454 From Special Forces to Alcoholism: How A Stranger Saved Drew's Life454 From Special Forces to Alcoholism: How A Stranger Saved Drew's Life
The One Day At A Time Recovery Podcast
Drew LaBoon reflects on his path from combat deployments and 24-hour drinking to sobriety, sharing how strangers, family, treatment and 12-step work shaped his recovery. The conversation focuses on identity, access to care for veterans, and practical ideas for finding a recovery community that truly fits.
58:41•29 Oct 2026
From Special Forces to Sobriety: How A Stranger Helped Save Drew LaBoon’s Life
Episode Overview
- Access to appropriate care, rather than stigma alone, is a major barrier for many veterans seeking help.
- Simply attending meetings is not enough; meaningful change comes from working a full 12-step programme with a sponsor.
- Rebuilding identity by separating who you are from what you do is crucial for long-term recovery.
- Small acts of kindness and presence from strangers or family can become life-saving turning points.
- Adopting a mindset of "stay out of the way" helps trust the process and allows healthier opportunities to unfold naturally.
“For me, this would be a home run if one person hears this and has the courage to pick up the phone rather than making a permanent decision for temporary problems.”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol after years in combat and chaos? This episode follows Drew LaBoon, a retired Army special operations veteran, as he talks through his journey from drinking three litres of whiskey a day to long-term sobriety and service to other warriors.
You'll hear how Drew went from joining the Army at 17 and spending his entire adult life in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria, to retiring with an undiagnosed traumatic brain injury, severe post-traumatic stress and moral injury. Within months, he was drinking around the clock, homeless, and sitting in a Veterans Affairs car park with "a bottle of Jameson in one hand and a pistol in the other," convinced he had run out of options.
A seemingly ordinary car park attendant, whom he says "saved my life" simply by being there, becomes a pivotal part of the story. So does the cousin who staged a quiet family intervention, the clinician who finally diagnosed his brain injury, and the sponsor who laid out three clear rules: call every day, always be honest, and do what you're asked to do.
The conversation moves between dark humour and hard truths as Drew and host Arlina Allen talk about veteran suicide statistics, why access to care is often a bigger issue than stigma, and how 12-step recovery only works if you actually work the steps rather than just sit in meetings recycling coffee.
You’ll also hear Drew’s mantra for sobriety – "stay out of the way" – and what it means to rebuild an identity from "soldier" into a loving husband, father and "man of principled action." The episode speaks directly to veterans, first responders, and anyone who’s ever felt lost when a role or uniform disappears.
If you’ve ever wondered whether one honest conversation or one small act of kindness can change a life, this story might have you asking what part you’re ready to play.
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