting with Program Monitor, Recovery Coach, Intake Coordinator, Facility Coordinator, and finally last year in March I was offered the position of Program Director. The life I have today is more gratifying than I could have ever imagined, and cannot be taken for granted. Recovery Point of Huntington gave me a life that one can only pray for. I now have 2 beautiful 2-year-old boys who are the absolute light of my life, and a beautiful girlfriend who painstakingly tolerates my busy, hectic lifestyle. I am forever grateful to my kids, family and friends, the residents of RPWV, my staff members, and Recovery Point of Huntington for making me a better person.