For Oldschool64, recovery isn’t just a process—it’s freedom. His relationship with recovery began in 2001 when he was mandated to drug treatment to secure release from prison. What followed was a cycle of short-lived freedom punctuated by relapses and returns to incarceration. The first turning point and shot at recovery came in 2010 when he had a revelation.
“I knew that I was the problem. It wasn’t my family or being under supervision. It was nothing but me and the one thing that I have always done—an excess of drugs or alcohol,” he said.
Unfortunately, a relapse in 2017 during Hepatitis C treatment led to homelessness, liver failure, and eventually a five-year federal sentence. But upon release in May 2023, his journey took a positive turn. Committed to change, Oldschool64 entered sober living and began comprehensive treatment, receiving diagnoses for PTSD, Type 2 bipolar disorder, and substance abuse disorder. It was his federal probation officer and psychiatrist who introduced him to the Connections app in April 2025, recommending it as a resource following a recent slip.
For Oldschool64, Connections has proven to be “a blessing.” He appreciates the app’s journal-like quality, which allows him to share his thoughts and feelings without inhibition. “I’ve learned a lot from the app, completed courses that have been helpful to me,” he said. “The encouragement that I get from the community and from those involved with Connections has been such a blessing to me. I’m grateful for it.”
He advises newcomers to introduce themselves and engage with the community. “The peer support in Connections is outstanding,” he said. “They are spectacular people, and they will draw you in. In recovery, you have to be around people. It’s me helping you, and you helping me. That’s what it’s all about.”
Through Connections, Oldschool64 has found not just support, but the freedom he associates with true recovery.
Voices of Recovery shares authentic stories from individuals who use CHESS Health’s digital recovery solutions. Participants voluntarily share their recovery journey and how our digital support solutions have helped them throughout. All stories are published using aliases and with explicit permission from each individual, and participants choose their own images that either represent their story or resonate with them as part of their recovery journey.
