Breaking the Stereotype of Addiction: The Story of Colby Haggard

Breaking the Stereotype of Addiction: The Story of Colby Haggard

“I wasn’t homeless. I wasn’t in trouble with the law. I was respected in business. I was active in church. But I was also addicted — and I didn’t even know it.”

When you picture an addict, you probably don’t picture someone like Colby Haggard. The stereotypical addict is someone whose life is visibly unraveling — someone who looks disheveled, acts irrationally, and struggles to hold down a job or maintain relationships. Colby Haggard, however? He didn’t fit the stereotype — and that’s exactly the problem.

Everyone around Colby saw him as a successful businessman with a strong religious foundation. This image was strengthened when Colby began working alongside Hope is Alive Ministries in 2021. Though not officially on staff, it was during this time that he formed a deep connection with Ari Patchen, HIA’s Director of Community Development, and even launched a community event called Legacy of Hope.

What no one realized — including Colby himself — was that he needed the very hope and healing he was working to offer others. For more than 25 years, Colby had been quietly battling addiction.

“I thought I was doing what everyone else did to relax,” he said. “In reality, addiction had been affecting my life since I was 16. I just didn’t see it.”

Colby’s world took a dramatic turn in July 2024 when his wife gave him an ultimatum: get help or lose your family. This was when God stepped in, lended Colby His hand, and guided him towards the right path. This spiritual experience is what pushed Colby to do something drastic: reach out for help even though he hadn’t yet accepted his addiction.

“I reached out to Ari on a Saturday. I was ashamed and couldn’t look him in the eye. But he said, ‘We got you. We’re going to take care of you. Do you want to go somewhere and get help?’”

Colby didn’t realize what getting help looked like, let alone that in 48 hours he would be receiving it. Before leaving for treatment, Colby made the hardest phone calls he has ever had to make. For the first time, he told people the truth. He admitted that he was struggling and that he was going to go away to get help. That honesty marked the beginning of a new life.

“Even though I didn’t go through a HIA home, their team was with me every step of the way. The Hope Line, the placement team, the calls even during treatment when I wasn’t always pleasant — HIA stayed with me the entire time. They cared for me like family. They cared for my wife too.”

When Colby returned home after treatment, he was welcomed with open arms. His wife stood beside him and his professional career shifted for the better. God opened doors he never foresaw coming, like being offered a job with HIA.

“I never imagined my life would look like this — working in recovery, leading in a nonprofit, helping others find freedom. But it’s exactly where I’m supposed to be. God didn’t waste a single experience in my life. He used every lesson, failure, and success to prepare me for this.”

Addiction doesn’t always look like a mugshot. It can wear a suit. It can sit in a pew. If that’s you, there’s hope. Reach out to HIA today and see where placing your trust in God takes you.