“I’m surrounded by a lot of strong men,” Huggins says. “I just listen to them, take their experience and then run with it.” Huggins says he was motivated to get clean by a desire to form closer relationships with his seven kids and all of his immediate family who still live in the Philadelphia area. But he says outside motivators will only get you so far, and that a person must rst make a commitment to themselves if treatment is going to be successful. “I just realized that you have to want a change and you can't do it for anybody but yourself,” Huggins says. “I thought putting the drugs down was going to be enough, but it wasn't. You have to change everything.” LASTING CHANGE Huggins credits Surge for helping him create that lasting change within himself, saying the experience has given him a new outlook on life. He says the programming can be “kind of intense,” but the structure and support has helped him stay on the right path as he continues to change and grow as a person. “I’m just learning how to be a man and live life on life’s terms,” Huggins says. “If it wasn't for Surge, I'd probably be incarcerated or dead.” His experience at Surge has also motivated Huggins to make a career out of helping others. He recently started taking classes and working toward a degree and hopes to one day be an addiction counselor. In January, he became a house manager for Surge, doing intake and making sure everyone in the house is doing their chores, eating well, and getting their
medications. He says he’s thankful for the opportunity to explore a career while helping others in the process. “I want to work in this eld, so it’s giving me a little hands-on experience,” Huggins says. As Huggins pursues his degree and continues to form closer relationships with the clients and sta members at Surge, he will look to spread a message of hope. He says his experience proves recovery is possible, and encourages everyone struggling with addiction to keep working toward a better life. “ere's a better way to live, but you have to want it yourself, and pride yourself on living better.” 51
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