He mentions certain staff who have really stood out for him, including his first contact with STAND: “James Lingo. I was just really stressed out about a lot of this stuff involved with drug court—the really strict rules and guidelines. It was just me and one other guy who showed up one morning for drug court. James sat in the back and just let us vent and talk for a while. And then he shared with us that he was formerly
in prison, so he's been through a lot of this stuff. He's very honest and very understanding, and he didn't patronize us about it. He’s just more like somebody to listen to. He was so open about where he came from and how successful he is now—it makes a big, big difference—more than just talking about it.” Andrew
emphasizes the importance of a non-judgmental approach. “Just being able to have someone listen and not be like, ‘Oh well, they're right, and you're wrong’—that made a big difference. I've talked to James Lingo, Lakeisha, and Susan; those are the people I've really gravitated toward. They've been really supportive, and they’ve been encouraging me to continue to come around to join the meetings.” Andrew is employed at a sports bar called Kirkyard Public House, and he also plays live music—guitar and vocals. But—isn’t the musician/ bar lifestyle challenging while trying to maintain sobriety? His answer: “My buddy, who I play guitar with, has been sober for something like fifteen years.” He adds, “Luckily, I've made some pretty great friends in recovery. There are a lot of sober people out there. You wouldn't think it, but there are a lot.”
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