Story of Success: Timothy White’s Road to Recovery   

Someone once said, “When journeying down the long dark road, we must continue on and never give up faith we'll one day reach our destination…” and Timothy White did just that! 

After struggling with addictions to cocaine, heroin and alcohol for seven years, Timothy found his road to recovery in his 21st detox program at Talbott Hall.  And on August 28, 2011, he will celebrate four years of sobriety. 

Sitting in his Grandview apartment, surrounded by his race car collection and Ohio State sports memorabilia, Timothy talks about being a full-time father to his 14 year old son, a registered voter and an active community member. 

You would never guess Timothy traveled such a long dark road to reach his destination.  After losing both of his parents within four months of each other – his mother to lupus and his father in a fire – Timothy went into a severe state of depression. 

“Instead of finding a productive way to deal with my depression, I turned to drugs and alcohol,” said Timothy.   

During the seven years he struggled with addiction, he was shot, witnessed someone overdose and die in his living room, suffered a heart infection from a dirty needle and contracted Hepatitis C. 

Now almost four years into recovery and cured of Hepatitis C, Timothy credits his son as his driving force to stay sober.  “He was the reason why I stayed sober for just one more day.” 

Another instrumental role in Timothy’s recovery was the Fowler House and Soaring Sober, both programs at North Central Mental Health Services, an ADAMH-funded agency.  He received intensive in-patient treatment at the Fowler House for six months.  After six months at the Fowler House, he started Soaring Sober.  For two and a half years, he went to this program eight hours a day, five days a week. 

“These programs really laid the groundwork for my recovery,” said Timothy, when speaking of the Fowler House and Soaring Sober.

For Timothy, spirituality was another important factor in his recovery.  “Until I allowed the spiritual side – 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and church – to take part in my recovery, I could never fully grasp that aspect of it,” said Timothy.  For him, that spiritual connection made the difference during his 21st trip to detox. 

Today, Timothy is still active with many of the organizations he recognizes for saving his life like ADAMH-funded agencies North Central Mental Health Services; Maryhaven; Netcare; Community Housing Network and other community support organizations including Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority; Franklin County Job and Family Services and Parkside Behavioral Healthcare. 

“Without God, family and a lot of good people in all of these programs, I would have never been able to make it as far as I am today.  I have a good life.  My son has a good life.  I try to give back as much as I can.” 

Now, Timothy, his son and his brother are members of the Anchor Baptist Church where they were all three saved and baptized. 

Timothy and his son watch races together, play NCAA12 on XBOX and talk football.  Timothy played football at East High School and his son hopes to follow in his footsteps next year. 

“It is like a country music song played backwards.  When you do the right things, you get your dog back, you get your wife back, and you get your life back.  I am so blessed to be alive.”