Story of Success: Aaron Joshua Sharing His Struggles to Empower Youth

“You can pay to learn or you can learn for free,” were the words that echoed through the auditorium as Aaron Joshua spoke at the ADAMH Recovery Month Kick-Off event. After a heartfelt introduction from Senator Ray Miller (District 15), Joshua shared his story of recovery with the packed auditorium of community members in attendance to support alcohol and drug recovery. But life for Joshua was not always a success story.

Growing up with a drug-addicted father and a mother in jail, Joshua and his siblings had no one to teach them right from wrong. “It was hard seeing my mother in prison and watching the toll drugs was taking on my father,” said Joshua. “With me being so young I couldn’t understand it, all I knew is that my brothers and I were going to have to learn how to take care of ourselves.”

Throughout their childhood Joshua and his siblings found themselves in one foster home after another, and at times, separated. “It was hard because I knew my brothers needed me, and as the oldest I wanted to be there for them,” Joshua remembers.

At just 13, Joshua, too, began his own journey into the rough life of the streets, doing whatever he could to earn money. “I felt I had to provide for my brothers; they didn’t deserve to not have the bare necessities like food and school clothes,” said Joshua.

As Joshua became older his actions resulted in trouble with the law. After spending years in prison Joshua had learned the hard way that, “…my life had gotten off track somewhere, and if I keep doing the same things I will get the same results.”

“When I got out I wanted to get more out of life,” Joshua recalled. “Then I met Senator Miller and I knew I could do better. He told me to contact him when I got out of prison and he would help me get my life back on track. I was in disbelief.  Was he really going to do all of this for me?”

After Joshua was released from prison he contacted Senator Miller and, as promised, was given the assistance he needed. “I sat him down with a team of my closest friends,” said Senator Miller. “I surrounded him with positive people and told him that he could choose a better life.”

With the support of Senator Miller and Joshua’s extended family, Joshua was able to overcome the obstacles life had thrown his way.

Joshua went on to earn an Associate’s Degree in chemical dependency and mental health, his Bachelor’s Degree in social work and is now in the process of completing his Master’s Degree in social work from The Ohio State University. Joshua currently works with ADAMH-funded Southeast Inc. as a Community Psychiatric Supportive Treatment worker in the Southeast Recovery Program and volunteers his time at Columbus Urban League. He has also worked with Maryhaven Inc., Franklin Countys' oldest healthcare facility specializing in treatment for people with alcohol and drug dependency.

“Growing up in an environment saturated with drugs and negativity can have devastating effects on a child’s life,” said Joshua. “I want our youth and our parents to know the effects drugs can have and hope that my story can help others choose another path.”

Joshua wants to remind our community to remember, “People can recover from alcohol and drug abuse with treatment; the programs that the ADAMH System of Care provides are helping people restore their lives.”

“I only wish my father could be with me to see what a change I have made,” said Joshua. “I feel it is important for me to work with youth who are going through the same things I went through, and let them know someone is in their corner so they don’t have to learn things the hard way like I did.”