Matt’s Story

Matt's Story

Matt is the reason we do what we do…

The challenges began while Matt was a student at Tufts University.

He and his lacrosse buddies started abusing Xanax, Vicodin, Oxycontin, and basically whatever they could get their hands on.

An addiction to Oxy followed that required constant re-supply.

Thinking he could outsmart the system, Matt tried stealing a prescription pad, forged a prescription, and got arrested.

Bailed out by his sister, he returned to Connecticut for treatment but continued abusing Oxy.

Frustrated by the challenge of getting the supply of Oxy he needed, he yielded to friends who encouraged him to use heroin, a cheaper and more readily available opioid.

His use quickly escalated, as did his efforts to secure supply. One night he was arrested again, but after completing another court-ordered inpatient drug treatment program, he returned to heroin.

Matt estimates he violated his probation with drug-related offenses at least half a dozen times. He attended more than 20 short-term inpatient treatment programs and served seven months at the Cheshire Correctional Institute.

Then, nearly at the end of his rope, his therapist suggested a novel, new program called Aware Recovery Care, a 52-week in-home addiction treatment program.

A five-year prison sentence awaited him if he failed this time.

Specialists at Yale evaluated Matt as a preliminary step in gaining access to Aware’s program. The Yale docs gave him a 2 percent chance of recovery and recommended that Aware not admit Matt as a client. He seemed sure to fail.

Steve Randazzo, Aware’s founder, felt differently and admitted Matt to the program.

For Matt, the first weeks were tough.

And then change started to happen. Sobriety allowed Matt to feel real emotions and begin to develop a positive self-image. It was good to be trusted by loved ones again.

Aware was helping him get his life and his freedom back.

Eleven years later and sober throughout, Matt now has a wife, two awesome little boys, a beautiful home, and has devoted his life to helping others trapped by addiction. He is now a part-owner and in senior management at Aware. Learn more about Matt’s story here.

Aware Recovery Care began as a small team of dedicated addiction specialists helping a modest number of clients in Connecticut. The tremendous success of our model inspired us to continue our work. Today, Aware Recovery Care is helping people like Matt in nine states. With hard work – we hope someday to serve people who need us in all 50.

If you’re struggling with an addiction to alcohol and/or drugs and need help in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Virginia, Florida, Ohio, or Indiana, the recovery teams at Aware Recovery Care are here to help. Our unique model of care gives clients a significantly better chance of recovery when compared to traditional inpatient rehab care. To learn more, please get in touch with one of our Recovery Specialists.