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 wrong way down a highway, leading to his first arrest.
Shortly after the accident, Jason met a woman who was in a 30-day treatment program. They quickly formed a relationship, had a son, and eventually got married, having a completely dry wedding.
“We ended up relapsing that night,” Jason shares. “We had planned to just take a sip of champagne, but we drank the whole bottle.
By the end of their wedding week, they were using cocaine and pills again, launching Jason into a 15-year battle with addiction. Throughout his 20s, he continued using cocaine, Adderall, and pain pills. However, as the cost of these substances increased, he sought a cheaper alternative.
“At 30 years old, I tried heroin, and I loved it. It was cheaper, but it didn’t stay that way as the disease progressed,” Jason says.
Jason used heroin for five years, during which time he and his son’s mother separated. He took on the responsibility of raising his son from ages three to thirteen.
At 35, Jason decided he wanted to get off heroin, but instead, he switched to methamphetamines. This decision continued his downward spiral, leading to stealing, losing his job, and eventually overdosing in front of his son.
“That’s the one thing that hurts the most because my son was there, and I know he’ll always remember it,” Jason shares.
A couple of months after his overdose, Jason went to jail, and his parents took custody of his son. When he tried to regain custody, his parents called CPS the day after he went to court. Still on probation, Jason’s home was raided, resulting in another six-month jail sentence.
Following his release, three Rapid Responders, Trish, Dane, and Bruce, became his harm reduction supply. That December, when he had no family for Christmas, Trish reached out to Jason, asking if he needed anything.
“Trish’s message meant more to me than anything because, at my lowest point, someone just asked how I was doing,” Jason recalls. “I couldn’t be around any of my family, none of that.”
A month after this email Jason went to jail for the last time. This was when he started to realize he had a problem.
Jason knew of Healing Transitions, and he knew he needed a long-term facility. Once he was out of jail, Dane from Healing Transitions showed up at his door, which was the turning point for Jason to seek help. Reflecting on this moment, Jason recalls thinking, “If you stay sober, you’ll get your son back.” Yet, he confessed to God, “I don’t know how to stay sober.”
When he first arrived at Healing Transitions, Jason thought, “I’d give it a shot because I’d lost everything.” He adds, “I’m just grateful for Healing Transitions because they gave me a place to sit down and be still.”
Today, Jason’s life is a testament to the joy of recovery. He can pick up his son whenever he wants; they play pool together and spend time at the lake. Jason aspires to work in recovery and share his experiences to help others.
“I want people to know that you can come back from losing everything—a house, a car, a job, a child—everything,” Jason says.