By Jason Parsons | Peer Support Specialist
Hi, my name is Jason, and I grew up in a small coal-mining town in Eastern Kentucky. Our town was tight-knit and surrounded by hardworking families, but when the drug epidemic swept through, it showed no mercy. Addiction doesn’t care about your background or dreams, and it consumed me for seven years.
Today, I give all the praise to God because I’m lucky to be alive. I found a new life and purpose I never expected. So many people I grew up with never got the chance to recover, but my story is proof that no matter how dark it gets, there’s always hope.
Falling into Addiction
Like most addictions, mine didn’t begin overnight. I experimented with drugs here and there, but in 2015, it spiraled into a full-blown habit that took everything from me. Addiction didn’t just rob me of my possessions; it stole my relationships, my dignity, and my identity.
Drugs turned me into someone I never thought I’d be. I grew up in a big, loving family, but my addiction made me a thief and a liar. Eventually, I wasn’t welcome in my own home. My family wouldn’t enable my behavior, and I don’t blame them—they didn’t recognize me anymore. With drastic weight loss, ruined health, and a complete disregard for hygiene, I became a shell of the man I once was.
I spent years couch-surfing until I had nowhere else to go. Homeless and desperate for my next high, I sold everything I could to keep the vicious cycle going. During this time, addiction stole precious memories with my child. He deserved a father, and I failed him. This realization haunted me every day.
The lowest point of my life was my grandmother’s funeral. High and out of control, I embarrassed my grieving family. I realized my behavior caused them constant worry and pain. They didn’t know if the next funeral they’d plan would be mine.
That day, my father gave me a choice. He looked me in the eye and said, “The only thing I’ll do for you is take you to treatment.” He wasn’t angry—just desperate to save my life. After hours of soul-searching, I finally agreed. I had lost everything and didn’t see many options left.
The Road to Recovery
Walking into treatment for the first time was terrifying. I thought I’d made a mistake once I knocked on the door. But then the staff welcomed me with open arms and told me it was going to be okay. For the first time in years, I felt cared for.
I spent a year in treatment, and during that time, something amazing happened. They didn’t just help me heal physically—they helped me rebuild my life. They loved me back to life.
For years I carried shame and regret, but the staff showed me how to forgive myself. Slowly, I began to trust people again and found strength in their belief that I could change. And I did.
After graduating treatment, I stayed to intern at the facility. I earned my Peer Support Specialist Certification and began working full-time in the field. My dream was always to own coal trucks and work like generations before me, but addiction robbed me of that dream. So, I made a new one: to help just one person escape addiction and find freedom, like I did.
A Life in Recovery
Recovery wasn’t easy, and it didn’t stop after treatment. In 2024, I took another big step by moving from Eastern Kentucky to Elizabethtown. Leaving the only place I’d ever lived was scary, but it gave me a fresh start. Today, I work at Recovery Works, helping others still battling addiction.
Every day, I strive to treat people with the same dignity and respect that was shown to me. I want them to know they matter and that their lives are worth saving. When someone walks through those doors, scared and defeated like I once was, I remind them that recovery is not only possible—it’s worth it.
God has blessed me in ways I never imagined. I now have an incredible wife who supports me, and together we’ve built a home and a life filled with love and hope. For the first time, I have stability—a reliable vehicle, meaningful work, and the ability to plan for a future beyond survival.
The Message of Hope
To anyone struggling with addiction, I promise you this: there is hope. No matter how far you’ve fallen or how much you’ve lost, you can turn your life around. The path won’t be easy, but it’s worth it.
Addiction is a thief—it takes everything if you let it. But you don’t have to stay stuck. Places like Recovery Works can help you find your way back.
My worst day sober will always be better than my best day as an addict. Recovery has allowed me to forgive myself, rebuild relationships, and become the man I was meant to be. If you’re struggling, reach out to someone—anyone. Taking that first step can be the difference between life and death. Recovery is possible. I’m living proof.
About The Author
