Journey From Addiction to Recovery His journey through addiction and mental health struggles, homelessness, job loss and finally, into recovery and sobriety more than two decades ago has given Pugh a deep understanding of the chal- lenges many others are going through – and a strong determination to help. Studies have shown that the numbers of individuals who are currently suffering from mental health and substance use issues has only increased in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pugh was in his teens when he began


drinking and using drugs “recreationally” to cope and fit in. He joined the sheet metal workers union right out of high school, got married early and had two children in his twenties. “Back then I was just going with the


flow, doing what other people were doing – you work hard, play hard, drink hard,” he said. “Work became a place to hide, stay late, drink at the tailgate.” Mental health issues surfaced as he tried


to control his alcohol and drug use, which often resulted in blackout episodes in which he lost chunks of time from his memory. “It wasn’t every day,” he recalled.


“Lots of time I would go home and be a good dad and husband. But other times I’d come home at 4 a.m., and the bank account was empty, my laundry was spread across the front lawn, and I had no clue how I got there.” A series of tragedies involving the


deaths of three close family members, including his dad, took place within a six-month time span in 1997, dramatically accelerating his downward spiral. Caught up in the loss of control and feelings of shame as his life fell apart, “I became pretty much unemployable at that time,” he said. He became temporarily homeless and left his family, something he described as the “worst thing I’ve ever done.”


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CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTOR MAY/JUNE 2023


Pugh found a path forward to rebuild his life, his career and eventually his family relationships. He even started a nonprofit (recently shuttered) that worked with kids to teach them life skills through outdoor adventures. Today he enjoys spending weekends in the winter as a ski instructor.


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