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David Levi's life story reads like a road map through the shadowy terrain of addiction and the uphill climb back to recovery. A proud member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes, David grew up in western Oklahoma surrounded by the wide-open spaces and close-knit community of reservation life. Though his childhood was relatively sheltered from substance abuse within his immediate family, the community around him struggled with addiction's grip.

The death of his father in 2009 marked a devastating turning point. Losing his "superhero" sent David spiraling into increasingly dangerous territory as he sought to numb his grief with cocaine and alcohol. What began as weekend partying evolved into daily use, and eventually, a fateful introduction to methamphetamine changed everything. "I never thought I had a problem," David reflects, describing how he watched his life unravel without recognizing the severity of his situation.

As addiction tightened its hold, David's life became a revolving door of county jails across Oklahoma—what he calls his "county jail tour." He lost his casino job, relationships crumbled, and most painfully, he became estranged from his children. "My son went from being a little 10-year-old boy to almost as tall as me. How am I missing this much time?" This realization became the catalyst for change as David finally embraced the structure of drug court and rehabilitation after facing a potential 10-year prison sentence.

The road to recovery wasn't straight or easy. An 18-month drug court program stretched into three years, but David persevered. Today, he works as a group facilitator, along with our host Jo Summers, at South Coast Behavioral Health Treatment Facility, using his lived experience to help others find their way. David is also very active with Wellbriety in his community. Most meaningfully, he's reunited with his children who now live with him. His journey from client to counselor represents recovery's full circle—proving that even after hitting rock bottom multiple times, transformation is possible with determination, structure, and support. This is Part 1 of David's Long Road Home...

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From Rock Bottom to Rock Solid.

We all have them...every single day, we wake up, we have the chance to make new choices.

We have the power to make our own daily, "Breakfast of Choices"

Resources and ways to connect:

Facebook: Jo Summers
Instagram: @Summersjol
Facebook Support: Chance For Change Women’s circle

Website: Breakfastofchoices.com

Urbanedencmty.com (Oklahoma Addiction and Recovery Resources) Treatment, Sober Living, Meetings. Shout out to the founder, of this phenomenal website... Kristy Da Rosa!

National suicide prevention and crisis, hotline number 988

National domestic violence hotline:
800–799–7233

National hotline for substance abuse, and addiction:
844–289–0879

National mental health hotline:
866–903–3787

National child health and child abuse hotline:
800–422-4453 (1.800.4.A.CHILD)

CoDa.org
12. Step recovery program for codependency.

National Gambling Hotline 800-522-4700