2024 Success Story – Greg

Greg’s Journey from Struggle to Triumph

Greg’s story is one of resilience and transformation. Growing up in Everett, WA, he faced challenges from a young age. By 14, he was using alcohol, marijuana and hallucinogens, which led to his first arrest, his family’s refusal to let him come home, and subsequent stays in drug houses. At 16, he began breaking the law, resulting in his incarceration at age 18– the first of 26 incarcerations. His early 20s were marked by a back injury that introduced him to oxycodone, which he abused and sold on the streets.

At 25, things came to a head when he got two DUIs in one week while on oxy, meth, and benzodiazepines. He knew he was on a path of self-destruction, and truly believed he was going to die. He was booked into Grant County Jail, where a doctor introduced him to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) programs. He was able to give up meth, but the other substances remained a struggle. A treatment provider in Moses Lake urged him to seek treatment, leading him to Triumph’s James Oldham Treatment Center (JOTC) in 2009.

Greg was no stranger to treatment programs, but never been able to finish a program until his stay at JOTC. He says what made JOTC different was the one-on-one counseling, which helped him articulate his struggles better than group sessions. This personalized approach made a significant impact, and Greg began to envision a life he once thought unattainable.

After his time at JOTC, Greg returned to Grant County, which proved to be a challenging environment, and soon moved to Okanogan County with his aunt. He leaned on his training from JOTC, which emphasized the power of choice. “We get to choose what we decide to do.” Greg had several years of free of substance abuse when he met his wife in 2012, and built a transparent, honest relationship with her. “That’s the one thing I wanted to be, an honest man,” Greg says. He worked hard at a production plant in Omak, earning multiple promotions and a feeling of accomplishment.  Later, he worked for Boise Cascade as a power plant operator and was able to reunite with and care for his father until his passing in 2019.

In 2021, Greg felt it was time to return to Okanogan County. He reconnected with his old employer and began shopping for a house. A chance encounter at a grocery store led him to a job offer from the recovery navigator program at Advance NW. Initially hesitant, with a good job and a comfortable life, Greg realized this was his opportunity to give back. He joined Advance NW in August 2022, first working with clients on the streets and then building a jail program that has sent 150+ people to treatment.

Greg now oversees the Chelan-County jail program and is building a similar program in Grant County. These programs offer recovery coaching and peer support for incarcerated individuals.  They work closely with various treatment centers, including Triumph, to secure inpatient and outpatient services for clients, receiving referrals from jail staff, drug court teams, and the Department of Corrections. They also assist clients with IDs and licenses, employment, housing, and mental health services, bridging numerous gaps in the system to secure these necessary things. Upon their release, clients are met with essential supplies and transportation, minimizing the risk of relapse. Greg says that despite challenges his clients often face, like waitlisted treatment centers and lengthy assessment times, Triumph Treatment Services has been instrumental in ensuring that no one loses a bed.

Greg’s work is vital, with so many individuals experiencing substance use disorder feeling abandoned by society and their families. By offering transparency and honesty, he provides a lifeline to those who have lost hope. He collaborates with drug courts, judges, and prosecuting attorneys, emphasizing the need for a cohesive system.  When asked about the challenges and obstacles he’s faced along the way, Greg responds, “I don’t think I’m going to stop until I’m stopped. I’ll take it like I take everything else, as far as I can.”

Greg’s journey from addiction to recovery and his dedication to helping others is a testament to the power of resilience and the impact of supportive programs. His work with Triumph Treatment Services and other centers has transformed countless lives, proving that with the right support, recovery is possible.