Phyllis, affectionately known as “Philly” by those closest to her, never quite felt like she belonged. Adopted into a loving family, she began drinking by the age of 14 to quiet her restless mind. What started as sneaking out and drinking quickly spiraled into decades of chaos. Her life became a blur of jail time,…
Cassandra’s story didn’t begin with addiction; it began with chaos masked as normalcy. She grew up in a home where alcohol flowed freely, where parties were constant, and where dysfunction was prevalent. “We were as dysfunctional as a family could be,” she recalls. “My parents sold alcohol, so the house was constantly full of people……
Tim’s journey to recovery is one marked by deep struggles and a transformative shift in perspective. Before arriving at Healing Transitions, Tim’s life was consumed by alcohol and drugs. “It was a disaster,” he reflects, recalling how he started drinking at 14 and turned to drugs shortly after. He managed to avoid serious consequences for…
Chassity looks back on her life, now as a dental assistant at Spectrum Family Dentistry, and can’t help but marvel at how far she’s come. “I never imagined I’d be here, but I’m here.” Growing up in Comfort, North Carolina, in a family of 9, Chassity faced hidden struggles. After her mother passed away when…
When a loved one battles addiction, the entire family feels the weight of the struggle. But when that person finds recovery and healing, the whole family experiences the transformation as well. Each journey to recovery is unique, and this is the story of Lindsay and Betsy—a mother and daughter whose lives were profoundly shaped by…
Alicia endured a series of heartbreaking losses in 2015, losing both her mother and experiencing a miscarriage within the same year. The pain from these events led her to begin using drugs in 2016, and soon after, she fell into a deep depression. In 2020, following a traumatic breakup, Alicia’s struggles escalated, and she began…
Listen in as we talk to Christine Wagner and Cris Clemmons, members of the NC State Extension Master Gardener Program, who have been volunteering at Healing Transitions for 10 years. They visit both campuses to tend to the gardens, working hands-on with participants and teaching them how to maintain a garden year-round and utilize compost.…
Adam Cohen and Cooper Heins, founders of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit ArtGivers, have a mission to make the healing power of original art available to more people in more places. They purchase art from emerging artists and donate it to mission-driven organizations, including free and charitable medical clinics, shelters, and drug rehab centers. ArtGivers’ artwork is…
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 fentanyl poisoning epidemic, determined to break the stereotype surrounding addiction and honor his memory. Josh’s father, Cliff Zinner, his aunt,…
Jay’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,” a period of life marked by pain and a loss of hope, where each day was a routine of finding ways…