Patient Stories

Alcohol dependence was not part of Evan's life plan. He vowed that he would not walk down the same path that had shattered the life of one of his parents. So it was devastating, Evan said, when he was diagnosed with the same condition by a doctor more than 10 years ago.

"I had a lot of shame. Over time, I learned alcohol dependence is not a moral failing; it's a disease," Evan said. "But treatment is available and there is hope. I'm living proof that a different life is possible when you embark on a recovery journey."

Evan grew up in a loving home with parents who were nurses. What he didn't know is that one of his parents was struggling with depression; that parent died by suicide when Evan was just 11 years old. His other parent was devastated, turned to alcohol to cope and found it hard to stop. Evan experienced firsthand the impact that alcohol dependence could have on a family.

"That was not going to be me. Throughout high school and college, I rarely touched alcohol. I was always the Designated Driver," Evan explained.

But as a gay man in his twenties, Evan was looking for a sense of community among those who shared his identity and life experience. "The most common 'safe spaces' for people in the LGBTQ+ community are often gay bars," Evan shared. "It turned out that this was not a safe place for me, because it's where I started drinking."

"People in my community often face stigma and nonacceptance," Evan said. "At first, drinking felt like a way to help me fit in, have fun, and make friends. Everyone was doing it."

From social drinking to alcohol dependence

Evan started out just drinking socially, but as he describes it, his drinking "quickly went off the rails." He began drinking heavily and started experiencing consequences, including a few minor run-ins with the law and serious health problems, including pancreatitis. He ended up in the emergency room a few times, and during one of these ER visits, he was diagnosed with alcohol dependence by a healthcare provider.

"I tried to stop drinking, but I would experience serious symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, including seizures, hallucinations, and the shakes. Doctors told me if I kept trying to go it alone, these symptoms could be life-threatening."

Around that time, a friend called to check on Evan and he decided to be open with them about his alcohol dependence. At that point, he had nowhere to live, had no health insurance, and wasn't sure how to get the help he needed.

"Some people might call that my 'rock bottom.' But it wasn't. The truth is, I had no rock bottom. If I had continued drinking, I would not have stopped until it killed me," Evan stressed.

starting the recovery journey

Evan's friend offered him empathy and support. A group, led by his friend's parent, raised money for Evan to attend a 90-day inpatient rehab program. After he was discharged, he went to a sober living house and attended group therapy, and his doctor prescribed VIVITROL^® (naltrexone for extended-release injectable suspension), along with counseling.

VIVTROL is a once-monthly prescription injectable medication for alcohol dependence in patients who are able to abstain from alcohol in an outpatient setting prior to initiation of VIVITROL treatment. VIVITROL contains naltrexone, an opioid antagonist. Patients should not be actively drinking at the time of initial VIVITROL administration, and VIVITROL should be part of a comprehensive management program that includes psychosocial support. You should not receive VIVITROL if you are using or have a physical dependence on opioid-containing medications or opioid street drugs, are having opioid withdrawal symptoms, or are allergic to naltrexone or any of the ingredients in VIVITROL.

VIVITROL can cause serious side effects, including risk of opioid overdose, severe reactions at the injection site, sudden opioid withdrawal, and liver damage or hepatitis.

Please see Important Safety Information for VIVITROL on this website.

Evan saw VIVITROL as a way to help him on his journey. "With VIVITROL, I could focus on other parts of my recovery path."

A key piece of the puzzle

Evan's path has had its bumps in the road. After discontinuing VIVITROL and other support like counseling, Evan relapsed to drinking. He entered inpatient treatment for a second time, and after he was discharged, he was again prescribed VIVITROL and counseling by a healthcare provider. He continued the medication and counseling for a year.

"Everyone's journey is unique. But I knew VIVITROL had worked for me in the past. I was committed to being on a long-term recovery journey. My doctor and I agreed that along with counseling, VIVITROL could be a key piece of the puzzle."

Now, as a person in long-term recovery, Evan's journey no longer includes medication for alcohol dependence. He continues to employ other support along the way, which he calls "recovery capital."

"I have meaningful work and I attend a peer support group called Recovery Dharma, which incorporates Buddhism." Evan also joined a sober gym and belongs to LGBTQ+ groups that don't involve drinking. "The local Pride Festival even has a designated alcohol-free space, so people can have fun without the alcohol."

Evan now works as the Community Impact Director at a statewide recovery community organization. He has also become a Peer Recovery Specialist working with those who are early in their recovery by sharing his own journey, offering support, and helping them access care and other resources. Evan believes that everyone deserves a chance at recovery, no matter who they are or where they have been. He encourages anyone struggling with alcohol dependence—especially those in the LGBTQ+ community—to reach out to a healthcare provider. And then call a friend.

"You can't do this alone, and that's nothing to be ashamed about. If you are concerned about your drinking, raise your hand and ask for help. An estimated 23 million Americans are people living in long-term recovery."

For Hamiliton, known as "Hamp" to his family and friends, starting off the new year was always difficult. As a child, Hamp remembers the holiday season and the new year as chaotic and painful for him because of alcohol misuse in his home. Hamp started drinking at a young age as an early coping mechanism. As a young adult, Hamp would go through month-long stretches of sobriety, thinking he had his drinking under control, but then would eventually return to drinking—especially during the winter months, when his construction work slowed down for the season.

If something good happened at work, he drank; if something bad happened, he drank. Hamp was eventually diagnosed with alcohol dependence by a healthcare professional. In 2016, he went to rehab—but even after that, he would occasionally allow himself a drink or two, which eventually extended into another stretch of heavy drinking.

Hamp felt that his alcohol dependence was out of control and was affecting him and the people around him. Hamp's family is important to him, as is the construction business he owns and the employees he works with. They were all starting to feel the strain of his drinking.

"My family has always been there to support me, encourage me, plead with me," says Hamp. "They showed me patience, and I probably wouldn't have done the same. I almost destroyed my relationships."

In August 2019, at 58 years old, Hamp was admitted to the hospital due to his drinking. Doctors sent him to a behavioral health facility for 2 weeks, and that's when Hamp made the decision to address his alcohol dependence again. At the facility, a healthcare professional told Hamp about medication-assisted treatment (MAT), which combines the use of medication with counseling and behavioral therapies.

Hamp was encouraged by learning about this treatment option because he had not known that MAT was available for his alcohol dependence. Hamp was prescribed VIVITROL (naltrexone for extended-release injectable suspension) and counseling by his outpatient healthcare provider and attended counseling to support his recovery journey.

VIVITROL is a once-monthly prescription injectable medicine for alcohol dependence in patients who are able to abstain from alcohol in an outpatient setting prior to initiation of treatment with VIVITROL. VIVITROL contains naltrexone, an opioid antagonist. Patients should not be actively drinking at the time of VIVITROL administration and VIVITROL should be part of a comprehensive management program that includes psychosocial support. You should not receive VIVITROL if you are using or have a physical dependence on opioid-containing medicines or opioid street drugs, are having opioid withdrawal symptoms, or are allergic to naltrexone or any of the ingredients in VIVITROL.

VIVITROL can cause serious side effects, including risk of opioid overdose, severe reactions at the injection site, sudden opioid withdrawal, and liver damage or hepatitis.

Hamp has celebrated his progress and health milestones and continues to work on his recovery journey.