The life and resurrection of Hornell’s Jeff Wilson

A tale of addiction, recovery, and love

By Andrew Harris, photo of Jeff and his son Brayson

The stories, cliches, stigmas, and stereotypes about drug addicts have rarely changed in my lifetime. Constant news about overdose deaths, reports of drug related crime, and mugshots of addicts are part of our daily “news.” We don’t hear about those who escape death, who are saved by society, and people who are loved despite all the hazards of addiction.

This story of Jeff Wilson seeks to change that narrative, seeks to deconstruct the misconceptions, and hopes to inspire you and the addict in your life.

Jeff’s life has been a textbook example of the destruction that opioids have brought to every community in this country. His recovery has been a long process, sometimes unsuccessful, but talking with him about his life indicates a changed man who is very grateful to be alive today.

At age 20, Jeff was working a dream job and considering a military career. One bad day on the job resulted in a very serious injury. When he went into the doctor’s office, they immediately introduced him to a mortal enemy, opioid based pain killers. From that day a life and death battle began.

Wilson was a classic target for addiction. A difficult childhood, a painful injury, and a rush to prescribe the pharmaceutical version of heroin created a serious drug addict. Broken laws and broken relationships were common and “I basically died twice,” as Jeff openly explains.

Today Jeff stands as a man in recovery, and is also very candid about how he escaped that life and death battle and found some peace.

First and foremost is that “watershed moment,” almost every recovered addicted can immediately tell you when they clearly said to themselves as Jeff puts it, “I’m done.”

For Jeff that was the birth of his son Brayson. He changed, his brain changed, and his direction changed that day.

It wasn’t an easy change, his body didn’t change as quickly as his mind but after that birth, Jeff was reborn in many ways.

The fine woman who gave birth to his son, Elizabeth Willis, had been through this before and walked away. Her love for Jeff wouldn’t let her walk away, they shared a child, and she saw something in him that she could have faith in. Brayson was always a reason to keep trying and supporting Jeff:

“It absolutely was not easy, but thankfully, the entire church family stood by our side. We wouldn’t have come out the other side if not for God and them. These kinds of situations can seriously tear a family to shreds”

That steadfast love is the first cornerstone of Jeff’s recovery.

Pastor Matt at the Fresh Start Church came into Jeff and his family’s life after they spent some time searching for a place of faith. Jeff and Elizabeth knew they needed support and started to seek that in local houses of worship. After some searching, the Fresh Start Church entered the picture, Pastor Matt allowed the family to discover what his ministry had to offer. Acceptance, understanding, respect, and guidance were offered along with a connection to a community: The next cornerstone of Jeff’s recovery.

Elizabeth, the first cornerstone, talks about discovering Fresh Start Church:

“I struggled for a while thinking that no one was ever gonna help him until finally I went back to God. Found a family there, and ever since then, we haven’t been alone and everything else fell into place.”

From those very basic, simple elements that Pastor Matt and his ministry provided came trust and love. That support created a bond that Jeff credits with saving his life and keeping him accountable to a higher power. Pastor Matt explains how his ministry entered Jeff’s life:

“We simply have come alongside him knowing his addiction issues and more importantly, knowing he wants to get free from the chains and monkeys on his back that have plagued him even before I knew him. I have been in the ministry about 42 years now and I know a sincere desire to get whole when I see it.”

Having the Fresh Start Church and Pastor Matt enter the picture was a game changer for Jeff, and when he considers who he could turn to in a moment of crisis Pastor Matt is at the top of the list.

Pastor Matthew Sassano’s secret sauce is worth sharing:

“Many want to get free from addiction, but fail to put in the work necessary. As far as I am concerned, and because it’s been proven time and time again, people need these things in order to be free…

1. Someone (or a group of people) to believe in them. We believe in Jeff. He’s a human being with feelings, a future.

2. Administer “tough” love when/if necessary, and it usually is necessary with substance abusers because the substance itself is tough and cruel to the addicted, and will not “let go” until extreme measures are taken by the addicted.

3. We believe 100% in allowing God (not a higher power, not mind over matter, nor “something” in the ether), but God MUST be pursued with a passion, a sincerity, and with consistency because He will, and has come along side people when they’re serious about coming off their vices permanently.

4. A great support group is incredibly necessary and Jeff has that at Fresh Start Church. He is surrounded by men/women who see value in Jeff (as we do with ALL human beings), and a victory for him is a victory for us as a local congregation. Not as another “notch” in our collective belts, but a life that’s saved from premature death.”

If love and faith are the first two cornerstones of Jeff Wilson’s recovery, the other two are law and order.

The journey through addiction tends to lead to the police station and the courtroom. Jeff had been identified as a troubled soul in Hornell NY. Officer Timothy Thurston responded to a call from Jeff reporting a domestic issue underway. As Jeff explains, when Officer Thurston arrived, he realized that an intoxicated Wilson had called the police on himself. His life had spiraled so far out of control that the police officer realized it was a cry for help. Thurston kept his eye on Wilson, and he saw something in him worth supporting.

Then Jeff’s son was born and immediately Officer Thurston realized that the stakes had gotten much higher for that little family. He stopped by the house, had blunt conversations with Jeff, he encouraged him to pursue recovery, and he treated Jeff with respect, “as a human being,” says Wilson.

That attention from a police officer had formative impact. Feeling cared for, watched over, and being accountable to the law gave Jeff another cornerstone to build from. Thurston continues to be a presence in Jeff’s life:

“He is like a sibling I never knew, like a family member I didn’t know that I had. When I see him, I always say to him, ‘Thanks, I love you bro.”

Officer Thurston’s boss, Chief of Police Ted Murray, has also taken note of the exceptional story and relationship:

“I am pleased that Officer Thurston has played a positive role in Mr. Wilsons life. He is a great officer who truly cares about the people he serves.”

The Hornell Police Department enforces the law, but the courts provided the orderly justice for the crimes Jeff had committed while in the throngs of addiction. The City of Hornell offers a drug court options for cases like Jeff. That program offers addicts to enter recovery, remain accountable to a probation officer of the court, and move on with life without incarceration.

Drug Court, Judge Coddington, and Steuben County Probation Officer Siena Burnett are the fourth cornerstone of this story of recovery. It is one thing for a spouse to give you a second chance, your church offering the hope of redemption, and a police officer to taking a special interest. It is a different thing when our society as a whole gave Jeff a second chance. “We” could have tossed him in jail as a hopeless addict, a danger to society. “We” could have sentenced him to months in jail and sentenced his young son to a life without his dad. The entire community of Hornell and Steuben County should be proud that society offered a hand out of despair, one more chance, and hope.

The face of “we” in Jeff’s life is Siena Burnett, not his first probation officer but, “she’ll be my last,” Wilson confidently says.

Jeff had prior experience with the county probation department that he would describe as ambivalent and disinterested in the human being behind the case file. When Siena took Jeff into her caseload, things changed quickly. She demonstrated that she really wanted him to succeed, really wanted to understand his situation, meet his family, and first and foremost: Work with him to succeed.

“She told me on day one what was expected, what was required, and she demanded mutual respect,” explains Jeff. Siena has been honest, open, and supportive in this addict’s journey back to life. That mutual respect was a key ingredient for Jeff to be proud and report that he has never run afoul of his probation terms or officer under Siena’s watch.

The first cornerstone of Jeff Wilson’s recovery, Elizabeth, the mother of his son Brayson, summed up how the other three cornerstones were essential:

“They are amazing at changing an addict’s life, they have been fantastic. Amazing for our family and how their method of changed our lives. They didn’t just let someone rot in jail , they got active and helped.”

Wilson is humbled by the support, by others having hope in his battle to overcome opioid addiction, and ready to help anyone stuck in the seemingly hopeless cycle. His experience has been a painful learning lesson, and he wants to spare someone else that difficult education.

Jeff’s first and foremost bit of advice to a fellow addict is to reach out. Don’t think you can battle this alone and you will need cornerstones in your life to overcome this disease.

“I’ve been through every counseling or rehab facility in this area, they are all good at what they do. They have the proper channels to get you the help you need. They are all also highly confidential, they have always honored my privacy as required by law. They will find you help; you just have to trust them.”

By reaching out to a professional the process of recovery starts, but it is a process that requires a multi-faceted treatment. After decades of grappling with the nation’s opioid epidemic, researchers have developed more and better tools to aid in recovery. Jeff has tried them all and is thrilled to share that a new treatment option has emerged has been a game changer.

Like most who suffer from opioid addiction, a pharmaceutical buprenorphine has been widely prescribed to stave off the withdrawal symptoms that cause a relapse. You may have heard about “suboxone strips,” which are individual buprenorphine doses that a patient absorbs under the tongue. While they work for some, they also have been widely abused and even sold on the black market. The problem is the ability to take three instead of one, then five instead of three. That misuse leads to addiction to buprenorphine, running out of strips, and relapsing into opioids to control withdrawal.

Jeff has found a new buprenorphine treatment called Sublocade, a monthly injection by a doctor. The time-release method of administering this medicine made all the difference for Jeff, “I feel whole with it, no withdrawals, no interest in using anymore.” The treatment is paired with in-person counseling and so far has boasted great success in clinical trials.

Learn more about Sublocade- https://www.sublocade.com/

Jeff and his family wanted this story told to help others in the same situation. Many of us have lost loved ones to opioid overdose death, broken families, and jail. Jeff and Elizabeth hope that their journey can ease the pain for others in the same situation.

If you know a family impacted by opioid addiction(and you most likely do,) please share this story of recovery and redemption and hope. Below you will find links and contact information for the Fresh Start Church and various local recovery services. Jeff and Elizabeth have founded a new Facebook page “Hornell Can Recover,” which is a great way to reach out and follow their journey. If you don’t use Facebook feel free to use our Contact Us form and we will help make the connection.