Zac Clark | From Heroin, Alcohol, & Crack Addiction to Residential Rehab, AA, & Rehab CEO

This is Zac Clark’s raw addiction recovery story—his journey from heroin, alcohol, and crack use to over a decade of sobriety. Zac opens up about childhood experiences, battling a brain tumor, opioid addiction, relapse, and the turning points that led to founding Release Recovery. A powerful mental health and addiction recovery story about hope, resilience, and lasting change.Explore addiction and mental health treatment options: https://recovery.comConnect with Zac: https://www.instagram.com/zwclark/, https://www.instagram.com/thezacclarkshow/, https://www.tiktok.com/@zacwclarkRelease Recovery: https://www.releaserecovery.com/00:00 – Stolen check & the bank moment that changed everything 01:00 – Introducing Zac Clark: Addiction recovery advocate & entrepreneur 02:45 – Childhood, hidden trauma & early influences 06:00 – Permission to ask for help & be curious about your life 06:30 – Early behavioral addictions before substances 07:30 – First drink in 8th grade & learning to lie 09:00 – Falling asleep at the wheel after drinking 11:00 – Brain tumor diagnosis, surgery & painkillers 14:00 – From prescribed opioids to street drugs 17:00 – Why families often don’t see addiction right away 20:00 – First rehab in 2010 & intro to AA 24:00 – Relapse & first time using heroin 27:00 – How heroin became cheaper than OxyContin 29:00 – $500/day habit & life in active addiction 36:00 – Arrest, living on the street & “God moment” at the bank 41:00 – Entering 5-month treatment at Caron 42:00 – Detox symptoms & early recovery struggles 46:00 – Tools from treatment: spiritual, clinical & physical 48:00 – Life after rehab & 8 years of building recovery 50:00 – Staying sober on The Bachelorette in 2020 57:00 – Founding Release Recovery & helping others heal 1:05:00 – Advice for those struggling & ready for help