Trey Anastasio, the frontman of the iconic band Phish, has opened up about his tumultuous journey through opioid addiction and the pivotal moment that led him to sobriety. In an exclusive interview, he reflects on the arrest that changed his life and how he is now dedicated to helping others facing similar struggles.
Anastasio’s battle with addiction began innocently enough. After undergoing dental surgery, he was prescribed painkillers, which eventually spiraled into a dependency on OxyContin by the year 2000. “Everybody kept saying it was safe,” he recalls. “They’re so addictive, it’s like you’re down the rabbit hole before you know it. It just completely got out of control.”
By 2004, the consequences of his addiction were severe. He lost his band, Phish, which went on hiatus, and his family life suffered. “I lost my band, then I almost lost my family,” he shares, reflecting on the toll his addiction took on his relationships with his wife, Susan, and their daughters, Isabella and Eliza. “Drinking and drugging, for me, it was a slow death of isolation.”
The turning point came on December 15, 2006, when Anastasio was arrested for heroin possession and driving while intoxicated in upstate New York. “The minute I got arrested, I was relieved,” he admits, acknowledging the fear of potentially harming someone while under the influence. “As I was cuffed, I knew it was over.”
Following his arrest, Anastasio pleaded guilty to a reduced drug-possession charge and was sentenced to 14 months of community service and meetings mandated by drug-treatment court. The road to recovery was not without its challenges. On Thanksgiving Day in 2007, he found himself back in jail for accidentally missing a court-mandated recovery meeting while volunteering with the homeless. “I had to go to jail,” he recalls. “It was three days and two nights, which is long enough.”
When he was released, he faced the reality of his situation. “My wife was leaning on the car like Lorraine Bracco in Goodfellas,” he describes, noting the impact of his actions on his family. “I was kind of like, ‘Did you have to take the kids out of school to see Dad coming out of jail?’ And she said, ‘If you don’t want your kids to see you coming out of jail, you better stop going to jail.’”
Anastasio credits the structured program he entered for helping him achieve sobriety. Since that time, he has not touched drugs or alcohol, nor has he returned to jail. “I’m so grateful that it didn’t kill me,” he reflects on his addiction. “It could have.”
With 17 years of sobriety under his belt, Anastasio is now channeling his experiences into helping others. He recently opened the Divided Sky residential recovery center in Ludlow, Vermont, a facility designed to support individuals battling addiction. The center follows an abstinence-based approach and incorporates the 12-step program.
“I’ve seen people in dire situations come back from this. It’s never too late to have hope,” he says, emphasizing the importance of recovery. “Families can be saved.”
The opening of Divided Sky is particularly meaningful for Anastasio, as it represents a full-circle moment in his life. His former caseworker, Melanie Gulde, who played a crucial role in his recovery nearly two decades ago, now serves as the program director at the center. “She saved my life,” he says of Gulde. “She’s a badass, but she’s also very loving.”
Gulde shares her admiration for Anastasio and believes his story can inspire others. “I hope people take away the fact that humans are resilient. Recovery is the greatest gift we can give ourselves,” she states. “Divided Sky came about as Trey’s desire to give back on a bigger scale.”
Anastasio’s commitment to helping others is evident in his message to families grappling with addiction. “This can end. Anyone can get off drugs and stop drinking,” he asserts. “Your loved one is a sick person trying to get well, not a bad person trying to get good.”
In addition to his work with Divided Sky, Anastasio continues to create music. He recently released a new Phish album titled “Evolve,” showcasing his ongoing passion for his craft.
As he reflects on his journey, Anastasio remains grateful for the support he received from his family and bandmates throughout his recovery. “I’m so thankful for the people who stood by me,” he says. “It’s a testament to the power of love and support.”
Anastasio’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the possibility of recovery. Through his work at Divided Sky, he hopes to inspire others to seek help and find their path to sobriety.
For those struggling with substance abuse, Anastasio’s message is clear: “There is hope, and recovery is possible.”
Source: PEOPLE
