Recovering heroin addict now helps others hooked on drugs in Western Pa.

(Part five of a six-part series on the effects of heroin on the Mid-Mon Valley.)

As a teen living in Peters, Corey Grabowski hung out with friends who smoked marijuana and, “out of curiosity,” he tried it.

“Marijuana is the ultimate gateway drug,” said Grabowski, now 26 and living in Washington, Pa.

By 18, he was shooting up heroin. Grabowski said he has an addictive personality.

“I've used it all – LSD, ecstasy, heroin, prescription pain pills, Valium, alcohol. The only thing I did not use is crack,” he said. “I was pretty much addicted to drugs, and it took over my life.”

As a student at the Art Institute in Pittsburgh, Grabowski was the new guy and made friends with people who used drugs.

After his best friend died in a motorcycle accident, Grabowski met the victim's brother. The two shared heroin, and Grabowski soon became physically dependent on the drug.

“It was a feeling of being numb,” Grabowski said of the heroin high. “I didn't have to feel anything. It was that free feeling of not having to have emotions. The high was the best, euphoric, almost a complete feeling of freedom.”

But there was a downside.

“The dope sick is the closest thing to feeling like death,” he said of the illness and pain related to the absence of heroin in his system.

It was an expensive habit – soon costing him $150 a day. Grabowski stole from family, friends and his workplace to obtain money to feed his drug demon.

“I was robbing people, houses and restaurants,” Grabowski said. “Everywhere I could get money, I would. And it was never enough. As soon as I got high, I was looking for money for my next high.”

He dropped out of school and couldn't hold a job. Grabowski once was fired after his boss caught him buying drugs outside the pizza shop where he worked.

“I used to sneak out to the alleyway,” Grabowski said. “I got high while on the job. Shooting drugs became a full-time job.”

Grabowski tried rehabilitation programs but couldn't stay away from heroin.

Defining moment

Grabowski said he hit bottom the night he was arrested after robbing a dental office. Dope sick and desperate for cash, Grabowski had broken into six buildings that night.

“Sitting in the back of the police car was total defeat,” Grabowski said.

Actually, there was a sub-basement to his personal low.

“When Mom dropped me off at rehab, she said she didn't want to have anything to do with me,” Grabowski said. “Having that disconnect was crushing.”

After that arrest, Grabowski was assigned to Washington County Drug Court.

People entering the program must undergo screening. On average, such people face jail terms of 23 months.

They trade jail time for the program, which aims to rehabilitate them.

In entering the program, Grabowski decided he had to change his life.

After graduating from the program, Grabowski took classes through Washington Drug and Alcohol Commission Inc.

Today, he's a recovery specialist with the commission, providing peer mentoring for recovering addicts.

“When clients come to see me, they are looking for motivation or a plan for recovery or trying to find housing,” Grabowski said.

Clean for 18 months, Grabowski has reconciled with his family.

He lives with his girlfriend, Samantha Eckman, who is also in recovery.

“I do know I'm going to be an addict for the rest my life,” Grabowski said. “But I enjoy life now. The idea of using has crossed my mind, but I don't have the struggle with going out to get it, because I have a sense of purpose.”

Chris Buckley is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at cbuckley@tribweb.com or 724-684-2642.