STORIES ARE OUR MEDICINE
Project: STORIES, is very dear to my heart. It is sourced in my deep desire to share the truth about addiction and the source of suffering that leads to it. And, it is honoring my son Alex’s struggles and desperate attempt to get his life back. Project: STORIES is introducing men and women from all walks of life who became sober, and who introduce us to their world of adversity, struggles, desperation, and, ultimately, celebration of life.
It is ALEX4HOPE’s intent to BREAKING the STIGMA about addiction, and show how it can happen to anyone, including really cool people.
Addiction is NOT a moral failure, nor is it a primary disease, nor is it intentional.
Listening to the struggles of those that society ostracizes the most, we are being reminded that addiction is one of the most fundamental manifestations of human suffering.
May the stories inspire us to look out for each other and change the way we view our youth, neighbor, relative, friend and so many more, who struggle.
My friend and collaborator, Ron Greene, is the photographer. Teamwork magic!
"Alex, your life was not in vain. All those amazing humans represented in this project tell the story that you never could share with us."
In doing so, they are offering hope and inspiration for all those who still struggle or feel stuck and hopeless.
My message to those, in speaking Alex’s tongue,
“You are bigger than your pain, you are bigger than your addiction. We see you. You matter. And we want to hear from you.”
Michael Triolo, age 34
“The one thing that seemed to help me the most was this desire to help and support my peer on their path to sobriety. I think that this became the biggest milestone in my recovery. It gave me a sense of purpose.”
Jason Sarris, 53
“Drugs were an escape from feeling the pain I was feeling. And they cost me my time with my kids; I lost the last 10 years of their lives. That is still hard for me to come to terms with, but I have to. That truly is what I lost the most, what I regret the most, and that’s what I feel guilty about the most.”
Sam Lamott, 32
“Becoming sober is a tall order to ask somebody. For me, it was a year of facing the stuff I had been avoiding for 10 years.”
Kate Platte, 26
“When heavily addicted, every day is a battle, it’s about fighting to get money…It’s more than a full-time job and more important than food and water. The tribal instinct is being hijacked, and it makes you think that you need the drugs and alcohol to survive, but they’re really killing you. You need to have faith, and surrender. And go to rehab. It’s a lot easier to be sober, and everything will fall into place.”
Gail Uliston, 64
“It is still alive in me, and I can find myself feeling like I don’t belong every day, so it’s a real battle. But I decided that I don't want to live that life, and this requires work. It requires total surrender. It asks me to do things differently. It’s a real commitment.”
Chris Kohl, 31
“There are moments when you look death right into the eyes, you are faced with all your emotions, all that stuff that you are running from and don’t want to feel. It’s like I was at the fork of the road, and I can either die, be in prison, or I can find this new way of life.”
Justin Huff, 48
“I’ve been trying to get sober for 23 years, in and out. It’s relapse after relapse. It’s been really rough. Really hard to live like that.”
Shane Molinari, 22
“I was always very defensive and would react with anger fits. But deep down I just wanted to be loved and validated.”
Share your story and motivate others to help us break the stigma about mental health and addiction.
Send us an e-mail here.