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Jason’s Inspiring Recovery Story: From Addiction and Violence to Faith, Healing, and Purpose
After battling decades of alcohol and drug addiction, Liverpool native Jason has been clean and sober for over five years. His incredible recovery journey is a powerful testament to transformation, resilience, and unwavering faith. Once consumed by a life of violence, crime, and substance abuse, Jason credits his relationship with Christ and a higher power for saving his life—and giving it in. This is the story of how one man’s descent into addiction turned into a remarkable recovery that now inspires others across Liverpool and beyond.
A Childhood Marked by Trauma, Toxic Masculinity, and Emotional Repression
Jason’s struggle with addiction began long before he ever picked up a drink. Growing up in a household steeped in toxic masculinity, vulnerability was dismissed and emotions were suppressed. His father—a violent, controlling man and part-time doorman—ran a makeshift gym for Liverpool’s bouncers out of their garage, surrounding young Jason with an intimidating hyper-masculine culture.
School offered no escape. With a Greek-Italian surname, Jason became a target of relentless bullying. He spent much of his first year of secondary school hiding from his tormentors, terrified to tell his father. The trauma triggered severe night terrors, and although martial arts training brought discipline and physical strength, it did little to heal his emotional wounds.
Early Addiction: Alcohol, Drugs, and Crime
Struggling with self-worth and unresolved childhood trauma, Jason turned to alcohol at just 13 years old. Drinking Strongbow in the park gave him confidence—but it also opened the door to a dangerous pattern. By 14, he was using cocaine and amphetamines.
His father’s authoritarian parenting and emotional neglect fueled Jason’s rebellious behaviour, leading to expulsion from school. But at 16, he experienced a brief turning point when a friend introduced him to Christianity. Church offered belonging, guidance, and hope. Jason returned to education, found supportive mentors, and seemed to be on a more stable path.
But unresolved trauma has a way of resurfacing.
Relapse: Drifting From Faith and Returning to Old Habits
In his 20s, Jason drifted from church life. He married young, became a father, and enrolled in university—but the pressure of responsibility, combined with his addictive personality, pushed him back into destructive habits.
He returned to working as a doorman, immersed himself in Liverpool’s nightlife, and began drinking heavily. Cocaine, cage fighting, football hooliganism, and violent street culture offered temporary escapes from emotional pain. The chaos escalated until a drug deal gone wrong near Breeze Hill left Jason seriously injured and deeply entangled in Liverpool’s gangland.
Hitting Rock Bottom: Addiction, Loss, and the Moment Everything Changed
Jason’s life spiraled beyond control. His violent outbursts and unpredictable behaviour severed relationships; he stopped receiving invitations to family events, and his marriage deteriorated. After a rage-fueled episode in which he smashed up his home and assaulted a neighbour, his wife fled to Scotland with their daughter.
A suspended sentence kept him out of prison, but his addiction continued to destroy everything in its path. He lost his job for drinking and using drugs at work. His lowest moment came when he could no longer afford alcohol—leaving his terminally ill mother to buy his drinks on her mobility scooter. That heartbreaking image became the catalyst for change.
The Road to Recovery: Detox, Sobriety, and a Renewed Faith
Following a near-fatal alcohol-related incident, Jason entered detox and later completed a full rehabilitation programme. For the first time in decades, he was truly sober.
Even when his mother passed away during lockdown, Jason remained alcohol-free—delivering her eulogy with clarity, strength, and dignity. Today, he chooses alcohol-free alternatives and embraces a faith-based recovery approach. He has returned to church and regularly attends Cross Roads Meetings at BNENC in Everton.
His daughter is back in his life. His family welcomes him home again. The healing has begun.
A Life Transformed: Helping Others Break Free From Addiction
Jason now holds a Master’s degree and a qualification in counselling. Drawing from his lived experience, he helps others overcome addiction, proving that recovery is possible—no matter how far someone has fallen.
From Liverpool’s darkest streets to a life grounded in faith, service, and purpose, Jason’s story is one of hope. He is no longer defined by his past. Instead, he stands as a powerful example of how faith, community, and determination can rebuild a life once thought beyond repair.
Jason is living proof that transformation is possible—and that no one is too broken for a second chance.
Publications mentioned in this article:
Delavier’s Mixed Martial Arts Anatomy
Judith Grisel
The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober
Catherine Gray
Learning and Being in Person-Centred Counselling
Tony Merry
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