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SALT LAKE CITY -- A man who struggled with substance abuse for three decades has finally turned his life around.
John Morey nominated his friend, James Casto, for a KSL High 5 due to James' effort to stay on the road to recovery.
"I was online and it said, ‘Nominate somebody for doing the right thing.' That struck a chord with me and I said, ‘I'm going to nominate James for that," John said.
James told KSL, "When I was about 15 years old I started using drugs and never finished school, never really went anywhere to do anything with my life. By the time I was 35 I was done. Wrapped up my life and nobody trusted me and no job, nothing."
Thanks to rehab and determination, James has been clean and sober for two years. In the High 5 nomination, John told us of how James did the right thing when it wasn't easy. He recently quit a job because it put him in a bad environment.
As much as he wanted that employment, and knowing it would be difficult to find an equal or better job back home, he did the right thing in order to stay on his road of recovering.
–John Morey
"You recognize that you're jeopardizing everything you've worked for and it could put you right back to where you were before you were clean," James explained.
John said, "I've been watching James turn his life around. For 30 years he's tried several times. But as I watched, time was telling that this was really happening."
James added, "I feel surprised and I feel real good, actually. Overall I can say I feel better about myself."
Our High 5 sponsors, Les Schwab, are all about doing the right thing and they're committed to helping us spotlight people who are doing the same. If you know someone who deserves recognition, fill out the High 5 nomination form here.
