Jerome Piper – Redemption, Addiction, Homeless, Rehab, Counseling, Fatherhood, Sobriety, and Hope

<p>Growing up in Bakersfield, California Jerome experienced trauma with domestic abuse in his family, not having a father growing up, and trying to avoid the gang lifestyle that was prevalent in his neighborhood.  He saw a lot of the people he knew in & out of jail and wanted no part of that.  He found refuge in sports and was able to focus his energy and after-school time on something productive.</p> <p>Jerome eventually went to the College of Sequoias to play football.  This is when the partying lifestyle started to take shape in his life.  He felt the peer pressure of his friends to do all kinds of drugs.  He tried cocaine & ecstasy for the first time, drank heavily, and partied every week.  They partied so much, that they even went to Las Vegas 8 times in one month.  He eventually started smoking crack, PCP, and even meth.  It quickly spiraled out of control before he could get a hold of his addiction.  The police even raided his grandparents' house, and this was a huge wake-up call for him.</p> <p>Jerome was arrested at one point, and this really shook him up.  Also, When his third child, his youngest daughter was born this was a major turning point for him. They gave him the ultimatum of choosing his daughter or choosing the drugs.  He chose his daughter.  All this time he was going to school to be a teacher, and he came to a crossroads in his lifestyle, where it eventually caught up with him and his health and realized he needed help.  He relapsed many times, and shifted careers many times, but eventually regained his stability.  The facility that ended up helping him stay sober was the Sierra Vista Ebony Counseling center.  His counselor inspired him to start a new career helping others. </p> <p>Jerome decided to start studying drug and addiction counseling.  Now, at this stage in his life, Jerome wants to be of service to the community.  He currently holds the title of Substance Use Disorder Certified Counselor (SUDCC) under the California Association of DUI Treatment Programs, and he is also a Certif