The Importance of Family Support in Addiction Recovery: Josh Steenburg’s Story
Josh Steenburg’s story of addiction and recovery is a powerful reminder of the dangers of drug abuse and the importance of support from loved ones. Steenburg’s addiction began with marijuana use in high school, but it quickly escalated when he started working on offshore oil rigs and discovered prescription pill cocktails. Steenburg eventually turned to heroin, which took over his life and left him feeling like a puppet with the drug as his master.
Steenburg’s story is unfortunately all too common in today’s society, where prescription opioid abuse has led to a surge in heroin use and overdose deaths. According to the Centers for Disease Control, heroin-related overdose deaths have more than quadrupled since 2010, with three out of four new heroin users reporting that they tried prescription opioids first.
Matt Feehery, CEO of Parc Memorial Hermann Prevention and Recovery Center, believes that the prescription medication boom for opioid medication over the past 20 years has fueled this trend. As more doctors prescribed painkillers, these pills began to end up in the wrong hands, leading to addiction and overdoses. Feehery stresses the importance of families being vigilant in wanting to help their loved ones find a way to recover and intervene before it’s too late.
Steenburg’s family did just that when they saw the signs of his addiction. Jennifer Steenburg, his mother, admits that she didn’t want to believe it at first, but when she saw it in writing, she and her husband fought to get him the help he needed. They loved him and wanted to see him recover from his addiction.
Steenburg’s journey to recovery was not an easy one, but with the help of the rehabilitation program at PaRC, he was able to overcome his addiction. Even after graduating from the program, he continues to come back, giving back to others and offering hope to those who are struggling with addiction. Steenburg is now a licensed realtor with a dream of opening sober living houses someday.
Steenburg’s success story is rare in the world of heroin addiction, but it’s a powerful reminder that recovery is possible with the right support and resources. Families who suspect that their loved ones are struggling with addiction should seek help as soon as possible, intervening before it’s too late. Addiction can be a difficult journey, but with the right support, anyone can overcome it and reclaim their life.
Sources:
- https://youtu.be/G5U3YgkSU1I
- https://www.khou.com/article/features/former-heroin-addict-now-sober-for-1000-days/285-448199838
- https://blog.memorialhermann.org/falling-out-of-love-heroin-and-in-love-recovery/
- https://chat.openai.com/chat
- https://readloud.net/
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