He Thought Addiction Had Won | Gio’s Sobriety StoryHe Thought Addiction Had Won | Gio’s Sobriety Story
Sober Motivation: Sharing Sobriety Stories
Gio shares how a life built around hockey, success and heavy partying spiralled into opiate addiction, isolation and hopelessness. He talks about asking for help, multiple treatment attempts, relapse, and how finding purpose in recovery and service keeps him sober today.
56:05•17 Jun 2026
From Hockey Glory to Gas Station Breakdown: Gio’s Fight Back to Sobriety
Episode Overview
- High achievement in school and sport can hide growing problems with alcohol and drugs.
- Early substance use often meets needs for acceptance, validation and escape, even when consequences aren’t obvious at first.
- Painkillers prescribed for legitimate injury can quickly become a primary addiction when they also soothe emotional pain.
- Reaching out for help, like Gio’s call to his dad saying “I can’t stop using”, can be the crucial turning point.
- Recovery may involve multiple attempts; continued daily work and connection are essential to avoid slipping back.
“I genuinely thought I was a hopeless alcoholic addict with no chance of return.”
How do people find hope in the darkest times? Gio’s story shows how thin the line can be between high achievement and complete collapse, especially when alcohol and drugs are quietly running the show.
Gio grows up in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, a straight‑A student and standout hockey player who says, “Hockey was life… for the first 30 years of my life.” Early drinking and weed feel harmless and fun, part of the hockey and high-school scene, and his success on the ice convinces him he can “party hard, play hard” and still perform.
A Division I scholarship in the US follows, then a nine‑year pro career in the minor leagues, playing in front of thousands of fans and winning a championship. Behind the scenes, things are unravelling. Prescription painkillers after shoulder surgery light a fuse: “I chased that feeling for the better part of a decade.” Opiates, alcohol, multiple doctors and mounting consequences slowly replace the thrill of competition.
When his marriage breaks down, his family is back in Canada, and hockey is over, he’s alone in Oklahoma, using just to feel “okay emotionally”, and wondering if his loved ones would be better off without him. The turning point comes in a gas station car park when he calls his dad and admits, “I can’t stop using.” Treatment, detox stays and 12‑step meetings follow.
Gio is honest that he doesn’t get it perfect—he has several relapses, even after years of sobriety—but he keeps coming back, learning that stopping the inner work is what trips him up. Now, close to two years sober again, he finds purpose in recovery, service, and co‑hosting a podcast with his friend DJ. His message to anyone struggling is simple: as long as you’re still breathing, there’s hope.
What might change for you if you picked up the phone and asked for help today?
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