From opioid addiction to recovery: A father's journey back to college

Going back to college in your 40s is hard.

Doing it as a single father is even harder, and doing it while battling an opioid addiction would be a daunting task for anyone.

William Brown considers it a blessing. Sitting at a picnic table before his first class of the day at Wayne Community College, he recalled his addiction began around age 14.

“I believe it was peer pressure. I wanted to fit in, so I started doing things my friends did,” Brown said. “One of the things I tried stuck with me, and it was opioids.”

By 20, Brown said he had enrolled and then dropped-out of college due to his addictive behaviors.

By 35, he had multiple run-ins with the law for larceny.

Each time, Brown said he had stolen things to pay for drugs.

It was during his last sentence when he got a call he always feared.

“The woman I was seeing, she passed away from her addiction,” Brown said. “I probably would have been with her and I would probably be deceased now as well.”

It was that call that Brown said was the catalyst for change.

“Both of us had planned on starting a journey of recovery together, getting married, starting a family and living a good, wholesome life… she didn’t get the chance,” he said. “I feel like I would dishonor her memory if I didn’t do something different and change.”

Brown shared the pain of that loss still hurts today.

“I wasn’t directly responsible but still, I feel responsible, and I think I always will. I was living that life too,” he said.

In January 2019, Brown sought help through what is now UNC REACH.

The medical clinic in Raleigh offers a variety of services, combining physical health, mental health and substance abuse resources.

“I want to show people that just because I lived that way, doesn’t mean I still am and that I can change and people do change,” Brown said.

Dr. Michael Baca-Atlas with the clinic tells WRAL News reducing addiction across North Carolina requires more facilities to provide multi-faceted approaches to treatment.

“Where I think we’re headed is being able to address all of these things in more one-stop-shop kind of places where people can get services and maybe don’t have to work with three, four [or] five places,” Baca-Atlas said.

He continued, “I say we have professional patients. Their calendar is chocked full of things they have to go to and do. When we can make it easier to get services, whether that’s harm-reduction services, mental health, physical health, I think we’re going to start to see a change.”

Baca-Atlas said reaching people who misuse or are at-risk of mis-using opioids varies greatly on the individual.

For example, he said reaching incarcerated people who have substance abuse issues is different than someone looking for a benzodiazepine or stimulant medication who unknowingly uses a street-bought medication laced with fentanyl.

“I think there are a lot of training gaps to overcome to become more knowledgeable about serving our community for individuals who do use substances,” Baca-Atlas said.

The doctor said he makes a point to regularly ask patients where they are getting medications from.

“Some of these pills just look so good and so real it is very difficult to tell the difference, even if you are someone who has an understanding of how the medications are manufactured and branded,” he said.

Baca-Atlas noted the rise in products containing xylazine and fentanyl, either alone or a mixture, further underscores the need for more available support resources

Brown said the fear of not knowing if fentanyl could be in a product is another motivator for his continued sobriety.

“That’s what I want people to understand, one second… that’s all it takes and you’re gone. An amount you can’t even see can kill you,” Brown warned.

Now a single father to a toddler, Brown said he is committed to helping others know help is available.

“To know my son has grown up in a sober household from the time he was born until now, and if I have anything to say about it for the rest of his life, then I’ve done something right,” he said. “There is another way. I didn’t know there was for the longest time. I thought this was the hand I was dealt and that was it, but there are so many resources out there for people like me.”

He continued, “Every day you’re going to encounter something that’s going to trigger you or make you feel a certain type of way but people, like at UNC REACH, teach you different ways to handle different situations.”

Brown acknowledged living with an opioid-use disorder is a daily battle. He now takes suboxone daily to help suppress his cravings.

He said the difference in his behavior is “night and day” compared to before he started the medication.

“Suboxone has 100% saved my life,” Brown said. “I went from not being able to go without [opioids], to not thinking about it at all.”

Brown said he plans to be open about his struggles as his son grows older, to ensure his child stays safe if he ever finds himself around people using opioids.

“I don’t think kids realize the decisions you make may stay with you for a very long time and sometimes you don’t get another chance. Especially nowadays with the drugs that are on the street,” Brown said. “Your parents are going to get a call or your loved ones are going to get a call saying you’re gone. I’ve gotten that call… I don’t want to be the reason somebody gets that call.”

How to get help

According to the latest estimates from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, nearly 23,000 adolescents between 12-17 years old and over 320,000 adults misuse opioids.

If you or a loved one is looking for support, UNC REACH Enhanced Primary Care is open Monday-Friday and is located at 401 E Whitaker Mill Road in Raleigh.

Those with questions can also call 984-974-4832 to be connected with local resources.

On July 1, the state rolled out a new NC Medicaid health plan called “Tailored Plans” to help those with certain medical needs, including substance use disorders.

The national Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) can also be reached 24/7 by calling 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

In North Carolina, you can also call or text "988" to reach the state’s crisis line to be connected with a trained crisis counselor.