Living in Recovery, and the Resilience in Staying Clean
“I understood, with chilling clarity, that if I allowed myself the temptation of taking the easy path, by reaching for a bottle, pills, or anything of the kind, it would inevitably be a choice that would lead to my own death, whether by an overdose, or by my own hand, I simply would not survive a relapse. An addict like me only gets one shot at this.” In a tone marked by raw honesty and humility, Frontline Healing Foundation Board Member, Warriors Heart Alumni, and retired Green Beret, Teddy Lanier, recounts the battles of his last year and a half with unflinching resolve.
After completing The Beast in the East, a 25k mountain race on Crowders Mountain in December of 2022, Lanier was struck by a severe resurgence of spinal stenosis—an affliction that ultimately ended his running career. “Running had been my passion, my anchor, and losing it left me adrift, without purpose or direction. Despite painful and grueling rehabilitation, the outcome was grim, only intensifying the emotional and financial toll on my life.”
With family troubles weighing heavily at home, an additional knee injury compounding his physical setbacks, mounting financial difficulties, and the relentless strain of his own mental health battles, Lanier found obstacles at every turn. Through it all, as each challenge seemed poised to exploit any weakness, Lanier held steadfast, committed to his path of sobriety. Today, he stands proud, having reached a profound milestone: celebrating seven years clean and sober on April 20, 2024.
Lanier’s journey to sobriety, and the resilience to stay clean and sober, is not an uncommon one amongst our nation’s heroes. After serving 22 years (1989-2011), including 10 years in the U.S. Army and 12 years in Special Forces, Lanier struggled with PTSd, drug and alcohol addiction.
While substance abuse had been a part of Lanier’s life for years, it was an opiate prescription after dental surgery in 1990 that truly started his addiction to opiates, followed by additional injuries that required another opiate prescription. By the year 2000, Lanier admits he could not live without self-medicating, ultimately impacting every part of his life. He took a myriad of prescription pills for 17 years, recalling, “opiate medication would eventually drive me to a place that no human being should ever have to experience.”
In April 2017, Lanier could no longer do his job for the first time in 30 years, and knew it was time to seek help. He searched on social media and found Warriors Heart, a private treatment facility, exclusively for Warriors, providing care for addiction, chemical dependency and PTS for active military, veterans, law enforcement and first responders. Their residential treatment team truly understands the unique demands of our warriors, and works to successfully navigate healing and recovery while in the company of people who’ve personally experienced similar challenges.
“I’ll never forget the day I called. I had never heard the voice of an angel until I called Warriors Heart.”
Many of our nation’s heroes are faced with fighting this personal war, every day. They’ve used alcohol, prescription medication or self-medication to reduce the impact of these memories. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, veterans and service members of all ages are increasingly afflicted with opioid use disorder (OUD), are ten times more likely than the general public to abuse opioids and twice as likely to overdose.
About a third of opioid abuse among service members and veterans could be explained by a war injury, with one-in-four troops having been prescribed an opioid medication in a given year at hospital discharge (with rates decreasing according to the Military Health System), and a quarter continued to take them for a prolonged period of time following their releases. This self-medication leads to opioid abuse as the prescriptions run out, causing patients to turn to sedatives and tranquilizers for non-medical purposes, or pairing opioids like heroin and fentanyl together with drugs like benzodiazepines.
“One of the biggest apprehensions in entering any addiction treatment, is the fear of experiencing withdrawal symptoms,” stated Warriors Heart Co-Founder, Tom Spooner. “It’s a valid concern, and one we at Warriors Heart don’t take lightly – because depending on the length and level of abuse, those withdrawal symptoms can be incredibly painful. Certain drugs can make the detox process much more raw, based on their side-effects to the body.”
When Lanier arrived at Warriors Heart, he was embraced with a comfort he hadn’t felt in a long time. “They greeted me, and said, ‘It’s going to be ok. We’re going to bring you home’.”
Seven years later, Lanier celebrates his unrelenting sobriety despite the challenges which could have easily led him down a different, more destructive path.
While he faces daily, intense neurological pain due to his fused spine and spinal stenosis, he has learned to re-direct the way he stays in shape by developing new ways to train/workout. Additionally, Lanier has maintained a 3.95 GPA in college and hopes to earn his degree in the summer of 2025.
“One of the most profound staples that has kept me steadfast, has been my relationship with God, never forgetting to thank him DAILY, despite all the hardships, for drawing a sober breath every single day and providing me a glimmer of hope when the darkness had encompassed me.”
Without Warriors Heart, Lanier says, “I would be dead, make no mistake about it. They gave me the tools to live.”
“Nobody plans on becoming an addict,” stated Spooner. “People make the decision to use alcohol andother drugs. But no one ever says, ‘I want to be addicted to a drug.’”
Addiction doesn’t discriminate, nor does it wait for “the right time” for an addict to decide to get help, which involves a complete substance abuse treatment program for successful and long-lasting sobriety. It takes a continuous vigilance and effort to be able to maintain the healing and clarity of sobriety.
At Warriors Heart, Warriors in every walk of life are treated, offering a variety of treatment for those undergoing the damaging effects of PTSD and mTBI (mild traumatic brain injury), as well as chemical dependency. For those who have fought battles to defend our country and our citizens, fighting the battle against addiction, depression and reintegration doesn’t need to be done alone.
Since his stay at Warriors Heart and the years following it, Lanier simply tries to live day-to-day, following his personal mantra: “What defines you is not tangible. It is however, learning from your past, your actions in the present, and committing to positive resolution to guide your future.”
If you or a warrior need help with addiction, PTS or co-occurring issues, please contact Warriors Heart’s 24-hour hotline (866-955-4035) answered by warriors and/or visit https://warriorsheart.com/connect.
