The story of Jeff: Incarceration in Recovery

In this special episode of Voices of Recovery, our July series “Incarceration in Recovery” continues with the powerful story of Jeff—a man whose journey spans the full spectrum from incarceration to influential leadership and service.Jeff’s story begins as a ward of New York State, his life shaped by addiction and the relentless “ways and means to get more” that led him to decades behind bars. Though he was a father of two, his addiction and the prison system kept him from being present in his children’s lives. It was during one of these prison terms, in Houston, Texas, that Jeff first encountered the message of Narcotics Anonymous through Hospital and Institution meetings—an introduction that planted a seed of hope.Upon release, Jeff became a licensed drug counselor, setting out to help others find the recovery he had only just begun to understand. But after a year clean, Jeff tried to prove to himself and others that recovery could be achieved by willpower alone, and that addiction was not a disease. Fourteen days of using shattered that illusion, costing him everything—his freedom, his savings, and the relationships he was working so hard to rebuild.Back behind bars, Jeff made a decision that changed his life: to surrender, to seek help, and to join a fellowship of men and women committed to helping one another stay clean. From that moment, his story became one of redemption and service.Today, Jeff is the CEO of the Mental Health Association of Nassau County (MHANC), leading an organization dedicated to helping others find hope and healing. He has rebuilt his relationships with his children, and as a devoted father and stepfather, is now known as “number one dad.” Jeff is a pillar of the recovery community, using his hard-won experience to give back to the very programs that supported him on his journey.Join us for an inspiring conversation as Jeff shares his remarkable transformation—from incarceration to leadership, from loss to redemption, and from isolation to connection. His story is a testament to the possibility of recovery, no matter where you start.