Matt Celebrates 8 Years of Recovery

Matt Serel • October 14, 2021

Matt Celebrates 8 Years of Recovery

My Truth

 

Eight years ago today I overdosed on Oxycodone in a hotel room on a work trip. 

 

I woke up in the hospital ICU unable to breathe, not knowing where I was, or how I got there. I only survived that day because my wife, girlfriend at the time, was nervous that I didn’t answer my phone. 

 

Today, I celebrate eight years sober from drugs and alcohol. 

 

The Outsiders Perspective

 

For those of you who know me professionally or peripherally the fact that I was a junkie for much of my early and mid twenties may be a surprise to you. 

 

From the outside looking in the trajectory of my life both before and after I got sober looks uninterrupted and what I would picture as ideal: 

 

  • I started my first technology company in high school.
  • I graduated from Lehigh University.
  • I attended Brooklyn Law School at night while starting a technology company.
  • I founded and sold AccuPoint which is now one of the largest technology vendors in the Autism Behavioral Health space. 
  • I married my best friend that I started dating when I was 18, and we now have a beautiful daughter, a very handsome son, and an awesome dog.

 

However, in reality, there was so much pain and struggle beneath the surface. The last two items on that list almost never happened. 

 

Behind The Highlight Reel

 

Recovery from addiction is hard. It is really, really hard. What I detail below really only scratches the surface of my experience.

 

I remember the fear and shame of being told I needed to go rehab for my addiction. 

 

“What will my friends think? What will happen to my company? What if my partners and clients find out?” 

 

I remember getting back from treatment and my relationships being in shambles. 

 

“How can I hang out with my friends who drink? Will Becky ever see me the same way? How will I go to bachelor parties? How will I get married? How will I enjoy life?”  

 

Lastly, I remember feeling like it would have been easier if I just died on that day 8 years ago. 

 

Unfortunately, like many chronic diseases, my experience is that there is no addiction cure. However, there is treatment that can help you process and put your addiction in remission. For me, getting clean from drugs and/or alcohol was the easy part. Staying clean, and living a happy and free life is the hard part.   

 

This is what my treatment consisted of: 

  • 30 Days at an inpatient rehab, followed by
  • 8 Weeks in an intensive outpatient program - 3 hours a day, 4 days a week starting at 6pm, followed by, 
  • 3 months in a less intensive outpatient program - 1.5 hours a day, 2 days a week, starting at 6pm, concurrently with
  • 1 hour a week of psychotherapy, concurrently with
  • Participation in peer support groups, concurrently with
  • Random drug testing

 

Thankfully, while this was all incredibly hard work, isolating, and immensely time consuming, I was extremely fortunate. I was fortunate because I had health insurance and a familial support system that helped guide me towards quality care in a time where I was in no shape to take care of myself. 

 

I survived that day 8 years ago because my wife was concerned about me. I live today because of the countless people who helped me get back on my feet. 

 

If you or anyone you know are struggling with addiction, there is hope, it can get better, I’m here for you, and I love you.

 

You Are Accountable

 

One of the most amazing things about people in recovery from addiction is that generally, when addicted, they are the most selfish people on the planet. However, once someone finds recovery, almost invariably they do a complete 180 and become the most selfless. 

 

Working on You Are Accountable for the last year has been an absolute dream. For me, there is nothing more exciting than:

 

  1. Taking something that is just an idea and making it a reality. 
  2. Helping other people find sustainable recovery from addiction. 

 

You Are Accountable has given me the opportunity to do the two things I love most at the same time! I literally can’t wait for Sunday night so I can get back to work and help others find the gift of recovery that has been given to me. 

 

In this short time, we’ve:

 

  • Helped more than 100 people work towards sustaining their recovery, or find a level of care appropriate for their disease state. 

 

  • Provided full scholarships to everyone who expressed a need through our Accountable For All scholarship fund. To date, we have helped 11 scholarship recipients sustain their recovery free of charge for a combined total of 1,134 days of continuous sobriety at the time of this writing.

 

  • Built a one of a kind technology platform that keeps both family members, and clinicians informed of the recovering individuals progress in a way that is not intrusive, and reinforces relationships. 

 

Most importantly, I have the honor of seeing the change in the people we work with every day, which helps reinforce my own recovery, and reminds me that the work I do to stay sober is so very worth it. 

 

To all those that have been a part of my journey so far, I am so grateful. Thank you for my sobriety, and thank you for the opportunity to be of service. 


Jason's Story - From Rock Bottom to New Heights: My Journey of Recovery and Reinvention

By Jason Ertrachter • February 4, 2025
With over a decade of alcohol and drug abuse, it became clear I could not drink responsibly or consume in moderation. Upon further review, I came to understand I was never able to drink responsibly and was predisposed to consume in excess. Moderation is a construct I still don’t understand. Alcohol, drugs, sugar, ego, all things I love to indulge in. At 25 years old, weeks before the pandemic, I found myself being escorted by security from my beloved office in a sought-after industry in a glamorous part of Los Angeles. Pursuing a career in talent management, the late nights, weekly drinking, daily drug use culminated in the unavoidable fear, anxiety and sense of calamity that led me to recovery. I asked myself, “What was the common denominator between lost jobs, friends lost, arrests, hurt feelings and selfishness?” People, places, things were always changing, but the one constant in my story was me with drugs and alcohol. Walking into the West Hollywood Recovery Center on Monday February 5th, 2020 at noon was not my first meeting. It was, however, the first meeting at which I listened and actually took suggestions. Meetings as a teenager, and again in college when my drug use got bad, were simply to get people off my back. As I look back, I understand that I actually needed to get out of my own way, not have those who loved me off of my back. I am grateful to have gotten sober during a time when the world shut down and so many struggled. I had nowhere to go, no outside distractions to challenge my commitment. I fully emerged myself in meetings and all that AA had to offer for young people. There were thousands of virtual meetings at every hour of the day, but more importantly, rooms and outdoor meetings in LA that never missed a beat. There was an underground community of meeting makers that continued to go to in-person meetings, masks on, hugs and fellowship. I found that the work of early recovery far outweighed the isolation. I left the entertainment industry with two years of sobriety. New career opportunities opened up pretty quickly for me. Transitioning into the startup and tech sales world, I was able to move back home to New York and be closer to my family. As my sobriety continued, new career paths continued to present themselves. When I was introduced to Matt and AJ, I was immediately impressed with their mission and welcomed the opportunity to join the team. I am confident that the combination of my personal and professional success, as well as my CARC, CRPA certification, made my decision the perfect one for me. Having hit my stride in my own recovery, I now see that that my purpose is to help others. It is a purpose I do not take lightly. I bring the same energy and focus that has helped me to get where I am today to other individuals and families alike looking for a better way.

Stephanie's Story - My Journey to Addiction Recovery and Giving Back

By Stephanie Myers, CPRS • January 29, 2025
My name is Stephanie Myers, and I am excited to be part of the incredible team at You Are Accountable . As difficult as my journey prior to recovery was, I am grateful for every step along the way. My recovery journey began five years ago through what I believe was divine intervention. At my lowest point—mentally, physically, and spiritually—I was led to a 12-step recovery program. Most of my life was spent seeking relief from my internal and external struggles. During my teenage years, I thought I had found a solution, but my addiction only progressed, leading me to the depths of despair. My addiction compromised my morals, diminished my integrity, and left me with a profound sense of hopelessness. Overwhelmed by guilt and shame, I realized that everything in my life had to change. I became willing to do whatever it took to shift the trajectory of my life. Gradually, I connected with others who understood my pain and had found their way to recovery. I dedicated myself to internal work and began to fill the spiritual void that I had been attempting to fill with substances. Today, my life is filled with purpose, love, and more beauty than I could have ever imagined five years ago. It is my passion to help others realize that there is hope on the other side of addiction. As a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, I strive to help plant the seed of recovery and help others grow along their path to recovery.

Brittany's Story: Overcoming Addiction to Find Hope, Healing, and Purpose

By Brittany Pealer, CRPS • January 28, 2025
My name is Brittany, and I’m honored to be part of the team at You Are Accountable . My journey to recovery has been filled with struggles, lessons, and, ultimately, transformation. For years, I lived in the utter hopelessness of addiction, believing there was no way out. A "normal" life felt completely out of reach, and even as a child, I never felt like I had a true purpose. Throughout my active addiction, I found myself trapped in a relentless cycle. I would put one substance down—whether through treatment or court-ordered intervention—but almost immediately, I would pick up another. Each time, I restarted the same painful, destructive cycle, convinced that I could never break free. It wasn’t until I realized that recovery is an inside job that things began to change. Changing people, places, and things (and substances) can only do so much for so long; true recovery requires doing the hard work within. My turning point came when I became pregnant with my first daughter. For the first time in my life, I found a reason to fight for something greater than myself. That moment marked the beginning of my journey to recovery, and through that journey, I discovered the life I never thought was possible. Today, I’m blessed with an amazing job, a beautiful family with two incredible daughters, and an active role in my recovery community. As a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) and Recovery Coach, I am passionate about helping others find hope and healing. I understand the challenges of breaking free from addiction, and I’m living proof that it’s possible to create a life filled with purpose, joy, and connection. Recovery has given me everything I once believed was out of reach, and I’m honored to walk alongside others as they embark on their own journeys to freedom.
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