Homecoming King is the book that nearly didn’t get written. This past year has been incredibly emotional and hard for my family and me. Because of that, it made the words come very slowly and sometimes, not at all.
We lost my nephew last summer to an accidental drug overdose. I share this with his mother’s permission in our hope that we save another family the heartache associated with this terrible tragedy.
My nephew recreationally used prescription drugs, mostly opioids. I think it’s important to note that he wasn’t a guy living in the streets, he had a job that he was good at, friends who adored h, and a family who loved him. He was just careless. I’ve often said, he’d be so mad he was dead because he never intended to die. But that’s the problem with drug use, you’re not making the best decisions when a bad decision can end your life.
In Homecoming King, I talk about opioid addiction being an epidemic in professional sports, and it is, but it’s also a national epidemic. I had initially intended Cash to be recovering from opioid addiction. But there’s nothing funny or entertaining about this disease, and the last thing I’d want to do would be to downplay or make light of something so terribly destructive and lethal.
If you have a family member or friend who is struggling with addiction, SAY SOMETHING. No matter how infrequent the use is or how “under control,” the person seems because they’re not.
Be direct.
Call them out.
Get help.
Our family talked around the issue, but never insisted he get help, mostly because he hid a lot of it from us, but also because it was a hard conversation to have, and we didn’t want to alienate him. But I can guarantee you that our biggest regret is that we didn’t address it head-on. And believe me, you do not want to live with that kind of regret.
My cousin, Randy Grimes, played ten years in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and knows firsthand the destructive power of addiction. Here’s his story of hope and healing.
A former professional football player whose career spanned 10 years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Randy Grimes spent 20+ years battling an addiction to pain killers developed while treating career-related injuries. He now uses his inspiring story of recovery and his 10+ years in the addictions industry to help victims of drug and alcohol abuse, as an Interventionist and the founding advocate at Athletes In Recovery.
In 2012, Randy launched “Athletes in Recovery,” a program designed to help athletes of all levels find treatment for addiction and mental health, while offering continued support for those already in recovery.
Randy’s passion does not end with athletes; he is committed to helping all families find balance and peace of mind. Randy believes that “when families get well, addicts get well.” Randy has performed countless interventions across the U.S. and in five countries—bringing hope and healing when all seemed lost.
Randy has been an exemplary ambassador and example of the power of professional treatment. Married since ’82 to his college sweetheart, Lydia, who is also a Certified Family Addiction Coach, they have two children and three grandchildren. Randy is regularly a commentator on numerous national TV networks and media including NFL Network, Anderson Cooper, Father Albert, CNN, Fox Sports, MSNBC, Fox News, SiriusXM Sports, New York Times, New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and countless others. His “Never Give Up” attitude translates from the gridiron to recovery. On his recovery, Randy states: “God didn’t open the gates of heaven and let me in....He opened the gates of Hell and let me out!”
Get in touch with Randy here - www.proathletesinrecovery.org