RECOVERY STORY OF THE MONTH!
Adam T.
Sobriety date: 1-6-2017
My name is Adam and I am an alcoholic. I’m 33 years old and I’m from Akron Ohio. I’ve struggled with the disease of addiction and alcoholism since I was 16 years old. From the time I was 16 years old my addiction to drugs and alcohol has led me to many places. Places such as group homes, detention centers, juvenile treatment centers, juvenile prisons, adult Treatment centers, county jails and the penitentiary. But in March, 2013 my addiction and alcoholism led me to a place that completely changed the course of my life. And that place is the Ed Keating Center.
But in March, 2013 my addiction and alcoholism led me to a place that completely changed the course of my life. And that place is the Ed Keating Center.
I learned about the Keating Center from my stepfather who is the active member of a twelve step program. When I first got to the Keating Center, I didn’t really know what I wanted. I honestly just didn’t have anywhere to go. From March, 2013 until December, 2016 I came in and out of the Keating Center. I would put together 5 months of sobriety, then 6 months of sobriety, then 8 months of sobriety but eventually I would relapse. I’ve been halfway at the Keating Center 13 times that I can remember and every single time I did the exact same thing. I would come to the center and go halfway. I’d go through the process and slide under the radar. I would always do the bare minimum and as soon as I’d go 3/4 , I would put everything else in front of my sobriety and eventually it led to me relapsing. I didn’t do the things that were suggested of me. Things like get a sponsor, work the steps, get a home group or become an active member of a twelve step program. I did the exact opposite and I used. I repeated this process for the next 4 years.
In December of 2016 I was living at the Keating Center and I was 3/4. I was doing the same thing that I always did, and one day I got into a situation that was too much for me to handle. So I did what I always do when I can’t handle life; I relapsed and I overdosed. Needless to say I was kicked out of the Keating Center, so I went back home to Akron for a week. After that week I called Marty and I asked him for one more chance and just like the 12 times before he told me to come back.
For the first time in my life I truly believed I had to change or I was going to die.
Now you could call it a “moment of clarity” if you want. But all I know is I was scared. And looking back now I believe that fear was enough for me to become willing to do something different. For the first time in my life I truly believed I had to change or I was going to die. I came back in January, 2017 and something inside of me was different. For the first time since I’ve been coming to the Keating Center I made a pact with myself that I would do everything I could to change the person that I was. That I would take all the suggestions that I could from people that were only trying to help me.
So I got a sponsor. I got a home group. I worked the steps. I built a relationship with a higher power. And those few simple things are the reasons why I can say that since January 6, 2017 I haven’t taken a drink or used a drug. They are also the reasons why I get to be a father to my son today. The reason I get to be a son to my parents today. A brother to my siblings. And a true friend to the people that are close to me in my life.
I’m also forever in debt to Marty Taft the man who took chance after chance after chance on a kid that just couldn’t get it right.
Those things are the reason that I’m alive today. And without the Ed Keating Center I’m not quite sure if I would have found my way to a twelve step program. I’m forever grateful to Jack and Phyllis, the two founders of Ed Keating Center who came up with the simple idea of a Safe Haven for drug addicts and alcoholics to live for free and to get an introduction to a twelve step program. This program gives them a chance to be a halfway decent human being. I’m also forever in debt to Marty Taft the man who took chance after chance after chance on a kid that just couldn’t get it right. Because that’s what he was taught — to never give up on a drunk, and he never gave up on me. I love the Ed Keating Center. I love what it’s done for me. I will always try to give back any chance I get.
* Editor’s note: “¾” is a step in the recovery process above “halfway”. It means working and paying rent.