John Slater: Finding Solid Ground

John was born in Craig and moved to Utah when he was about 22 years old. Before leaving Colorado, he had already experienced his first DUI and a motorcycle accident—early warning signs of a battle with alcohol that would follow him for decades. He was already the father of a young son when he later married and welcomed two more children—a son and a daughter. Like many stories of addiction, his began long before he realized how much control alcohol had over his life. 

He started drinking in high school and described himself as "always a partyer." Over time, drinking became less about socializing and more about drinking before the party even started and finishing whatever was left afterward. 

Alcohol played a significant role in the breakdown of his marriage. Both he and his wife struggled with alcohol use, and what began as verbal conflict eventually escalated into physical abuse. While living in Utah, John worked long, demanding shifts in the coal mines. After 12-hour days and an hour-long commute home, he often found himself going from bar to bar trying to bring his wife home. 

John Slater

For a time, there was hope. With support from the Salt Lake Mission, John achieved a year and a half of sobriety. But that progress unraveled after a devastating car crash while he was drinking. The accident left him with 18 broken ribs, a broken collarbone, facial injuries, and a concussion. 

The physical pain was overwhelming. Even prescription pain medication brought little relief. When he was finally discharged from the hospital—wearing a neck brace, using oxygen, his arm in a sling and relying on a cane—he began taking the bus to the state liquor store. "It hurt so bad, I felt that alcohol was the only relief I could get," he recalled. 

The years that followed were marked by more trauma. After another relationship ended, John lost an eye following a street fight and subsequent infection. Living with diabetes and experiencing homelessness, he said he stopped caring whether he lived or died. "I figured I'd never be anything but a drunk." 

Another violent altercation left him on the receiving end of a hatchet attack, resulting in permanent damage that left his hand and arm functioning at only about 35 percent. During this period, he spent weeks at a time in the hospital after episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis brought on while he was isolated in motel rooms, drinking heavily. 

Eventually, John returned to Craig. He found work in the HVAC industry, but alcohol continued to tighten its grip. Drinking increasingly spilled into the workday, and maintaining sobriety seemed out of reach. 

Over the years, he was airlifted from Craig to larger hospitals four separate times as his health deteriorated. Each time, doctors gave him diminishing odds of survival. The doctors told him he would be on dialysis for the rest of his life, something John was determined to avoid. "I was praying and trusting in God to keep me alive and keep me off dialysis." 

Despite the close calls, he continued drinking until repeated DUI offenses resulted in a felony charge. Looking back, John believes Recovery Court changed the trajectory of his life. After serving seven and a half months in jail, he experienced what he calls his "coming to Jesus moment." 

Reflecting on those years, John describes addiction in stark terms. "You can hit rock bottom, but then even rock bottom has a basement, and the basement has a cellar. I had to burn everything down to get it. I knew I couldn't keep running," he said. "I was completely done. I wasn't going back to that life." 

Today, John is committed to recovery. He works closely with a sponsor, participates in a Step Study through his church, and regularly attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. He has also come to understand the science behind addiction and how alcohol rewires the brain. 

"Now I know I have to repair the damage and chaos I've caused." 

He is especially grateful for the rental assistance and stability provided through RAS-Col (Rural Alliance Addressing Substance Use Disorder – Colorado). "Stability is a key component to staying sober," John said. "You need a home base. Otherwise, addiction takes over." 

Today, that stability represents far more than a roof over his head. It provides the foundation on which he continues to rebuild his life—one day of recovery at a time.