“This place didn’t just change my life—it saved it.”
John isn’t afraid to call it like it is. “Hi, I’m John. I’m an alcoholic,” he says, straight out the gate. Before landing at The Owl’s Nest in Florence, SC, John’s life had hit a wall. He was homeless. Isolated. Disconnected from his family. “They still loved and supported me,” he shares, “but they didn’t support my decisions or the actions I was taking.”
Alcohol had taken over. Jobs? Gone. Career? Out the window. Family? There—but out of reach. “I had nothing in my life but my alcoholism,” he says. And then he found The Owl’s Nest.
The Program That Works (When Nothing Else Did)
John had been to alcohol addiction treatment before. He knew the drill—or thought he did.
“Nothing like I’ve learned here,” he says. “The program of the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous teaches you to be honest, open-minded, and willing.”
It’s not about following rules. It’s about transforming who you are. “They allow you to look at yourself for the first time and realize it’s not you that has a problem,” John explains. “It’s a problem with addiction and how you deal with your alcohol and drug problem.”
That internal shift from blame to awareness is the kind of work that sticks. It starts the process of healing.
Hitting Bottom Isn’t the End
John reminds us that sometimes, we don’t know we’ve got a problem until everything falls apart.
“Many of us think we do not have a problem with drugs or alcohol until it gets to the worst part of our lives,” he says. “Whether it’s jail, becoming homeless… This is an opportunity for every person to start over.”
“It’s Not Weakness to Get Help. It’s Strength.”
In recovery, sometimes you’ve got to surrender to win. “It is not a sign of weakness to get help,” John says. “It’s a sign of strength.” And he would know—he made the leap, and it saved his life.
“If you have a loved one, or you yourself have a problem with addiction,” he adds, “consider The Owl’s Nest. It certainly saved my life, and it can save yours.”
The Owl’s Nest Works—And We’ve Got the Stories to Prove It
At The Owl’s Nest, we believe in second chances, in 12 steps that open doors, and in people like John—who show up, speak up, and prove that recovery isn’t just possible. It’s powerful.
If you or someone you love is ready for change, we’re here. Let's rewrite the story together. Give us a call today.
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