Stephen Hill | Recovery Advocate, Author,& J.D. Candidate Speaks On Addiction, Recovery, And Wellness

Stephen Hill

Recovery Advocate, Author,& J.D. Candidate Speaks On Addiction, Recovery, And Wellness

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Stephen Hill
Biography

On September 29th, 2012, Stephen Hill had his last drink/drug. Before he was blessed with the gift of sobriety, Stephen suffered in active addiction for over a decade. With multiple failed attempts at recovery, it seemed like there was no hope. After numerous detoxes and treatment programs, Stephen's drug use persisted. Not even the criminal justice system could stop him from abusing prescription painkillers on a daily basis.

The disease of addiction completely took over Stephen's life. He lost interest in education, athletics, and even his own well-being. Growing up, Stephen found his identity in sports, but let his athletic abilities go to waste after he began using drugs. Stephen finally hit rock bottom and entered his final treatment program in 2012. He ended up staying in this program for a full year. Slowly but surely, Stephen began to put his life back together. Family, friends, sports, health, fitness, wellness, and helping others became the top priorities in Stephen's life.

After completing his first year of sobriety, Stephen was offered a full time position to work at the same treatment program he had just gone through himself. Just before entering his third year of recovery, he decided to go back to college. Stephen graduated from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and is currently a student at Brooklyn Law School.

On his days off, he started to share his story to single classes at high schools and middle schools. Stephen soon realized he had found both his passion and calling in life. In no time, Stephen was presenting to entire schools, at community events, town hall meetings and conferences in front of hundreds of people.

In May of 2018, with the help of his former SAT tutor, Marc Hoberman, Stephen published his memoir A Journey to Recovery. Stephen's memoir was the #1 New Release in Drug Dependency on Amazon. He has been featured on WCBS News Radio and in The Journal News discussing addiction and recovery. Some of the personal experiences that Stephen shares are difficult for him to talk about, but he feels it's worth it if his story helps just one person.

Stephen Hill
Featured Videos

Current: Redefined

Time 06:15

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Redefined
Time 06:15
Immaculata High School Interview
Time 03:00

Stephen Hill
Featured Keynote Programs

Redefined
A Journey to Recovery

(Student assembly grades 6 and up)

This keynote presentation begins with a six-minute introduction video aimed at knocking down the stigma attached to the disease of addiction, educating the audience on the current drug epidemic, and setting the stage for a powerful, honest and heartfelt story. The video shows clips of Stephen doing what he loved to do most as a kid—playing sports. During interviews with Stephen’s parents and three brothers, it becomes clear he had a great childhood. “No one saw this coming.” After Stephen’s family talks about the harmful effects his addiction had on himself, their family, and what a difficult process it was for him to recover, Stephen will make his entrance, grab the mic, and hit the stage.

Stephen shows students through his life experience how addiction can unfold, the consequences of substance use, and how difficult it is to recover. This storytelling technique allows each individual person to draw conclusions in their own meaningful way as it relates to their own life.

Stephen focuses on the progression of his drug addiction—beginning to end—leaving students with a better understanding of how the decisions they make today will affect them for the rest of their lives. The trifecta gateway drugs of nicotine, marijuana, and alcohol introduced to Stephen in 8th grade by older peers was just the beginning, eventually leading to self-destructive behaviors, criminal convictions, and a deathly opioid addiction.

He will take students through his dark days in addiction and slowly transition into sobriety, stressing the long, difficult, and everyday battle of living a life in recovery. Stephen ends his presentation with hope and motivation to chase your dreams, be kind and understanding of others, and to live a happy and healthy lifestyle.

Break The Silence
Let's Talk About It

(Breakout sessions on day of event or follow up)

For those who have heard Stephen speak, and especially those who have also read his book know that he shares many experiences which are extremely difficult to talk about. Stephen prides himself on keeping his presentation real and authentic by being completely open and honest about the topics and issues surrounding drug and alcohol use.

Break The Silence: Lets Talk About It is a follow-up program to Stephen’s assembly presentation that gives students the opportunity to ask more personal questions about Stephen’s story and share their own experiences and struggles in a small, safe classroom setting. Students can ask questions about any of the topics discussed throughout Stephen’s assembly presentation, or any general questions related to substance abuse, vaping, mental health, wellness, decision making, criminal justice, peer pressure, etc.

This follow-up program also gives schools the opportunity to have Stephen meet with all of the captains of sports teams. He will talk about the role of a captain on and off the field, stressing the importance of the student-athlete. He will emphasize how much of an impact, both positive and negative, captains can have on the culture of a team. Stephen will ask the participants to describe in their own words what they believe their role is. He will encourage the athletes to reflect on their current attitude and actions, and to ask themselves if they are fulfilling their role as captain. Stephen and the captains will also discuss what actions can be taken to improve leadership roles.

Not My Kid
Parent Program

How does 1 of 4 brothers, all raised in the same home by loving and supportive parents, end up addicted to drugs and committing crimes for over a decade while the other 3 brothers take the positive path to business school and law school without any substance use issues whatsoever? Stephen answers this question by showing parents, through his story, how his personality traits and way of thinking was—and still is—very different from his 3 brothers.

When speaking to parents, Stephen is sure to place a great deal of emphasis on prevention through protection. Using his personal experiences with his own parents, as well as knowledge gained through working in the field of addiction and recovery, Stephen pinpoints potential threats and warning signs for parents to look out for.

Parents never think it’s going to happen to their kid. But when it does, most have no idea where to turn or how to handle it. Stephen’s parents, like many parents who have a child suffering from a substance use disorder, dealt with the emotional and financial hardship as a result of their child’s addiction. Members of their community, friends, and even family labeled Stephen with stigmas that made it increasingly difficult to recover and for his parents to confide in others and seek help for their son’s drug addiction.

By sharing both his and his parent’s experiences openly and honestly, Stephen hopes families can avoid some of the costly hardships that were a part of his journey. He stresses the importance of parents keeping an open line of communication with their children and how fear of punishment and consequences prevents teens from being open with their parents. Stephen’s presentation will leave parents with a better understanding of substance use in terms of prevention, treatment and support.

Stephen Hill
Featured Book

A Journey to Recovery: Speak Sobrietyby Stephen Hill

A Journey to Recovery: Speak Sobriety

by Stephen Hill

Stephen Hill
Featured Reviews

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