Richard (green shirt) with KRCR Program Director Asha Cameron, OASAS Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham, and DASNY President Robert Rodriguez at the opening celebration.
Richard Garcia, 44, grew up on the Lower East Side. He spoke at the June 4 opening celebration of the Kate Rothko Center for Recovery, where he has been a resident since January.
I thought I was in control of my drug use, but a few years ago, it became clear that I wasn’t. I’ve seen what happens to people who don’t get the help they need — I’ve lost several friends to overdose. That stays with you. This is my third time in long-term treatment, and I’m determined to make it my last. I’m going to get it right this time.
Before going into the new year, I decided I wanted to take my recovery seriously. So on December 31st — New Year’s Eve — I checked myself into a 28-day program. While I was there, a counselor told me that Odyssey House had opened a new building and that it would be good for me. She was right.
Being at Odyssey House has been a turning point for me. There’s something about being around others who are going through the same thing — we understand each other, and that makes a difference. Being on methadone has also given me the stability I needed to focus on my recovery instead of just getting through the day. I gain insight from the core groups, topic groups, and morning meetings. I enjoy going on trips — since being here, I went to my first Knicks game. But most of all, I am really enjoying the art program.
The art program has helped me express myself, become more creative, and be more open-minded. Art brings me hope. Making art helps me feel free from my pain and my addiction — when I’m creating something, it keeps the negative thoughts and the temptations away. I’m grateful to the art program staff for encouraging me to be fearless and try new things. I now know how to design my own T-shirts, work with model clay, and think more creatively.
I am also working toward a lifetime of sobriety. My goal is to rejoin the workforce and live an honest life, and I am taking steps to make that happen by completing my recovery.
I am honored to be a part of this program. I know it is leading me toward a better future — one where I keep making art and keep bringing my ideas to life.