When Chet reflects on what his life was like in active addiction, one word resonates deeply with him: hopelessness.
“I had reached a point where I thought there was no hope for me to ever change my life or to be able to find sobriety,” Chet shares. “I had resigned myself to the fact that this was how I was going to live the rest of my life until I died, which I thought would be pretty soon.”
Growing up in New Orleans, Chet was no stranger to the party culture that surrounded him from a young age. By the time he was 15, Chet had already witnessed the tragic consequences of substance abuse, losing a close friend in a car accident related to drinking and driving. “You know, at the time, I thought it was bad luck, and it was unfortunate, but I really didn’t think substances had anything to do with it. And throughout high school, I continued to drink and party more and more.”
Yet, it wasn’t until years later, after his own battle with prescription opiates and alcohol, that Chet would confront the reality of his addiction.
“I never viewed it as addiction or alcoholism”
Despite a deep love for his family and a desire to live a better life, Chet found himself stuck in a cycle of relapse. His addiction brought not only external consequences like a DUI and financial strain but also internal turmoil—depression, anxiety, and fear. “When all the signs were there that I was an alcoholic and I was an addict, I was in the depths of denial. I refused to see those signs,” he says. “For the longest time, I never viewed it as addiction or alcoholism.”
Yet, through the chaos, a moment of clarity emerged. Lying on a couch, detoxing, Chet was struck by a thought that would change his life. “I had this realization that all I had done was create chaos and take from everyone around me, and I really hadn’t done anything to benefit others,” he recalls. “For some reason, that thought is what pushed me to reach out for help.”
The Turning Point Toward Recovery
“So, before I got sober for the last time, I was 100% convinced that I could never stay sober,” Chet remembers. “I had already tried treatment multiple times, and I thought I was just one of those people that nothing on this earth would help me stay sober.”
At first, Chet resisted the idea of a residential treatment program, skeptical after having tried both inpatient and intensive outpatient programs before without long-term success. Yet, after facing the pain of relapse once again, he decided to let go of his fears and commit fully to his recovery.
Chet’s decision to seek treatment once more led him to Longbranch Recovery, this time accepting the higher level of care he truly needed, and found a place that would become instrumental in his journey toward sobriety.
“I remember calling Longbranch back, speaking to the same person who helped before, and saying, Hey, look, I relapsed. I need help,” Chet remembers. “I was bawling, crying on the phone, and he said, Hey, it’s not a problem. We’ve got a bed for you right now.”
Finding Hope and Community at Longbranch Recovery
Reflecting on his time in residential care, Chet describes it as a turning point. “The counselors that I worked with really helped me dive deep and solve some of the underlying issues that perpetuated my addiction,” he says. “One of the biggest things Longbranch taught me was to surrender control.”
Through the 12-step program and the supportive staff, Chet learned to let go of his constant want to control everyone and everything around him and learned tools to help him maintain sobriety.
Chet also found hope in the community at Longbranch, meeting like-minded residents who would become lifelong friends and help him embrace a new way of living.
“A big thing I learned in inpatient treatment at Longbranch was how to have fun sober. The hardest I have ever laughed in my life was an evening hanging out with some of the guys and girls in Longbranch. I’ll never forget that evening. It was one of the best times of my life, and that really helped me find hope that there was a future for me.”
After completing residential treatment, Chet made the decision to continue his recovery journey by moving to a sober living home in Minnesota. “We all had the same goal: to maintain our sobriety. We all were very serious about our recovery,” Chet recalls of his fellow residents in sober living. “We also all wanted to have fun and live our lives. And so it allowed me to learn to have fun again, and learn to live life again sober, and live life on, on life’s terms.”
Once in the Darkness of Addiction, Now a Guiding Light in Recovery
Chet’s life today stands in stark contrast to the chaos of his addiction. He is now a loving husband and proud father and is the Alumni Coordinator for Longbranch Recovery, where he helps guide others on their own paths to sobriety. In addition to his work at Longbranch, Chet also operates sober living homes, offering the same life-changing environment that helped him maintain his recovery.
One of Chet’s most powerful lessons in his recovery is the importance of connection. “I’m a big believer that connection is the opposite of addiction,” Chet says. He emphasizes the critical role of building relationships and staying involved in the recovery community. Whether it’s through his work at Longbranch and his sober living homes, recovery meetings, or daily support from friends and family, maintaining these connections has been key to his sobriety.
Today, Chet’s life is not just about staying sober—it’s about thriving. He has built a life full of purpose, joy, and fulfillment, something he never thought possible during his years of active addiction.
“I want to give back what was given to me, and what was given to me is, simply put, a life worth living. I am proud of the life that I live now. I could not be happier. I want to help other people find that kind of life, find the beauty of life, and find the gifts of recovery.”
Chet’s transformation from a life consumed by hopelessness and denial to becoming a guiding light in the recovery community is a testament to the power of resilience and hope. On his journey of healing, he learned to let go of control, found support in a community of like-minded individuals, and discovered the joy of sober living. Today, Chet not only leads a fulfilling life as a loving husband and proud father but also extends his hand to others as they travel their own path to recovery.
More Recovery Stories from Longbranch Alumni
Like many veterans, Wiley struggled with the invisible wounds of war, turning to substances to cope. But at Longbranch, he discovered a supportive community of peers, tailored therapy, and a path to recovery.
Watch Jenny’s inspiring story of overcoming a 14-year struggle with alcohol and opioid addiction. Jenny found hope, and life-changing support, at Longbranch Recovery in Louisiana.
