800-671-4304Boulder Peer Recovery Leader’s Inspiring Journey
The man behind the Boulder peer recovery network has helped hundreds of people escape the thralls of substance dependency. And it’s largely because of Harold Niedzielski’s own story of healing that he’s become such a driving force in Boulder’s recovery community.
The Power of Peer Recovery
If you’ve ever sat down with a close friend who shared empathy for your journey you may understand some of what peer support offers. It provides a feeling that someone else can relate to the same challenges.
Peer support is a vital part of recovery for many people. It’s predicated on the idea that no one understands the grasp of addiction or the rigors of recovery like somebody who’s been through it themselves.
Niedzielski knows what addiction feels like because he’s lived with those demons. His substance use journey spanned decades. He was introduced to drugs at only six years old. As he grew older he progressed to intravenous drugs and this finally led him to leave school when he was just a pre-teen.
During some of these times he was homeless and exposed to gangs and sex trafficking. He had periods of sobriety starting at 15 when a family friend helped him and gave him a place to live.
Things fell apart when his father died and Niedzielski began using drugs again. This resulted in more than one prison stint until the threat of a 25-year sentence made him realize it was time to change.
Finding Purpose
After being released from prison for the last time Niedzielski tried to find work only to be rejected due to his criminal background. That changed when a visit to the Recovery Cafe led to his true calling. The new purpose included volunteering and learning to be a peer recovery navigator.
Now he is known as “Harold Houdini” because he can find treatment quickly for those who are ready. He works 90 to 100 hours every week helping people struggling with addiction. He chooses the mission and yearns to help as many people as he can.
Niedzielski is not slowing down anytime soon. He has plans not only to open his own clinic but also to continue to use his example to show the enormous benefits of peer led recovery and the sense of hope that can only be provided by those who’ve walked the same path.
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction in Colorado or beyond, you’re not alone. Call 800-996-6135 today to start writing your own story of healing.