People making recovery from addiction workPersonal stories from people in recovery
Brad's Story: When recovery brings balance and gratitude
"I am so happy I have a life again!" Brad communicates ecstatically with every emotional story about his existence before he chose the road to recovery.
Brad was born and raised in Kent. To cope with his obsessive compulsive disorder as an adolescent, he turned to alcohol and drugs at age 14. He struggled to finish high school while working full-time and living apart from his family where he experienced violence. Smart and resourceful, he worked jobs around the area and out-of-state, all the while losing himself to addiction and often violence. He remembers every date and  has a head for math. And here is a guy who can cook-having made the rounds of Portage County eateries for two decades.
In the late 90's, the tenuous course he had been able to cling to-being just enough drunk to function-spiraled out of control. He was hospitalized and went into detox treatment. He found AA in North Carolina but his commitment was weak and he couldn't stay sober. He found his way back to Kent, hooked up with Dr. Frank Gorbett at Coleman Professional Services and the Intensive Outpatient program with Sue Reeves at Townhall II. Dr. Gorbett told him not to come back until he stopped drinking.
The old Brad said that was ok with him but what he didn't count on was the other Brad who wanted to be clean and sober; the other Brad who wanted a career and a home. He took responsibility and has been sober since Aug. 2, 2001.
He chose recovery and that has meant college, a relationship with his daughter, volunteering in Kent, career prospects, grad school in the future, respect and a new life. He credits Dr. Gorbett with inspiring him to meet the challenge of recovery.
Brad graduated from Kent State University in August 2007 with a degree in community health education. He had jobs in Summit County and Kent working with people with disabilities before moving to North Carolina.
"To get where I am today, it has been a very long and winding road. I appreciate all of it, every aspect of work, every relationship and every opportunity to do good that comes my way," Brad said.
When he lived in Kent he volunteered work with Main Street Kent, the Mental Health & Recovery Board's Standing Committee on Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services and NAMI Portage County.
Brad brings humor to every situation which helps to make it easier when difficult issues arise. He was vice president of NAMI Portage County before moving south. We miss his fun approach to life but he send back a message he was happy in his new home.
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Denise's Journey: Seeing her life destroyed before her eyes
leads to recovery
Denise's life is slowly taking shape again. Her apartment is spotless and has a wonderful fireplace with wood trim. She is taking online courses and working. She is realistic about the lifelong challenges ahead of her.
Sentenced to probation for a felony DUI, she must be alcohol and drug free or she will be headed to prison.
"That's what helped me make my decision to stay sober. I was sick of all of the mess. I had not been responsible with my life," Denise said. The mess included being fired from her long-time job, losing her home and losing her relationship with her children and grandchildren.
She grew up in a small Ohio town near Portage County. She began drinking as a young teen when socializing with friends. Denise went to work at 18. Things started to go downhill in the late 90's when a relationship that she was in began to revolve around alcohol and then drug use every day. She eventually ended the relationship but not before she had become destitute. She became involved with the court system and was facing DUI convictions when the court ordered her to be assessed for treatment. She was living in Portage County at the time so that lead her to Townhall II and Sue Reeves who runs the Intensive Outpatient program.
Denise had been in treatment before but what she needed now was to be away from her old life. Sue suggested Horizon House, Townhall II's halfway house for women. The highly-structured program provided Denise with a focus. She was also going to AA meetings several times a week.
When it came time to face the music for the DUIs, the court sent her to NEOCAP, the Northeast Ohio Community Alternative Program. She survived and went back to Horizon House. With the tools from Sue's program, the support of AA and a new job, Denise found an apartment in Ravenna and started reshaping her life.
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