December 19, 2024
From darkness to sobriety and recovery
Once suicidal and on the verge of losing his job, Eric Jeffers has found joy in health, running, and recovery.
The road to sobriety for Eric Jeffers, from Portland, Oregon, included substance use treatment, shared experiences, and a rekindled passion for running.
Eric Jeffers didn’t think he’d be here today.
When his marriage ended, he began to struggle with depression. That led him to drink heavily and take pills. His substance use was bad enough that he became suicidal and was in danger of losing his job. He couldn’t spend time with his teenage son. And he was taken to the emergency room about 20 times in a period.
“I thought my life was over,” said Jeffers. “I couldn’t make it off the couch because I was depressed and drunk.”
Jeffers’ story is harrowing. But it’s not uncommon for people with substance use disorders to feel that way, according to Carol Dugan, a Kaiser Permanente addiction medicine counselor in Salem, Oregon.
“I honestly don’t think I would be alive today without the help I found at Kaiser Permanente,” Jeffers said.
“Addiction and mental health issues can go hand in hand,” said Dugan. “A lot of the people we see also struggle with depression, anxiety, grief, or trauma, and it’s important to address those issues at the same time.”
That integrated approach is central to the personalized care Kaiser Permanente provides to members who want to make a change with their substance use.
“We are welcoming and understanding no matter where someone is with their substance use,” said Kate Marshall, MD, chief of addiction medicine. “We provide information and guidance, but each person is in charge of their own goals. We’re here to help people feel better about themselves, not worse.”
Treatment and shared experiences
Kaiser Permanente offers a wide spectrum of services, including one-on-one meetings with a counselor, peer support services, support for family members, intensive outpatient treatment, medication treatment, and residential programs.
“I honestly don’t think I would be alive today without the help I found at Kaiser Permanente,. Eric Jeffers, Kaiser Permanente member
In Jeffers’ case, getting into temporary residential care at Kaiser Permanente’s Brookside Center in Clackamas, Oregon, was a breakthrough moment.
“Getting sober and being around other people going through the same depression and addiction really changed me, because you think you’re the only person experiencing this,” said Jeffers. “There’s so many people out there going through the same thing.”
Jeffers worked closely with doctors to find medication to help with his depression. He also met with Dugan for regular one-on-one counseling, and with a peer support specialist. Peer support specialists are certified workers who have lived through a substance use disorder and understand what it’s like. They act as a go-to contact for people in recovery, and someone who can accompany them to AA meetings, support them through periods of substance cravings, or even just meet up for coffee when they need to talk.
Celebrating sobriety
Jeffers recently celebrated 6 months of sobriety, and his life looks completely different than it did during what he calls “his dark spot.” He’s back to work full time and spending time with his son.
He also reconnected with an old love: running. He joined a local running club. In August 2024 he completed Hood to Coast, a 200-mile relay from Mt. Hood to Seaside, Oregon. And in September 2024 he took third place in the Run for Recovery in Salem, Oregon.
“It’s just amazing,” said Jeffers. “To come out of this and know that I can accomplish things like that, I feel like a new person.”
His story is evidence that recovery is possible.
“Substance use disorders come in all shapes and sizes and so do the people who have them,” said Marshall. “It’s never too early or too late to make a positive change for yourself.”
Learn more about treatment and recovery at Kaiser Permanente.
