Story: Randy Pierpoint

Randy Pierpoint grew up in rural Medina County where he worked for his parents’ construction company from an early age. He admired the work ethic of his fellow employees, but noted that many suffered from addiction, and taught him the negative lesson that as long as you could keep a job, “any behavior outside of work was okay.”

Unfortunately, by the time Randy was in his twenties he’d become both an opioid addict and an alcoholic. He deluded himself into thinking that he didn’t have a problem since he had both money and a nice car. Nevertheless, he started getting into trouble outside of work as he pushed the boundaries of bad behavior.

Eventually, things grew so bad that his parents connected with a group called Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative or PAARI, an organization that helps addicts be placed into treatment rather than go to jail. Randy’s parents issued an ultimatum and gave him twenty-four hours to turn himself in. Reluctantly, he did so and agreed to attend a treatment facility in Florida, but only to get people off his back.

Once he arrived at the facility in November 2016, however, Randy immediately found a support system like nothing he’d ever experienced. He’s been sober ever since.

After returning home to Ohio, Randy began participating in daily, intensive outpatient programming and pursued as many recovery options as he could find. Several months later, he helped found Hope Recovery Community in Medina, which works to increase sustained recovery by providing support, advocacy, and resources to those afflicted by addiction.

Today, Randy, who is nearly seven years sober, owns a remodeling business, many of whose employees he met through Hope Recovery Community. He says he’s an example of how recovery resources can have a huge impact.

As he says, “Supporting and investing in this fight against addiction 100% makes a difference and a positive impact on our communities.”