Memoirs

Story Date: 2/24/2006

Memoirs of a meth addict

Former football star recounts drug addiction, road to recovery

By Brooke Vermillion
government@cournernews.com

After hearing the first-hand account of a successful recovered methamphetamine user Wednesday, members of the River Valley Meth Project, a group designed to curb meth use and distribution, learned why their role is so important in the community.
Roger Hunter, a former football player for Oklahoma State University and current student life coordinator at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, offered his personal testimony about drug abuse and the rehabilitation that allowed him to be where he is today.
Hunter, who was invited to speak at the meth project meeting by ARVAC Executive Director Bob Adkison, explained he was employed as a counselor at the Freedom House in Russellville for four years before moving to Fayetteville.
But before being hired as a counselor, he said, Hunter was a patient at the Freedom House drug treatment facility.
He said he suffered from a crack-cocaine and methamphetamine addiction for 20 years, served time in prison twice, and attended rehab three times before finally cleaning up his life.
Joe Hill, director of alcohol and drug abuse prevention (ADAP) in the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services, said a common myth when dealing with meth-related issues is the addiction is untreatable and addicts never recover.
"Because these people do recover," he said. "And when they do, they can make a successful transition (back into the community)."
And Hunter has proven recovery is not a myth.
Before approaching the podium to speak Wednesday, Hunter sat beside Pope County Sheriff Jay Winters at the breakfast table. He jokingly told the crowd that 15 years ago, he would have run in the other direction to stay out of trouble with the sheriff.
Hunter thanked the members of the meth project for their hard work in trying to curb the meth epidemic, asking, "Where were you when I needed you?"
He continued, "I'm glad they're not just putting people in jail anymore," supporting the efforts of the 5th Judicial District Drug Court program and Freedom House and Counseling Associates treatment options.
Hunter said although some administrators were skeptical about hiring him at the U of A, he Coach Houston Nutt had faith in him and his abilities.
Hunter now travels with the teams and uses his experiences to encourage players to refrain from drug abuse.