Tyler DeChichio
After being injured in a serious car accident at the age of 23, Tyler of New Britain developed an addiction to prescription painkillers. Going through periods of withdrawal and relapse, he tried several treatment options but couldn’t find one that worked for him. He began a relationship with a woman who was also struggling with addiction; after she gave birth to a boy, a social worker from the Connecticut Department of Children and Families told Tyler that he would not be allowed to bring his son home.
The incident served as a wakeup call. Tyler began relying on several different support networks, including his family and a variety of services provided by state agencies. He worked with psychiatrists and DCF to identify risk factors contributing to his addiction, prevent relapses, and strengthen his parenting skills. His commitment to recovery allowed him to take full custody of his son in 2023. He encourages those suffering from addiction to not give up on themselves.
“Even when you think it’s as hard as it’s going to get, just believe in yourself, stick to a routine, stay busy, change what you’re doing,” he says.
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