By Jack Reinhard | Facebook: @JohnJackReinhard
After years of substance abuse during and after his NFL playing career, former Denver Broncos star wide receiver Vance Johnson is looking to inspire others to break through the struggles he once faced. He came to Washington, N.J. last week to address the ongoing nationwide opioid epidemic.
The event also featured other speakers, including New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal, Dr. Eugene Decker of St. Luke’s Hospital and Mary Jo Harris and William Stover from the Family Guidance Center FGC. Additionally, Michele Eichorn was introduced as the new Executive Director of the Family Guidance Center, while new to the position, noted that the FGC has been providing services to the Warren County community for over 60 years. In addition to prevention services, the FGC has an extensive continuum of care for adolescents, adults and pregnant/parenting women struggling with substance abuse disorders.
Johnson was born and raised in Trenton, where he was surrounded by addiction and domestic violence. He went on to play ten seasons in the NFL for the Denver Broncos, making three Super Bowl appearances. In 2009, he almost lost his life to substance abuse when he was induced into a coma, spending 28 days in an intensive care unit. Johnson addressed local athletic and political leaders at Hawk Pointe Country Club, urging them to help anyone they know that might be suffering from addiction.
Johnson discussed his own struggle with drug and alcohol addiction. In addition to his NFL career, Johnson had also been an NCAA track champion, and a Pan-American Games gold medalist before his years of drug and alcohol abuse finally caught up to him. A long journey to recovery followed, and Johnson has dedicated the last several years of his life to helping others through their own journeys.
“My voice here is to just be as transparent as possible to reach out to people and let them know that this is my story, this was my life what can I do to help you not travel the road that I traveled,” said Johnson.
According to the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office, which organized the event, 35 people died from drug overdoses in 2017, an increase over 2016. County Prosecutor Richard Burke found Johnson’s speech inspirational and is hoping it will help to lower that number.
In addition to the Prosecutor’s office, the Coalition for Healthy and Safe Communities also assisted in sponsoring the event.
Johnson will continue to speak and share his story across the country and will soon be working on a documentary with NFL Films, hoping to save as many lives as possible.
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