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SALT LAKE CITY — Addiction affects all social and economic groups. Often, the last person you expect is using.
Casey Erickson was "the boy next door."
"I went to Scouts, I graduated seminary," Erickson said. "I remember promising I will never do drugs, I will never do those things."
And he didn't until he was 18.
On New Year's Eve after high school graduation, he rented a hotel room with friends.
"(We) ended up drinking half a bottle of cough syrup to get high from it and then had a few shots of alcohol," Erickson said. "That turned into ecstasy and party drugs, and that turned into opiates."
Erickson said his desire to appear perfect made admitting he needed help harder.
"I felt like I needed to be this picture, this staple boy and I wasn't, and that was hard to accept," he said. "I hated myself because I thought, 'This is what I should be,' and I wasn't."
Christina Zidow, chief operating officer with Odyssey House, 344 E. 100 South, said addiction has no boundaries. She said Odyssey House is serving more young adults ages 20-26.
"We're dealing with people who never left their parents' basement a lot of the time before they came into treatment," Zidow said.
Experts say adolescents are especially at risk for addiction. If someone makes it to age 21 without drinking alcohol or using drugs, they have a very low chance of becoming addicted later in life. But opiates challenge that notion at any age.
"We know it only takes a couple of days to become addicted for some individuals," Zidow said. "We have moms and fathers who are here with their young children. We serve a lot of individuals who have served for the church and are returned missionaries."
Zidow said addiction presents new challenges for the growing number of people in all walks of life. She said most addiction starts with prescription pain pill abuse. Some who are struggling see it as a moral failing instead of a medical process and don't know where to turn.
In September 2016, Erickson got arrested and entered Odyssey House. "None of us can do it for someone else, there has to be an investment. There has to be a choice," Zidow said.
While in detox, therapists surrounded him with healthy relationships. Slowly, Erickson tapped back into his strengths. What worked best for him was, "giving back to others. Sharing my story. Going to meetings," Erickson said.
He's been sober just over a year and graduated last Monday from Odyssey House after a year of intense treatment. Erickson also has a new job with Creminelli's Fine Meats.
"I'm more at peace than I've ever been. I have a great job. I love the company that I work for," he said. A job that helps Erickson find a sense of accomplishment and value. He's also mended fences with family.
For Erickson, life has come full circle. After once being completely lost, he's discovering who he really is.
"I went from having absolutely nothing and having no self-worth and no hope to having a beautiful life," he said.
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, visit the Department of Human Services, Office of Licensing at hslic.utah.gov for a list of Utah programs that can help.
You can help prevent addiction by disposing of unused medications properly. The DEA’s Take Back Day is this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit its website to find a location closest to you.
