Adam grew up in a small town in North Carolina with his mother and stepfather. From a young age, alcohol was a constant presence in his family life, and it wasn’t long before he began experimenting with it himself, quickly discovering that he enjoyed drinking. As alcohol became insufficient, he turned to drugs, and his substance use escalated over the years.
In his early twenties, Adam sought a fresh start and moved to Texas. He reflected, “I was always looking for something I could never find.” His addiction, however, cost him everything. Despite knowing this wasn’t the person he wanted to be, he struggled to understand why his addiction had such a powerful grip on him. As depression and anxiety took hold, he began to self-medicate.
Throughout most of his twenties, Adam found himself in and out of jail. After receiving a felony drug charge, he was sentenced to prison—his first real experience of sobriety since he began drinking. Unfortunately, this sobriety didn’t last long after his release.
He fell in love with a woman who also struggled with addiction, leading to a turbulent relationship filled with ups and downs. Adam yearned for a clean life for both of them. In 2019, when his girlfriend became pregnant and managed to quit using drugs cold turkey, Adam found himself unable to do the same and ended up back in jail, barred from seeing her or their child.
One of Adam’s biggest influences was his grandmother, who always prayed for him, read him scripture, and cared deeply for him. He was incarcerated when she passed away, and he described losing her as a turning point in his life. He knew he needed to become a better man.
During his time in prison, Adam began studying the Bible with a cellmate, which helped him realize what truly mattered in life. With encouragement from a parole officer, he discovered the Charlotte Rescue Mission and chose to become a resident there. He worked hard to rebuild relationships with his family, gaining insight into his addiction and committing to recovery.
Adam remarked, “Being part of a community of good people really motivated me to keep going.” After completing the 120-day program, he transitioned to Recovery Living, where he found a job he enjoyed. For the first time since his son James was born, he was able to see him, and one of his greatest joys was hearing his son call him “Daddy.”
Adam believes that there’s a time and place for everything. He doesn’t regret his past; instead, he sees it as what shaped him into the man he is today. The time he spent healing has made co-parenting a positive experience. Providing for his son is one of Adam’s proudest achievements, but being an active father stands out as his greatest accomplishment—one that wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the Charlotte Rescue Mission.
