Arizona man travels more than 600 miles to achieve sobriety

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — September is National Recovery Month, when addicts and rehab centers raise awareness about recovery efforts, and a local organization in Bakersfield is helping addicts stay sober.

• Video shows Noah Rogers recovering from fentanyl addiction
• Noah Rogers traveled more than 600 miles to Bakersfield from Arizona to seek help for his fentanyl addiction.

For your convenience, the summary above was generated with the help of AI and was verified by our team before publishing. Read the full story as originally reported below.

An Arizona man traveled more than 600 miles to this home and says he did so in hopes of changing his life.

“It’s sunny, sunny and nice. I’m from Arizona, so I get colds easily,” Noah Rogers said.

At 23, Noah Rogers has his whole life ahead of him.

“Yes, it’s time to stop playing,” Rogers said.

But Cary Quashen, one of the founders of Action Family Counseling, says Rogers has been playing games with his life.

“Imagine you’re playing Russian roulette with your life,” Quashen said. “It’s a game you can’t win.”

Rogers says losing a childhood friend to cancer and a serious car accident left him struggling with his mental and physical health.

“My name is Noah. I’m an addict.”

He says he turned to fentanyl.

Taking four to six pills a day turned into up to 25 fentanyl pills a day.

“It’s hard to get help when you need it,” Rogers said.

Rogers joined Action Family Counseling about a week ago.

When her withdrawal symptoms began, she says she realized the staff cared about her recovery in a way she hadn’t experienced at other facilities.

“Half asleep, shaking, withdrawn, he was sitting like that half the time,” Rogers said, showing 23ABC what his first moments at Action Family Counseling were like.

Having checked into detox centers twice, once after a friend died from an overdose, the second time when he overdosed on Christmas Day in 2020, he is ready for real change.

“Because I’m done. I’m finally done. This time it’s going to be different,” she said.

While he goes through the 12 steps to recovery, he lives in the group home.

“Welcome to my crib, the last bedroom,” he said, smiling.

In her room you can find her own clothes, music, and roommates who can relate to her struggle.

“The message is that all drugs are bad. All drugs are poisonous. It’s like Russian roulette, a game that you can’t play. You can’t win this game,” Quashen said.

Throughout the 30-day program, Rogers participates in group sessions, individual counseling and rehabilitation treatment in hopes of continuing to play the game of life…and win.

Although Rogers says he knows he has a difficult road ahead, he is hopeful for the future.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you can find more information to help here, and because Rogers says he understands the struggle to stay sober, he says anyone dealing with addiction can reach out to him on Instagram @noharogers.

Stay in touch with us Whenever, Anywhere: