Recovering addict from West Virginia uses Decade Challenge to inspire others

NITRO, W.Va. — A West Virginia man has taken the Decade Challenge to a new level.

To participate in the Decade Challenge, social media posters compare "now and then" photographs from 2019 and 2009. Some people compare their weight loss, hair loss, or revert to just plain silliness.

Jason Wickline used the challenge to show his battle against drug addiction, WOWK reported.

“Just because someone falls, doesn’t mean they can’t get back up,” Wickline told the television station. "They can fall tomorrow, but just because that happens doesn’t mean it’s the end of their story.”

Wickline said he had been battling addictions for many years, the television station reported. He sobered up after losing his son twice to Child Protective Services. His house was condemned and he lost his son, Krystian -- now 9 -- when he was arrested, WOWK reported.

“At 4 years old he turned around and said, ‘Daddy I love you; I’ll never forget you,’” Wickline told the television station. "So, at 4, he understood that life was never going to be the same again. He was fully prepared to accept that he’ll never see his daddy again.”

#CleanChallenge Post a picture of what you looked like in active addiction and how you look today! Trying to spread hope to those who are still struggling.. We DO Recover!! There is life after dope! 🖤💪🏼
Posted by Jason Wickline on Friday, July 26, 2019

Times have changed. Wickline has been sober for 33 months and regained full custody of his son. Wickline now is an advocate for More Than Addiction and told WOWK that staying involved in other people's recovery process has been beneficial.

“If my story helps one person, then it was all worth it, it was all worth it,” Wickline told the television station. " Because somewhere right now, there’s a little boy or a little girl that don’t know where their mommy or daddy’s at.”

Wickline said recovery is possible and encouraged people to contact him on Facebook if they want to connect with him.

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