“I was pretty much born to be an addict and alcoholic.”
Like a lot of people who struggle with addiction, Daniel grew up in a family where substance abuse was the norm. His first drink was at 10 years old—an event tied to deep trauma that would shape his self-worth and decision-making for years to come. Growing up around chaos and addiction, Daniel felt, at an early age, that his story was already written. But after years of grappling with this disease, Daniel found it's never too late to start a new chapter.
Finding the Bottom, then Finding Hope
After spending most of his adult life caught up in the cycle of drug addiction that ended with spending five years in prison on drug charges, Daniel still hadn’t had enough. “Even five years in prison didn’t stop me from getting high when I got out.”
By 2007, Daniel had lost everything—his kids, his family’s trust, and his own sense of self. It was this bottom that led him to the Owl’s Nest for the first time. “I just didn’t want to live that way anymore.”
While the physical detox was tough, the real challenge came when he had to accept that he was powerless over alcohol and drugs and had suffered from a spiritual malady and physical allergy. “When they started talking about the mind and the body, I already knew what time it was.” He realized that his willpower alone wasn’t enough to stop using. He needed a complete transformation.
Embracing Recovery & a New Purpose
For Daniel, recovery was about rebuilding his life. His first job in sobriety? Cleaning tables at The Owl’s Nest. “Imagine the ex-con doing that. Pretty interesting.”
But he stuck with it. He took suggestions. He stayed in Florence, SC for nearly six years while he put his life back together piece by piece. It wasn’t always easy. “Nine months into my sobriety, the mother of my children passed away due to drugs and alcohol. And I walked through that and didn’t get high.”
Instead of running away, he leaned into recovery. Helping others became his new purpose. By his third year of sobriety, he was offered a job—helping people who had walked the same path he once had.
Lessons Learned: Relapse Doesn’t Mean the End
“I relapsed with seven and a half years sober due to me deciding to run the show again…for 3 months I quit doing what I learned in this program, and I drank. And once I drank, eventually, I used drugs.”
But Daniel didn’t let that be the end of his story. With more to lose this time—a wife, stepdaughters, a son he could now support—he fought for his sobriety and his family. “I learned a lesson. Even if you do fall short, that doesn’t matter. You can pick yourself right back up.”
A New Freedom
Today, Daniel is a devoted father, a mentor, and living proof that recovery is possible. “I love helping other addicts and alcoholics. I love seeing the light flick on when they realize they have hope—just like I did when I came through these doors.”
His journey is a testament to resilience, to the power of community, and to the fact that even in the darkest moments, there’s always a way forward.
If you or someone you love is struggling, know this: recovery is possible. Just ask Daniel.
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