Growing up in Charlotte, North Carolina, I spent most of my childhood and early-teen playing baseball and lacrosse in nearby parks and gyms. At 13 years old, I began to experiment with alcohol and drugs. Experimentation progressed to recreational use, which became regular use, heavy use, abuse, and finally dependency. Drugs, more or less, became my life; everything else fell away. I entered my first rehab when I was 19 years old. During the following 6 years, I was all over the country entering, being carried, and even crawling into treatment. At the end, there was a total of 25 treatment experiences.
My third overdose occurred when I was 22. Choking on my vomit, my heart stopped off and on for 45 minutes. I was revived, yet entered into a long-term coma. No one thought I would survive, let alone walk or talk again. I wish I could say my near-death experience at 22 was my wake-up call, but it was not. I suffered several more close calls in the years to come. By 25, I was beat up, nearly brain dead, and had very little life force within me left. Addiction had taken everything from me, including my life several times. I entered my last rehab at 25 years old.
Now having worked in the addiction industry for 4 years, I continue to look for answers. More importantly, I want to help others in their own paths of recovering and healing. Choices is my passion and my truth. By incorporating modalities that I have been introduced to in my life, my team and I have created a program that offers the path to true healing. My knowledge comes from first-hand experience and wisdom past down from others.
I will be the first one to admit that sobriety depends on an individual’s intention and commitment, but Choices will provide the guidance, resources, and support to facilitate a path to recovery. Recovery varies from person to person—no one size that fits all. My belief and experience has shown me that when given choices in how to recover, an individual is much more inclined to heal and choose sobriety. The time has come for professionals, mentors, and facilitators to stop asking the individual to meet us where we are. Rather it is time to meet the individual where they are.I
In Memoriam
Hollis passed away on February 26, 2019, after fighting a courageous battle with addiction. His kind energy and focus to help others was evidenced by the close relationships he built with his family and friends. Hollis was a leader in the recovery community, helping many people successfully overcome the disease from which he, himself, suffered. His story is one of dedication and determination with carrying a message to help individual’s recover. Hollis’ message of recovery continues with Choices- to help individuals choose a path of recovery and find freedom from active addiction.
The Crittendon family has created a foundation in Hollis' memory that will support people struggling with addiction by providing financial assistance for treatment. We ask that you consider donating to this important cause and help the Crittendon family carry Hollis' spirit forward.
Donations can be mailed to the Hollis Hope Scholarship for Recovery fund at 417 S Sharon Amity Road, Suite C, Charlotte NC 28211.