WESTON, W.Va. – When Steven Howell began his recovery journey, he had the basic ambition of being sober for six months, then one year. In September 2021, he found addiction treatment with Dr. Bruce Gorby at the Mon Health Recovery Center in Weston that helped him accomplish these goals.

Steven has been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma twice, once at age eight and again at 16. Because of his health issues early on, he started his career in healthcare. Then, in 2018, he was injured in a bar incident that required emergency eye surgery. Unfortunately, it took four months for Steven to regain his eyesight and during these months, his alcoholism started.

“I still had money, so the heavy drinking began. It was both beer and alcohol but my choice was vodka,” he said. “I felt like I was hiding it pretty well, but my mother knew something was happening and encouraged me to slow down.”

In 2019, his drinking became more obvious, and his consumption grew to a fifth of alcohol a day. The alcohol abuse finally caught up to him when his appendix burst in 2021. After more than a week in the hospital, his body began detoxing which proved to be extremely difficult, and he began drinking again. He decided to seek help after suffering from depression and high blood pressure.

The next several months was a cycle of stepdown units, 28-day treatment centers, and rehab. He was in a never-ending cycle of depression, PTSD, and more alcohol. This is when he realized that a dramatic change had to be made. With the help of a counselor, he found Dr. Gorby’s treatment center in Weston.

“I started journaling and reading. I was given a new lease on life and now I would like to become a peer-recovery coach to help other people who have substance use disorder. I have been very, very lucky in my life. I never realized how much alcohol can take over a life, both physically and mentally,” he concluded.

With the help of Dr. Gorby’s Addiction Medicine Program, Steven was able to get his life back on track.

“This program has been a life-changer for me,” he said. “The people here have helped me tremendously. I come once or twice a week for meetings. I receive Vivitrol to prevent me from drinking, but it has given me a new chance for life. I am very lucky and grateful.”  

The hospitals of Mon Health System have created the Mon Health Recovery Care Program to help patients like Steven. For more information about the program at Mon Health Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital, call 304-884-8941. To learn more about Mon Health, visit MonHealth.com.