Jake's Story of Addiction Recovery and Service

How My Addiction Started

In my early teen years, I traded opportunity and potential for the soothing effects of drugs and alcohol. I learned early on, that by using them, I could numb the emotions and stressors associated with my early development. Things like alcohol and marijuana were common in the crowds I wanted to be a part of. So using them made me feel like I’d “fit in.”

Eventually, I began to experiment with other substances. In my late teens and early twenties I would use illicit prescription medications, stimulants, hallucinogens and even over the counter medications to escape from reality. I hadn’t considered these to be a problem though because, I had a job, I paid my rent, etc.

By the time I was in my late twenties, a professional opportunity to become a Union Carpenter came along and I took advantage of it. I quickly considered myself to be financially stable. My substance use would progress to even more dangerous options like heroin and methamphetamines.

The "bottom" of my addiction and the beginning of a meaningful life

 I met a girl and before I knew it she was pregnant. We had our first child in 2013. Six months later she was pregnant with our second child who was born in 2015. I managed to keep my drug use hidden until just before our second child was born. My physical dependency had caught up to me. There was no denying my withdraw symptoms when I ended up in a hospital. I lost my house, job and quickly ended up in jail.  When I got out of jail in 2017 we had rented another house. I went back to using opioids. I overdosed multiple times and was revived by EMS with Narcan. Eventually, DFS stepped in and removed our two young children from our custody. I became homeless, hopeless and began to consider suicide.

I checked myself into a Behavioral Health Unit with severe withdrawal symptoms and suicidal ideation. It was there that I was outreached by a person who was in recovery. He offered me resources and had a solution for every barrier to recovery that I presented. It had been my first experience with a Peer Support Provider. He set me up with an appointment to an Intensive Outpatient Treatment Provider. I went straight to my appointment from the hospital where I received Vivitrol and other therapies. I moved into Sober Living that day.

While in sober living, I became attracted to the impact of peer support. I became certified to provide peer support and began helping at the house as a manager. I got a job as a Certified Peer Specialist at the medication assisted treatment provider that once administered my Vivitrol. After about a year and a half, a position opened up where I had received Intensive Outpatient treatment services. The position was for a Recovery Coach on the same outreach project that put a peer in front of me in the Behavioral Health Unit a couple years prior. I applied for the position and got it!

My Life Today

Recovery and continuing to do the work has given me everything back in my life. I'm now married to the mother of my children, we bought a house, and regained full custody of our children.

I continue to serve my peers as an Addiction Recovery Specialist for You Are Accountable because, someone once helped me. It’s for that reason that I will always do what I can to help others.