“St. Patrick Center gave me a chance to put my life back together. I’m happy today, and life just gets better and better.”

Lorenzo’s drinking and drug use started in the military, and his addictions followed him into a civilian life he refers to as a nightmare. For years, he worked for drug money and lived with other addicts. “I was tired of living in active addiction and wanted to go on, but I just didn’t know how.”

At his last treatment program, Lorenzo says a “light” hit him and he knew it was time for a change. “I remember leaving not knowing where I was going, but good people had given me hope and that was so important.” Lorenzo came to St. Patrick Center and joined the Project HERO program.

“Surrendering to addiction is like going to combat,” Lorenzo says. “You’re going to fight forever until one side surrenders, and I had to surrender. I was willing to do whatever it took to get out of that pain.” He says the dedicated Project HERO team assisted him with the attitude adjustment he needed, as well as housing, sobriety and financial stability.

Today, Lorenzo is focused on giving back. He works at a treatment center as a certified peer support specialist. He also does vet-to-vet meetings and fellowship activities. “I’m giving others hope and trying to pull them out of the horrors of addiction because I truly don’t think anyone is hopeless.”