How Alcohol, Crack & Prison Nearly Killed Me

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig sits down with Justin Allen for a brutally honest conversation about alcoholism, homelessness, crack cocaine, incarceration, and the long road back to recovery. Justin's addiction began at an early age. While most kids were focused on school, he was already selling drugs in middle school. By 17, he was not only becoming a father, but also developing a severe alcohol addiction that would dominate the next chapter of his life. What started with drinking eventually spiraled into multiple DUIs, homelessness, repeated treatment attempts, and years of living in survival mode. Justin shares what it was like sleeping in his car during the middle of winter, working third shift while homeless, and trying to piece together a life with nowhere to call home. The episode takes an emotional turn as Justin discusses the terrifying reality of alcohol withdrawal, witnessing another inmate die while detoxing in jail, and the devastating cycle of leaving treatment only to relapse again. As alcohol stopped being enough, cocaine and crack entered the picture, pulling him even deeper into addiction. Justin also opens up about going to prison, becoming dependent on Suboxone, experimenting with methamphetamine while incarcerated, and enduring one of the worst withdrawals of his life. Throughout the conversation, he reflects on the impact addiction had on his children, losing custody, and the painful consequences of putting alcohol before everything else. But this isn't where the story ends. Justin shares how recovery finally began to take hold, the setbacks he faced along the way, and what he's learned through years of fighting for sobriety. His story is one of perseverance, accountability, and hope for anyone who believes they're too far gone to change. ⏱ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Title of First Chapter 00:01:30 - Childhood 00:06:00 - Selling Drugs in Middle School 00:08:30 - Becoming a Father at 17 00:09:30 - Full-Blown Alcoholic by 17 00:12:00 - DUI & Years of Alcoholism 00:19:00 - Homeless in the Winter 00:21:00 - Alcohol Detox (DTs) 00:22:00 - Watching Someone Die During Alcohol Detox in Jail 00:23:45 - Relapsing After Leaving Treatment 00:25:00 - Another Five Years of Addiction 00:27:00 - Living Out of My Car While Working Third Shift 00:33:00 - Life Inside a Homeless Shelter 00:34:00 - Hustling $1,000 for an Apartment & Discovering Cocaine 00:36:00 - Moving Into a Trap House 00:39:00 - From C0caine to Cr4ck Addiction 00:40:00 - Spending My Kids' Tax Money on C0caine 00:43:30 - A Cr4ck Binge, Car Crash & My First AA Meetings 00:46:00 - Relapsing After Six Days & Waking Up in Jail 00:47:30 - Going to Prison & Getting Hooked on Suboxone 00:49:00 - Doing Meth in Prison & the Worst Withdrawal of My Life 00:52:00 - Finding Recovery & a New Life 00:57:30 - Relapsing Again 01:01:00 - Drinking 8 Steel Reserve Tall Boys & a Fifth of Jäger 01:02:00 - Supervised Visitation With My Child 01:04:00 - Final Thoughts & Hope for Recovery 🔥 Expect emotion. Expect truth. Expect hope. 🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more powerful stories on addiction, recovery, and resilience. Get a Grip Podcast Social Media: Find our TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio links, a more on our Link Tree below! Get a Grip Social Media Links: ⁠https://linktr.ee/officialgetagrippod... For Collaboration and Business inquiries, please use the contact information below: 📩 Email: [email protected] 👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments. #getagrip #redemptionstory #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #addictionrecovery #recoveryjourney #trauma #childhood #oxy #dealer #soberlife #wedorecover #childhoodtrauma #healing #inspiration #awareness #kingpin #trafficking #hustle #opioidcrisis #neardeathexperience #fyp #prison #bar #mistake #change #survivor #survival #tv #television #inspire #parole #officer #school #teacher #students #study #student #changinglivesdaily