Last Updated on August 29, 2025
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A native of Muskegon, Michigan, Paul Brewer was raised in a loving home with two supportive parents. As a child, Paul was very active in all kinds of sports and was a high-achieving honor roll student. He attended church with his parents regularly and was an active member of his congregation.
In high school, he started smoking marijuana and, much to his demise, he also discovered that it was a profitable product. Although he mostly sold weed in high school, things changed when he went away to college.
“I was taking a bunch of hydrocodone and oxy,” he says. “At the same time, I was also selling them and it just became a habit. Then it turned into an addiction.”
When Paul graduated from college, he relocated to Washington State, where his addiction problem continued to intensify. Soon, he was also doing meth and cocaine and the consequences of his actions were becoming more severe.
While living in Washington, Paul had secured several great jobs including working at Delta, United Airlines, and a local hotel, but he lost them all due to his drug abuse. Before long, he also lost his house and ended up homeless on the streets for several months while cycling in and out of jail.
After months of sleeping outside in the cold, Paul had had enough. In desperation, he reached out to his sister in Texas and got on a plane to Austin with high hopes of starting over somewhere new.
A Fresh Start
Austin, Texas proved to be a breath of fresh air for Paul and a welcoming fresh start. He stayed sober for six months and worked diligently in the hotel industry. But his addiction was still lurking in his mind and heart and it didn’t stay dormant for very long.
“I was doing really great but then I found oxy again and started selling them. Then I started using them and using meth again,” he says. “It got to the point where my employer started noticing. They tried to help but I just wasn’t receiving it.”
One day at work, fate found Paul and he was approached by someone who was hosting a bible study at the hotel. The person was a former drug abuser and quickly recognized that Paul was trying to hide the fact that he was high. The good samaritan offered to introduce Paul to a 12-Step fellowship, and knowing that he really needed help, Paul gratefully accepted.
Although he showed up to his first AA meeting high, he ultimately decided to commit to the program.
While attending a church revival at Lord of the Harvest Ministries, he also experienced supernatural healing that he could only attribute to God. This further solidified his decision to get sober.
“When the power of God is really on you, it’s an experience I can’t really explain,” he says.
After a 45-day stay at a local home for homeless people in recovery, Paul completed a 30-day treatment program for addiction. With a couple of months of sobriety under his belt, he found a new home at Eudaimonia Recovery Homes and has been a resident for about 19 months. He’s also on-staff as a House Manager and enjoys entrepreneurial work, reading, and visiting the local history museums in Austin. After 21 months sober, Paul is a new man, and he describes his life as being “a whole lot better.”
Like many others, Paul is living proof that a troubled past does not determine the future. And for him, his faith was an essential part of the healing process. Although he faced many challenges and his mother passed away while he was still addicted, he was able to establish a stable, sober, and happy life for himself that would have made her proud.
“If no one believes in you, believe in yourself,” he says. “Somebody believed in me so I had to prove to myself that I could do it. I hope my story can influence someone else so they know there are options out there if they want it.”
If you’re struggling with addiction, please know that you’re not alone. Just like Paul, you can experience full healing and restoration with the right treatment and support. Please call (512) 605-2955 to speak with an admissions representative at Nova Recovery Center today.
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Common Questions About Addiction & Recovery
What are considered the most addictive drugs?
Highly addictive substances include heroin, cocaine, alcohol, nicotine, and methamphetamine. These are often highlighted for their strong ability to trigger dependency due to how they hijack the brain’s reward circuits.
How do addictive substances affect the brain and behavior?
Addictive drugs disrupt the brain’s normal reward pathways, often prompting a repeated desire to use just to feel “normal.” Over time, self-control diminishes and drug-seeking becomes compulsion.
What is the difference between drug addiction and substance use disorder (SUD)?
“Drug addiction” is the term many people use, but clinical professionals prefer “substance use disorder” (SUD), which covers a spectrum of severity from mild to severe, based on how many diagnostic criteria are met.
What are the typical withdrawal symptoms from methamphetamine?
When heavy meth users suddenly quit, they often experience intense mood swings, fatigue, vivid dreams, lack of motivation, anxiety, and strong cravings. These symptoms can last several weeks.
Why does methamphetamine withdrawal lead to such prolonged depression?
Because the body develops tolerance and becomes accustomed to the drug’s presence, removing it triggers a “crash.” This can include deep depression and dysphoria that may last longer than with some other substances.
How do psychological dependence and physical dependence differ?
Psychological dependence is an emotional or mental need for the drug—often to feel good or avoid discomfort—while physical dependence is evidenced by withdrawal symptoms when the substance is stopped. Both are hallmarks of addiction.
What role does drug tolerance play in addiction and relapse risk?
With repeated use, the body develops tolerance—meaning higher doses are needed to achieve the same effect. This elevates both the risk of dependence and the possibility of dangerous relapse.
How does euphoria relate to addictive behavior?
Euphoria—the intense pleasure from substances like stimulants, alcohol, or barbiturates—acts as a powerful motivator for repeated use, creating a positive reinforcement cycle that can deepen addiction.
What treatment options are available for addiction and withdrawal?
Evidence-based treatments include medical detox, inpatient or outpatient rehab programs, therapy approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, and behavioral interventions. Personalized recovery programs, like those at Nova Recovery Center, integrate these tools to meet individual needs.
What is medical detox and how does it help?
Medical detox involves supervised symptom management during withdrawal, often with medications to minimize distress. This creates a safer and more comfortable start to recovery, increasing the chance of success in treatment programs.
What’s the difference between inpatient and outpatient rehab?
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Inpatient rehab offers round-the-clock care in a structured environment—ideal for intense withdrawal or higher risk situations.
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Outpatient rehab provides flexibility—treatment sessions while allowing individuals to stay in their daily routines. Both aim to build sustainable recovery paths.
Can addiction treatment really help avoid relapse?
Yes! Relapse is a known part of the recovery journey, but relapse prevention strategies—like therapy, support groups, and skills training—dramatically reduce its likelihood when combined with a strong recovery plan.
What makes substance use disorder treatable?
SUD is a treatable mental health condition. Recovery isn’t just possible—it’s supported through evidence-based approaches tailored to each person’s unique journey. Treatment improves health, relationships, and quality of life.
