I remember Googling,

"Are you an alcoholic?"

and not thinking

people who drink normally

don't wonder that.

I never thought it was a problem.

I just go to another doctor and they would prescribe it, and then,

well, heroin is pretty much the same thing.

I didn't like

going outside like that, but

I wasn't going to hide in the house my whole life.

It was just like

you can't touch me. I felt like I had superpowers.

Moms want to fix things for their kids,

and I couldn't,

I couldn't fix him,

and I didn't have anyone to talk to about it.

I called that number and

they asked how they could help.

Having the employee assistance program

saved my life.

I don't know that I would have stopped drinking as early as I did.

How can anyone ever step up and say,

"I need help"

or "My

person I care about

is dying."

You can't do that

[whispering] when everyone is forcing you to whisper.

We talk a lot about addiction,

we don't necessarily talk a lot about recovery.

23 million Americans

live in long term recovery today,

right now, here in the United States,

-but where are their stories? -People need hope

and whole towns are dying.

People need to see, people like me

that are striving and thriving,

you can overcome it.

[music]