A Second Chance for a Functional Addict: Pablo’s Story

A Second Chance for a Functional Addict: Pablo’s Story

During his addiction, always looking for the next ‘fix,’ Pablo often found himself getting into trouble. His probation officer realized something was different about Pablo and told him, ‘’You’re one of those guys that doesn’t belong here.”

And he was right. Pablo realized he didn’t want the life he was living.

“I made the mistake of being a functional addict – people weren’t aware that I was using and I found it very hard to let people know.” He hid his addiction from friends and family.

Pablo became addicted to heroin and Percocet after undergoing surgery for a cyst on his arm. The cyst was deep into his muscle tissue and bone, and pain relievers were the only way he could recover. He never intended to get addicted to them.

“Do you want to get clean?” his parole officer asked him; “Yes” he answered, and was driven to a treatment center. “Without him,” said Pablo, “I don’t know what would have happened.”

Pablo entered a treatment program in 2015, but it closed in 2020. He was then transferred to Brandywine Counseling & Community Services, where he was matched with staff member Jeff Munn, COPE 2 counselor and a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor.

“I was nervous about the transfer,” said Pablo, “because I slipped up prior to transferring, after being clean for almost six years. Jeff made me feel that relapsing didn’t mean I wouldn’t get help; that it was something they would address as part of my treatment. And he kept on me – made sure I had the tools to stay focused.”

“I wanted to show him his value,” said Munn, “to begin to build up his self-worth, self-esteem and confidence.” Munn noted that Pablo had to overcome his shame, fear, and guilt in order to fully recover and not relapse again. Along with counseling from Munn, Pablo’s treatment plan included methadone and motivational interviewing – which shows patients a different perspective of how things can be, according to Munn.

“For Pablo, he was worried about how people were going to judge him, so I was there to help lessen the fears for him,” said Munn. “He became more independent throughout his treatment and he opened up more and got things off of his chest.” Munn emphasized that it was important for Pablo to remember that “you don’t have to be perfect, but do the best you can do.”

“Jeff would always say, ‘show me, just don’t talk about it – show me that you can make the change,’ —  “Without him and BCCS, it would have been more difficult for me to come totally out of my addiction.”

“They believe in second chances and saying ‘try again!’

Pablo is now working as a business school admissions director, and just bought his first home in June of 2020. “It feels amazing to have the life I now lead.”

“BCCS has saved my life with everything that they offer – a men’s counseling group, individual sessions,  a medical team of doctors and nurses – people that care. How can one fail?  I owe my success to BCCS as well as my spouse.”

His advice for anyone struggling with addiction? “Never hide it. If you see yourself as a functional addict, talk to someone because it’s only going to get worse,” he said. “It’s like getting away with a crime. And I think that was the worst part for me – being ‘undercover’ as an addict. You weren’t born with this addiction. Be true to yourself.”

If you or someone you know is looking for help with overcoming their addiction, contact BCCS at (302) 656-2348 or visit our website at brandwincounseling.com.