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A life of
substance without substances
By Bob Robinson
DAYTON – “I stole from them, I lied to them… I did everything a junkie
does,” said college graduate Matt Stevens. But they didn’t give up on
him. Acknowledging the 12 years he spent on drugs, the people he hurt,
Stevens was grateful for his family’s support.
“Having them in my corner means a lot… mom, dad, my sister… I have a
stack of mail from family, friends and relatives. My sister has written
me every day.”
Stevens graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 2006 with a
bachelor’s degree in communications. The 32-year-old started there with
marijuana. “It was the thing to do,” he said. “But what started as
recreational turned habitual.” His experimentation with drugs included
pain pills and opiates; for the last three years he was on heroin.
He was given the option of the MonDay program when he was convicted of
F5 Theft by Deception. “The real reason was I was a drug addict.” The
Eaton resident added at times he was going to a methadone clinic, then
started getting his drugs on the street. He thought he could get away
with the theft, admitting the drugs had clouded his judgment. “I didn’t
even get any money out of it.”
Following his conviction he spent six days in the Preble County jail,
awaiting transfer to MonDay. “It was eye-opening,” he said. “I don’t
ever want to be locked up again.”
March 4 was day number 126 for Stevens in the MonDay program. “I’ve
asked myself for several months why I did this.” He had no answer, but
considered himself “blessed” to have had the opportunity instead of
prison. “This program has saved my life. It’s had a positive influence
on me… I want to stay clean.”
Stevens anticipates leaving (graduating) sometime in March. He said
he’ll be living with his mom and dad and has a job waiting for him on
release.
“I worked for a restaurant chain. I told them what was happening; they
gave me a leave of absence… actually I may have two jobs. I may also be
able with work with mom in her business.”
His ultimate goal, however, takes him on a different track. “I want to
come back here, on the other side,” he said. “I have to stay clean, but
I want to work here… maybe as a clinician or a resident advisor.”
MonDay program Director Michael Flannery was unaware of Stevens’ goal
but said having a former resident return to the program to work was not
unusual. “As many as 75 percent of our employees were former residents
of the program.”
In a later communication, Flannery addressed a statement made by
Adriane Scherrer, CEO of Enhancements to Your Workplace, that people
who are dependent on drugs are the “best liars in the world.”
Flannery responded when someone is in the active addiction phase,
“he/she is very distrustful and will say or do anything to get a ‘fix’”
including lying. In treatment, the addict learns the harm he or she has
caused and what is needed to mend those fences; also to develop trust
in new relationships.
Over three-fourths of MonDay’s graduates have stayed clean after two
years. Some have returned to MonDay to work, some have not. However one
of Stevens’ comments might apply to most successful graduates: “I want
a life of substance without substances.”
Published courtesy
of The Early Bird
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