- Alcohol
- Friends & Family
Submitted by: Susanne Johnson
Drugs, alcohol, a little bit of everything were the problem for Fritz in his early teenage years. He started drinking at the age of about 13 and reached sobriety at age 17. He came to the Recovery Run Baton Rouge 5k to support the rise of a collegiate recovery community on the LSU campus.
Two years prior to reaching his recovery his mother got very involved in 12-step groups and also started several successful projects that help people with substance use disorder and their families to find and pay for treatment. One of the projects he founded is “Hugs Not Drugs”, which has lots of followers and has done a lot of good for many families.
The turning point for Fritz was reached when he became homeless, had no place to stay, got kicked out of school and his entire life started to come apart as a result of his disease and the use of drugs. He became homeless since his parents kicked him out of the house to increase his willingness to engage in a recovery process and stop the enabling. Fritz thought differently at the time, but today he calls it a blessing that his parents fought for his life and his sobriety.
His journey brought him first to a treatment facility in Montana for a 60 day duration and he was then referred to go straight to a halfway house in Gonzales, near Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He became very engaged in his recovery and stayed at the sober living home after his completion, working there to help others. Fritz worked his way up and became the clinical director, which is a position he still holds today.
“Everything in my life has changed in these 14 years of sobriety. I have a life today. I got an education, I’m married and have a child, have great friends,” Fritz says. His mother is grateful for his development and the recovery Fritz has today. His mother has stayed busy and engaged in the non-profit she runs, helping others. Fritz turned his life around and got his GED and continued his studies until he graduated with a master’s degree in social work, which he obtained at LSU in Baton Rouge.
Today, Fritz loves to jog, hunt and fish. He also enjoys mountain biking and plays golf. “I love to do anything outdoors, including chasing after my little 2-year-old son,” Fritz mentions. His wife is not in recovery, but she is very spiritual and according to Fritz they share a lot of similar beliefs and faith. They are very like-minded and she is very supportive of his recovery. She might have a drink occasionally, but she won’t drink at home. Fritz is very active in his recovery support life, talking at least five times a week to his sponsor, and going to several 12-step meetings a week. He also sponsors many people himself. “This is my life,” he says, “I have to live this. I just recently started working the steps again after 14 years of sobriety. It is important to stay committed. I would not trade my life in recovery for anything.”