I Thought One Beer Couldn't Hurt Me, It Destroyed Everything

What makes someone throw away everything they've spent 10 years rebuilding? In this episode of the Rollercoaster Podcast, I sit down with Corey Warren, a recovery advocate, business owner, and former addict whose life was shaped by addiction, prison, relapse, and ultimately redemption. Corey shares how a single decision at a high school party led to a 20-year battle with heroin and alcohol addiction. He opens up about the armed robbery that nearly cost him 30 years of his life, the alcoholism that left his organs failing, and the devastating relapse that happened after he had seemingly beaten the odds, 10 years sober, a thriving business, a loving family, and everything he once dreamed of. But this conversation goes far beyond addiction. Corey reveals the deeper struggle that fueled it all, the desperate need to belong, be accepted, and find his identity in the approval of others. We talk about recovery, relapse, faith, purpose, and the dangerous lie that success alone can heal what's broken inside. If you've ever battled addiction, lost your way, or wondered if it's possible to rebuild after hitting rock bottom, Corey's story is proof that your darkest chapter doesn't have to be your final one. **In this episode:** - How one decision at a high school party led to a 20-year battle with heroin and alcohol addiction - The armed robbery that nearly cost him 30 years in prison and changed the course of his life forever - Why building a successful business, loving family, and dream life still wasn't enough to stop a devastating relapse - The deeper struggle with identity, belonging, and validation that fueled his addiction for decades - How faith, recovery, and a second chance helped him rebuild after losing everything **Key Moments:** 00:00 The Beer That Cost Him Everything 06:15 Chasing Acceptance Through Drugs 11:30 The Day He Injected Heroin for the First Time 15:20 Funding Addiction With Stolen Money 20:40 Dopesick, Desperate & Out of Options 24:25 Facing 30 Years in Prison at 18 28:20 Why Getting Clean Didn't Fix the Real Problem 33:00 The Seizure That Should Have Saved His Life 36:30 The People Who Paid for His Addiction 40:05 The Brutal Reality of Early Sobriety 44:30 The Sobriety Strategy That Actually Works 47:20 Building a New Life After Addiction 50:45 Success Nearly Destroyed His Recovery 55:30 One Beer Became a Nightmare 59:10 The Relapse That Changed His Life Forever 1:02:30 The Unexplainable Moment That Shook His Faith 1:06:00 Why He Finally Surrendered to God 1:09:30 The Biggest Lie Addiction Tells You **Connect with Corey Warren:** Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icoreywarren/ **Connect with Me:** Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tyler.hall/