Josh Zinner, a vibrant 23-year-old known for his warmth, friendliness, and adventurous spirit, tragically passed away on March 10, 2023, due to fentanyl poisoning. This heartbreaking loss inspired Josh’s family to spread awareness about the…
Jay Winfrey’s journey into recovery wasn’t so much a planned path as it was finding himself at the end of the road. He describes his years in active addiction as “wallowing in a mud puddle,”…
At just 13, April began drinking and using drugs, paving the way for a long and difficult battle with addiction. With six DWIs and a few run-ins with the law, April’s substance use disorder spiraled…
Markel Joseph’s life began with boundless energy, laughter, and an infectious love for people and dancing. Growing up, he was known for his lively spirit, and people gravitated toward him because of his upbeat personality.…
You might recognize Alex Warren from leading Track Tuesdays at Saint Augustine’s University Track or catching him trail running around town. Either way, he’s doing what he loves—running and helping the community. As the…
Jason was 18 when he first experimented with cocaine and pain pills, marking the beginning of a 3-year spiral of heavy drinking and substance use, which eventually resulted in a car wreck while driving the…
From the outside, Joy Reybein seemed to have it all together. She had a job as a paralegal, was married and had raised her children. But deep down, she was struggling to keep it all…
Kendal Smith, 30, is a survivor, beating cancer as a young child and facing heart surgery as a teen. While his early life was rocky due to illness, when he looks back at his childhood…
You may have seen Jackie’s work when you’re walking through downtown Raleigh at her public-facing art studio at Artspace. Or maybe you’ve heard some of the inspiring conversations she’d had with other career-minded artists on…
Timmy Fox’s remarkable journey from a participant in the Healing Transitions Long-Term Recovery Program to Silver Chipper #984 is a testament to the transformative impact that recovery has had on him. His unwavering commitment to…
Daniel was raised in a loving, two-parent home and according to him, he had “everything anyone could ever want or desire.” When Daniel, 38, left home for North Carolina A&T State University, he was introduced…
For many, finding support after starting their recovery journey looks like attending a regular AA meeting, meeting with their mentor for coffee, or serving as a peer mentor to help others seeking freedom from addiction.…
Addiction affects everyone in the orbit of a loved one battling the disease. And miraculously, so does recovery. Jake and his close-knit family were faced with the terrifying reality of addiction not long ago. His…
Many people come to Healing Transitions to find recovery. Rhonda Spence came to help her son as he sought freedom from addiction. Ultimately, she found her own recovery too. “I started coming to the…
Arriving in Raleigh on a Greyhound bus with only eight dollars, two pairs of clothing, and two sandwiches, Myron shares, “I didn’t have any hope. I had to borrow hope from someone who believed that…
Chad Aultman, 41, describes his life before sobriety as “darkness with glimmers of light.” On top of battling addiction, Chad experienced several traumatic events, including the devastating loss of his wife in 2019. Left…
Lindsay Smith, a 33-year-old mother of two, had a transformative experience at Healing Transitions. Her journey has been tumultuous. Wrapped in addiction and in an abusive relationship, Lindsay looks back on this period of her…
At the age of 37, Travis Hill is a testament to the transformative power of healing and recovery. His life before coming to Healing Transitions was a whirlwind, trapped in the throes of drug addiction…
From a well-respected, affluent family in Kinston, Kathy has suffered from the relentless disease of addiction since high school. What began as social drinking spiraled into a dependency on hard drugs through a career in…
As we approach Veterans Day, we celebrate not only the bravery and sacrifice of those who have served our country, but also their remarkable journeys of resilience and recovery. Russell Wooley’s journey to healing is…
Like so many children who experience abuse and trauma, Freddy started experimenting with drugs and alcohol at an early age as a way to escape the mixed-up emotions of his childhood. “I started smoking weed,…
On December 15, 2022, I graduated from Healing Transitions’ long-term recovery program as silver chipper #1000. And even though I’m no better than anyone who’s come before me or who will come after me, being…
Before I came to Healing Transitions, my life was screwed up because of drugs and alcohol. My using caused me to go to prison for a little while. Then, even after I got out, I…
I’ve been exposed to drugs and alcohol my whole life. At age 12 I tried drinking for the first time while I was camping with some of my family. One of my relatives gave me…
Early years Growing up, I was a good kid who enjoyed playing soccer all the way through high school. But at age 16, I started smoking pot and hanging with the wrong crowd, which basically…
Early trauma Like a lot of stories I hear, I had a pretty traumatic childhood. My mom was 16 when she had me, and she and my dad got married because of the pregnancy. When…
15 Years Ago Looking back, my problem with alcohol began to truly escalate 15 years ago. I was married at the time, and I began to get careless with drinking. I began getting into trouble…
Note: This article is a continuation of Healing Transitions’ SEE RECOVERY series. Some of what is told in this story reflect what was told in the previous two articles, so you will want to go…
Note: This article is a continuation of Healing Transitions’ SEE RECOVERY series. Some of what is told in this story reflect what was told in Chris’s recovery story, so you will want to go back…
Growing Up I had a pretty normal childhood, growing up. I’d never really get in trouble, I was a straight-A student, and had really good parents. I did feel a little socially awkward but had…
The Beginning I started drinking at 18, which is kind of a “late bloomer” for a drinker. I had been smoking pot and dropping acid before that, but when I started drinking I drank heavily.…
When I was growing up, I guess you would say that I was kind of a square, so I always followed my brothers and their friends so I could try and fit in with them.…
When I was young, I grew up with a family that was very loving. We moved around a lot because of my mom’s job, which meant that I would start getting along with the kids…
When I was 16 years old, I got drunk for the very first time. I thought it was normal because I was drinking with my friends on the weekend, and that’s what high school kids…
I was 34 years old when I entered the doors of Healing Transitions. I was broken and desperate for a dramatic and much-needed change in my life. My childhood dreams of becoming a nurse like…
I grew up in New York before moving to North Carolina when I was in my early teens. Not too long after moving here, I had my first experience with drugs and alcohol. I was…
A lot of my drinking was based on my childhood. My real parents were divorced when I was an infant. My mom remarried and I was abused physically and mentally. When I turned six, my…
For the last five months before I made it to Healing Transitions, I disconnected from my family and my first child, Brody. At the time he was four years old. I was couch surfing and…
My name is Dorothy Matteson Pierce and I am silver chip number 84! I came to The Healing Place, now Healing Transitions, at the age of 25 and was completely broken emotionally. I grew up…
I came through the doors of Healing Transitions on January 9, 2012. I was a 33-year-old high school dropout, and I had spent the better part of my adult life incarcerated as a direct result…
When Casy and Jason had met in 1999, they were already actively using. From the start of their relationship, drugs and alcohol were a big part of their relationship. “We were together for a year…
BEDS OF
SHELTER
PROVIDED
(Since 2001)
MEALS SERVED
(Since 2001)
ALUMNI TAX
WITHHOLDINGS
(Since 2007)
RECOVERY
PROGRAM
ALUMNI
(Since 2001)
At Healing Transitions, we’re all about freedom, dignity, and hope. We do this through a long-term recovery program, a non-medical detox, and an emergency shelter. We make it our mission to see the potential that exists in each person, even when they are at their lowest point. We’re here for all people, under the influence or not, and regardless of readiness for change. Because everyone needs a glimpse of hope to believe life can get better. And even one encounter with someone in our village (whether participant, alumni, or staff) might just save their lives. So, whatever brings them here, and however long they’re willing to stay, our doors are always open. No matter what.
