CLEVELAND — At one point in time, Travis Garrett lost everything.

What You Need To Know

  • Several Ohio recovery organizations are working together to host events throughout April aimed at educating the community about addiction

  • On April 11 at 7 p.m., recovery advocate Travis Garrett will share his story at an event at the Quaker Cinemas in New Philadelphia

  • The movie “Four Good Days” will play followed by a Q&A session with recovery leaders, law enforcement and re-entry representatives

  • Admission, popcorn and soda are free to the public, and similar events will be held every Monday in April

“Actually, she left me," he said, referring to his wife. "My kids hated me, and they had every right.”

He said drug addiction was isolating and made him feel powerless.

“I never wanted to be around people," Garrett said. "The only time I would be around people is if I was either dealing or needing to sell.”

That may be hard to believe now if you were to see him play basketball with family and the friends he’s made through recovery.

“It’s just amazing to be a productive member of my society today rather than the menace of that society,” he said.

The 39-year-old has been sober since 2018. He grew up in Tuscarawas County. 

“I think the first time I used I was 12," he said.

Garrett remembers when family time was not a priority.

“I always thought giving them money was more important than spending time with them," Garrett said.

 

Now, moments with his wife, Lisa, his two sons and his grandson mean the world to him.

“I couldn’t hold reservations that my wife would come back, that my kids would like me again," he said. "That I would actually be able to be a part of (my grandson's) life, but it was something that I had to do for myself. I had to want recovery.” 

Lisa said it's amazing to have him in their lives again.

Four years ago, Garrett was held at Stark Regional Community Correction Center.

“At the height of my addiction, we had the SWAT team bust through our door," he said.

Garrett credits SRCCC for providing him the structure and stability he needed to break the cycle of using.

Now, he is proud to work at the same facility that helped get him on the right path.

“To let them know that we are people and people do care," he said. "It’s not our fault that we have the disease, but we are responsible for our recovery."

Comparing a driver’s license photo from 2015 to 2019 reminds him of his progress.

“It’s a great way to reflect back on the things that I’ve been through and the things that I’m going through, where I’m going in my life today, the ability of what I can do with my life today," he said.

He has several meaningful tattoos about his journey. One reads, "Remember the pain."

“Always remember the pain that I went through and truly the pain that I caused," he said.

Garrett is part of several recovery groups as a peer supporter including Ohio Guidestone, Empower Tusc and Meeting of the Minds.

“Any organization that I can be involved with to help promote recovery and show people that there’s always hope, that we do recover,” he said. 

He said he now sees every day as a gift and hopes to encourage others who are struggling, to show them that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

“You can’t think of it as impossible," he said. "You have to think of it as I’m possible."

At 7 p.m. on April 11, Garrett will share his story at an event at the Quaker Cinemas in New Philadelphia.

The movie “Four Good Days” will play followed by a Q&A session with recovery leaders, law enforcement and re-entry representatives.

Admission, popcorn and soda are free to the public.

Similar events will be held every Monday in April.