To many who knew him in his college days, Darren Waller had the ideal life: A star football player at Georgia Tech who had caught the eye of NFL scouts, he seemed predestined for a picture-perfect future. However, beneath this glossy veneer was someone who was struggling with opioid use, whose self-confidence was flagging and whose passion for the game he had loved since he was a boy was evaporating. Two suspensions and several years later, this culminated in a near-fatal overdose in August 2017 that would prove to be game-changing.
Now four and a half years into recovery, Darren has started a foundation to help youth struggling with addiction, has helped a teammate into recovery and looks back on his past with gratitude and without shame. Join Elizabeth as she speaks with Darren about the value of honesty in recovery, the importance of humility and why he does not wish to shut the door on his past, but rather, sees it as the greatest possession he has.
Heart of the Matter with Elizabeth Vargas is available on
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and
drugfree.org.
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