Corey

Senior firsthand Guide
Memphis, TN

In Corey’s words, he’s accomplished a lot in the last five years- more than he had in the previous thirty-five. 

As a child, Corey experienced severe trauma. He was later diagnosed with PTSD and severe social anxiety. To cope with the trauma, Corey began using methamphetamine. 

Corey spent the next two decades addicted to meth, and found himself in and out of prison for charges related to drug use and crimes he committed while under the influence. In 2015, he was released from prison. Less than a week later, he suffered the first of five major heart attacks. Over the next two years the majority of his time was spent in the hospital, undergoing three open-heart surgeries while moving up the heart transplant waiting list. 

The grip of substance use disorder still held him tightly, and although he experienced incredible hardship in prison and while hospitalized, these experiences did not deter him from returning to using drugs. In 2018, he moved into a halfway house in Memphis and learned about the incredible healing power of the peer movement. He has been sober since March 1, 2018.

While in the halfway house, Corey decided that he wanted to give back to his community. He started working in a treatment center as a technician and earned his CPRS (Certified Peer Recovery Specialist) certification. He enrolled in college, and graduated in 2022 with a degree in psychology with a concentration in addiction counseling. Corey also became an ordained minister in 2022 and regained full custody of his children.

When Corey saw the job description for a firsthand Guide, he became immediately excited about the mission and idea of serving the underserved in his community. In his experience, he knew that the support of peers, or people who have been through similar struggles, can be extremely powerful in one's healing process. He believes that his purpose in life is to help others, and finds inspiration in knowing that he is making a difference in the lives of others every day through his work.

His advice to those who are struggling is “never give up on yourself and never put limits on what you can accomplish. Your goals can be as big and broad as you want them to be, and you can achieve them.”