#17 Zach Grace — Heroin, Fatherhood, Faith & the Decision That Changed Everything

Zach Grace’s story is a wild ride through addiction, heroin use, incarceration, treatment, fatherhood, faith, and long-term recovery.What began with drinking at 13 quickly escalated into prescription pills, heroin, and intravenous drug use. Zach spent years chasing relief from the anxiety, insecurity, and pain that followed him from adolescence into adulthood. Along the way came arrests, overdoses, treatment centers, probation, and the loss of custody of his newborn son.Everything changed when a compassionate probation officer offered treatment instead of prison and Zach made the decision to give recovery everything he had. Today, nearly eight years sober, Zach is a father, speaker, mentor, recovery advocate, and Business Development Representative for Freeman Recovery Center, helping others find hope when they need it most.You’ll Hear:• What Zach would say to himself at his lowest point in addiction• How a few drinks at 13 led to heroin and intravenous drug use• Why addiction made him believe he wasn’t worth saving• The progression from Percocets and Opanas to heroin• What life looked like living homeless in California while addicted• The role jail, probation, and treatment played in his recovery journey• The emotional impact of losing custody of his son at birth• The story behind his final shot on September 28, 2018• How faith and recovery became inseparable in his healing process• Why service, therapy, and helping others remain central to his recovery today• The difference between helping and enabling a loved one struggling with addiction• Why collaboration between treatment providers saves livesWhy Listen:• To hear an honest, inspiring story of transformation from heroin addiction to recovery• To understand how quickly substance use can escalate when left unchecked• To learn how fatherhood became a turning point in one man’s recovery journey• To hear how faith, treatment, and community can work together to sustain long-term sobriety• To gain practical insight for families supporting a loved one with addiction• To be reminded that recovery is possible, even when everything feels lostIf you or someone you love is struggling, help is available.To learn more about National Addiction Specialists and the Breaking Down Addiction podcast, visit https://www.nationaladdictionspecialists.com.