Addiction has a way of consuming everything in its path—family, friends, health, and even life itself. It can strip you of your identity, your sense of worth, and your ability to function in the world. I know this firsthand, having walked down the dark road of addiction and come out on the other side. Today, I’m the proud founder of Vertical House Sober Living, and my purpose is clear: to help others who are struggling with addiction find a new way of life—one that’s built on faith, support, and healing.
I’ve walked through the fire, lost loved ones along the way, and battled my own demons. But through God’s grace, I found recovery. Vertical House Sober Living is here to offer that same opportunity to those who are ready to make a change. But let me share my story with you first—it’s a journey from addiction to redemption, and it’s the reason I’m so passionate about helping others find recovery.
My Journey Through Addiction
Growing up, I was terrified of drugs and alcohol. I saw firsthand what they could do to people—how they could change someone’s personality, ruin their health, and tear apart families. I thought I was immune, that I could stay away from the same fate. But as a young teenager, I was introduced to marijuana. It was a simple step—just a little curiosity, nothing serious. I was 14 when I first smoked it, and it was everywhere. It was easy to get, everyone was doing it, and it felt harmless at the time. It wasn’t long before marijuana became a regular part of my life, and I believed that it was just a phase, that it wouldn’t harm me.
I was wrong.
The Escalation to Harder Drugs
As I got older, I was exposed to more substances—LSD, Ecstasy, Xanax. I found myself drawn deeper into the world of addiction, trying to escape the pressures of life, the weight of my insecurities, and the emotional scars I hadn’t dealt with. By my sophomore year of high school, drugs were no longer something “other kids” did—they were part of my reality. I was partaking as much, if not more, than my peers. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was spiraling into a destructive cycle that I would struggle with for years to come.
There’s one experience I’ll never forget. I took too much LSD one night and had the most terrifying experience of my life. I couldn’t tell up from down, and for what felt like hours, I had no identity. I had no name, no family, no sense of self. I literally forgot who I was. It was a nightmare. It felt like an eternity, and it left a mark on me that I carry to this day.
A Close Call with Cocaine
As if that wasn’t enough, I was constantly looking for new ways to numb myself. At 17, I decided to buy a half ounce of cocaine to sell, thinking it would help fund my reckless lifestyle. I was obsessed with it, and I didn’t have the ability to manage such a large amount of narcotics. My friend Jim and I spent the night using the cocaine—doing as much as we could handle. That evening, I passed out in a pool. I woke up hours later, in the back of an ambulance on the highway, just off the 610 loop in Houston. I had drowned, but someone had pulled me out and saved my life. If I had been alone, I know I wouldn’t have made it. It was a close call—one that I should have taken as a sign, but at the time, I was too deep in my addiction to understand its significance.
In addition to the drugs, alcohol played a huge role in my downward spiral. I got arrested three times and wrecked cars due to my drinking. In fact, I was probably the only person in my neighborhood to get a DUI before I even turned 20. My life was out of control, and I was slowly, but surely, destroying everything around me.
The Loss of Friends to Addiction
Along the way, I lost some of my closest friends to drugs. One of the most painful losses was one of my best friends Brady. Brady and I grew up together. He came from a broken home—his mom lived nearby, but his dad was in Oklahoma. Every summer, I looked forward to Brady coming to town so we could hang out. Those summers were filled with smoking weed, partying, and trying to escape from the problems we both faced.
Brady had a particular love for prescription pills—especially Percocet. I watched him take fistfuls of these pills, what he called a “cocktail,” to get high. I’ll never forget the time he took over 20 pills at once. I never joined him in that, but I watched as his addiction grew stronger. By 2010, I felt a strange urge to reach out to him. It had been six years since I’d seen him, but I had this overwhelming feeling that something was wrong. I called his mom, but she didn’t pick up. I then contacted his brother, Rocky, who told me that Brady had just left for work. He asked me to call back in a few hours. I did. But two hours later, Rocky called me back with the devastating news—Brady had died from a Percocet overdose. I can still remember the feeling of guilt, knowing I could’ve tried harder to reach out sooner. That feeling haunts me to this day.
Another friend, Jim, also lost his battle with addiction. Jim was a brilliant guy—a piano prodigy and an avid reader. He had so much potential. But his addiction was too powerful. After I left for college, Jim discovered heroin, and it wasn’t long before it claimed his life. His death hit me hard, but in a way, I knew it was coming. He had so much talent, yet the drugs had control over him. They took everything, including his life.
A Wake-Up Call: The Diabetes That Changed My Life
By the time I went to college, my drug use had slowed down, but my drinking was still out of control. In fact, it was the drinking that eventually caught up with me. After years of excessive alcohol use, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. It was a life-changing diagnosis. For a long time, I struggled with the condition, but in a strange way, it became the wake-up call I needed. I believe that if I hadn’t developed diabetes, I would’ve continued to destroy my life with alcohol. Instead, this condition forced me to slow down, reflect, and make a change.
Looking back, I know that diabetes saved my life. Without it, I’m sure I would have gone down a much darker path. My relationships—especially with my wife and children—would have crumbled, and I likely wouldn’t have survived. It was God’s way of giving me another chance. And today, I am thankful for that. My diabetes has become a reminder of how far I’ve come and how fragile life can be.
The Role of Faith in My Recovery
While I have great respect for traditional recovery programs, my journey was different. My recovery was built on my relationship with Jesus Christ. I rely on my faith to guide me through every day, every temptation, and every challenge. I’ve learned that I’m not invincible, and that recovery is a daily process. I pray every day for God to guide my thinking and my actions, and I invite the Holy Spirit into my life at every moment. This relationship with Christ is what has sustained me—and continues to sustain me—on my journey of sobriety.
I know I’m not alone. During my time in rehab, I met some incredible people who were also fighting the battle of addiction. I still keep in touch with some of them today. But even after rehab, addiction remains a constant threat. One of the men I met during treatment relapsed on fentanyl and tragically passed away. His story serves as a stark reminder that recovery is a lifelong commitment. Sobriety is not a one-time achievement—it’s something you have to fight for every day.
Why Sober Living is Vital to Recovery
This is why Vertical House Sober Living is so important. Sober living homes provide individuals with the support and structure they need to transition from rehab to independent living. Recovery is a process, not a destination. Vertical House offers a safe environment where individuals can continue to build their lives in sobriety, connect with a community of people who understand their struggles, and maintain accountability to their recovery program.
The road to recovery is long, and it’s not easy. But it is possible. And at Vertical House Sober Living, we are here to walk that road with you. We provide a space where people can come together, share their experiences, and rebuild their lives—one step at a time.
The Final Takeaway: Drugs Kill, but Jesus Saves
Looking back on my journey, I know I was lucky to survive. Addiction almost destroyed everything I cared about, but through the grace of God, I found recovery. My story is a testimony to the power of faith and community in overcoming addiction. The takeaway is simple: drugs kill, but Jesus saves.
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, don’t wait until it’s too late. At Vertical House Sober Living, we are here to help you start your journey toward healing and recovery. With the right support, the right faith, and the right community, anything is possible.
Reach out today, and let’s start this journey together.