Thrasher – August 2019

151

ow did you become a user of

drugs and/or alcohol?

What started as recreational use

became excessive and self medicating, which

I believed was normal behavior at that time.

When did you realize you had a problem?

Realizing I had a problem was difficult

because there were different times in my life,

using different substances, at different levels. I

also used certain life achievements to validate

my behavior.

How bad did it get? What was the

breaking point that made you decide it

was time to stop/get help?

Feeling extreme hopelessness and hurting the

people closest to me was my bottom. Today

I don’t view my past as a problem but as

something I gained extreme personal growth

from.

How did you get sober?

I was unsuccessful getting sober on my own.

I had close friends around me who intervened

and helped get me into a treatment center

where I was introduced to the program.

What are the challenges of staying

sober?

Without the self work, I can still suffer from

the same psychological mind and behavior,

while being sober. For most addicts this is a

life-threatening disease that needs continuous

treatment.

What are the rewards of staying sober?

Being there for the people going through it.

What advice would you give to someone

who wants to quit?

Get honest with your feelings and friends.

Skateboarding brings together some of

the heaviest partiers and sober people

on the same teams, vans, trips, etc., not

pushing either of their programs or taking

inventory, but they are there for each other

in a heartbeat. We have a big recovery

community and bond. If you speak up around

here you’ll get pointed in the right direction.

Skateboarders have some of the biggest

hearts.

H

“IF YOU SPEAK UP

A ROU N D H E R E

YOU’LL GET POINTED

IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION”

GUY MARIANO

BURNETT