“Drugs never gave me anything. Sobriety has given me literally anything I want to achieve, as long as I put in the work.”
Growing Up
Zody’s mother worked multiple jobs while he was growing up, which meant he spent a lot of time on his own. Even though he was active in school and had many friends, he never felt like he had real friendships.
“I always felt different than everyone,” Zody said. “I had a lot of friends from different cliques, but I still didn’t feel like I fit in anywhere, so in my later years of high school, I started self-isolating.”
During this time, Zody quit playing sports, stopped being active in school and didn’t hang out with anyone. Instead, each day after school he would go straight home to play video games and be alone. In the latter years of high school, Zody would find a new group of friends, which lead him to his introduction to marijuana.
“I was around 16 when I started smoking pot,” he said. “I started skateboarding and hanging out with that stoner type crowd and we would smoke weed together every so often after school.”
This was only the beginning, as after high school, Zody would turn to harder drugs.
“After high school, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do,” he said. “I went to a private liberal arts college because everyone always told me to be successful in life, you had to go to college. After a semester and a half, though, I moved back home, got my own place and was on my own for about a decade. College just wasn’t for me back then.”
After moving back home, Zody started hanging out with people he knew from high school that had stuck around his hometown. From age 19 to 20, Zody started smoking marijuana more often and when it became hard to find, he decided to start selling it himself.
“After I started selling weed, I always had people over at my house hanging out, drinking and smoking,” he said. “It was the first time in my life where I felt like I fit in. It was also when I was introduced to harder drugs like pills, hallucinogens, cocaine and eventually found heroin, which changed everything.”
In the Midst of Addiction
The minute Zody found heroin, he knew he was in trouble. Describing the drug as a “warm blanket,” he said after using heroin, it was the first time he felt normal in his own skin. This was also the time everything in his life truly started going downhill.
“After feeling the effects of heroin, I immediately started chasing that feeling every day,” Zody said. “Everything started speeding up quickly. I started shooting up and ended up in jail and a couple of rehabs. It was multiple years of just hell.”
The drug use began taking a toll on his family. At first, they were oblivious to his addiction until they started to understand the signs. Zody began isolating himself once again until the addiction got so bad, he began overdosing and stealing from his family to support his habit. Continually putting his mother in bad situations, she decided it was time for some tough love. The last time he got out of jail, his mother told him he was no longer allowed at her home.
Knowing he had a problem for years, Zody said he just didn’t know how to stop his drug use until he hit rock bottom.
“Everyone’s rock bottom is different,” he said. “Mine was more of an emotional rock bottom. Everyone had shut me off except my dad. He let me come stay with him, but I screwed that chance up as well.”
Zody’s father, who was a former drug addict himself, was fighting to get his daughters back from Department of Child Safety during this time. The plan was for Zody to stay clean, get a job and be on the straight and narrow. This didn’t last long until Zody began shooting up again inside the home. Finally, Zody took a long look at his dad and saw the changes he had made in his life.
“My dad, who I always thought of as the drug addict, was no longer that,” he said. “I realized I was worse off than he ever was. My dad was finally doing something good for himself and the family. After almost overdosing one night, my dad and I got into a scuffle, and I finally realized I needed to change so I could make something of my life.”
Road to Recovery
After bouncing around in a couple of rehabs, Zody found Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery in Flagstaff, which would help him turn his life around for good.
“Coming into B2B, I immediately knew it was different,” he said. “It was a small group of guys all around my age and by listening to their stories and trying to get well together had a big impact on me.”
B2B offered Zody counseling, life skills and ways to get emotionally, physically and spiritually healthy. Backpacking trips helped teach him leadership skills and how to work in groups. Therapy sessions helped him deal with the trauma of his past. Being in the outdoors opened his mind to a higher power guiding his life. Each aspect of the program left a mark on him, leading him to the life he leads today.
“I’ve been sober now for five years,” said Zody. “Everyone’s life has ups and downs, but with the connections I built at B2B and the recovery rooms we were brought into by the program, I know I can get through anything life throws at me.”
Zody is now back in school working on his bachelor’s degree in social work and plans to enroll in a master’s program after graduation. With his degrees, he eventually wants to become a therapist to help others who have gone through similar situations in life. Being sober has changed Zody’s life forever. He now has the tools and skills to lead a fulfilling life and knows that as long as he continues working on himself, he can achieve great things.
“Drugs never gave me anything. Sobriety has given me literally anything I want to achieve, as long as I put in the work.” FBN
By Roy DuPrez
Roy DuPrez, M.Ed. is the CEO and founder of Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery in Flagstaff. DuPrez received his B.S. and M.Ed. from Northern Arizona University. Back2Basics helps young men recover from addiction to drugs and alcohol. Back2Basics is an adventure recovery program, up to six months, for young adult males ages 18-30 with substance abuse issues looking for a positive and meaningful life. In our program, clients are exposed to a weekly combination of both wilderness adventures and residential programming. For more information, visit back2basicsoutdooradventures.com, call 928-814-2220 or email rduprez@b2badventures.com.
Courtesy Photo: Hiking in the red rocks and spending time in nature is part of the recovery program at Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery in Flagstaff.
