People who have suffered from addiction understand very well how this chronic disease can take over and ruin lives. Some of the criteria for addiction include an unsuccessful effort to stop using drugs and alcohol and a continuation of drug and alcohol use in spite of worsening, recurring, substance-related problems. Many times, it can be difficult to break free of these behaviors without professional help at drug rehab.

Nick’s Story

When he first came to our drug and alcohol rehab center, Nick, one of our ARC alumni, was suffering from both fentanyl addiction and trauma. Nick says that of all the substances he has used, fentanyl was the most problematic.

Growing up, Nick faced an overwhelming amount of discrimination and trauma. As the middle child in a biracial family and with a father who went to prison before he was even born, Nick found it difficult to bond with most of his peers and classmates. He endured traumatic experiences at a youth boot camp and lost a number of hard-fought athletic scholarships. Nick eventually turned to drugs and alcohol as a way to cope with his pain.

Experiencing Positive Change at ARC

Nick has firsthand experience with fentanyl addiction and knows better than most people how fentanyl can ruin a person’s life. In 2017, fentanyl contributed to an estimated 28,400 overdose deaths in the U.S., which represented more than 40% of all overdose deaths that occurred that year, reports the NIDA.

Nick says that ARC was amazing at helping him transform his life and recover from both past trauma and fentanyl addiction. He says the therapists and classes at ARC helped him identify and overcome the root causes of his trauma and taught him how to cope with stressors and triggers that could potentially lead to future relapses. Nick feels blessed to have been a patient at ARC and is devoted to spreading the word to others who need help fighting addiction.

ARC offers drug detox, alcohol detox, and a wide range of evidence-based therapies effective at treating substance use disorders and addiction. If you or a loved one needs help fighting addiction, contact ARC today at 833-272-7342 to learn more about our available recovery programs.