One Wisconsin Man’s Journey Shows Recovery Works
- Markola Williams
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Addiction is often talked about in statistics, crime reports, and medical terms. What we do not hear enough are the stories of the people who make it to the other side, people who fight through addiction, rebuild their lives, and prove that recovery is not only possible, but common. In Wisconsin, more than half of the people who complete substance treatment go on to finish without recent drug use, and nearly seventy percent leave treatment clean. Even more return to work, rebuild families, and contribute to their communities.
One of those individuals is Joey Golden Jr., a Wisconsin resident who openly describes himself as an addict with addictive behaviors, but also as someone who leads with his heart. His story is not about perfection. It is about resilience, honesty, and the ongoing work of recovery.
Growing up, family was the center of Joey's world. Not just parents and siblings, but a large extended circle of relatives, neighbors, and community. He remembers values being passed through the generations: discipline, respect, treating others well, and putting family first. Those principles helped shape him long before addiction became part of his life.
He began battling addiction around seven years ago while living in Colorado. Life had become heavy, his grandmother was dying, his father was sick, and stress kept piling up. Like so many others, the pressure pushed him toward escape. Drugs became a way to cope with emotional weight that felt impossible to manage.
But while addiction took hold, Joey's values never fully left. He knew something needed to change.
"The hardest part about trying to get better is accepting that I am an addict," he explains. That acceptance is something many people with substance use disorder face. Recovery requires honesty, honesty about the problem, about the journey, and about the fact that healing does not happen overnight.
It also requires understanding that relapse does not mean failure. National research shows that seventy-five percent of people who experience addiction eventually recover. In Wisconsin, the numbers are just as encouraging:
· Over 54% of people complete treatment
· Nearly 70% leave treatment with no recent drug use
· 67.8% leave treatment employed
· 95% of treatment completers are not rearrested
These are not just statistics; they represent thousands of Wisconsinites, including Joey, who are working towards rebuilding their lives.
Today, he is the owner of Golden Plated, proving that success is possible even from the darkest moments. He works every day to maintain his recovery while building his future step by step.
He also gives back. Joey wants his story to be a voice of hope for others who may feel trapped or written off. He wants people to see that addiction does not erase a person's worth, and recovery does not erase their past, but instead transforms it.
Even with success, recovery is not a finish line. It is a lifelong commitment. Some days are harder than others. But Joey wakes up, keeps working, and keeps growing.
His message to anyone facing similar struggles:
"No matter what you go through, you can still do whatever you want to do."
And the statistics from Wisconsin support that truth. When people receive treatment, support, and compassion, not judgment, they get better. They rejoin their families, their communities, and the workforce. They start businesses, raise children, and rediscover themselves.
Wisconsin's recovery numbers show that success is happening all around us. Every day, people like Joey Golden Jr. are proving that addiction is not the end of someone's story; it can be the turning point.
What they need most is what Joey had: support, connection, empathy, and the chance to rebuild.
Because people do recover. They succeed. And their stories deserve to be told.
Recovery Resources You Can Call Today
If you or someone you care about is battling addiction, you do not have to walk that path alone. Here are three trusted recovery organizations in Manitowoc, Wisconsin that offer support, treatment, and community.
Where: 818 State Street, Manitowoc, WI.
Contact: Hotline: 920‑374‑3989
Email: info@lighthousercc.org
Contact: 920-340-3030
email: lotusrecoveryhomes@gmail.com
Note: This is a residential program; spaces may be limited, so reach out for more information about how to apply.
Where: 3 Riverview Drive, Manitowoc, WI
Phone: (920) 663‑1035
Disclaimer: VocalBox News Network is not affiliated with any of the recovery programs listed in this article. The inclusion of these organizations is strictly for informational purposes to help individuals seeking support for addiction and recovery. VocalBox News Network has not received payment, sponsorship, or any form of compensation for listing these resources. Readers are encouraged to research and contact the programs directly to determine the services, eligibility, and suitability for their individual needs.
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