Jovani said that before his treatment at CHD’s Aster House, he was letting let his temper and impulsiveness run his life—into the ground.

“For me, what I’ve gained here is not only recovery, but anger management,” he said. “I was a hot-head. I lashed out at people. When I was wrong, I blamed everybody but myself. That anger turned me into taking drugs as an escape route. I wasn’t thinking straight. For two years, I was out on street corners looking for drugs all the time.”

He credits Aster House, CHD’s residential recovery home in South Hadley, with helping bring structure to his life, and providing a network of support that makes relapse less likely. Aster House has a focus on education, integrated services, and aftercare planning. For individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, its program offers experienced clinicians, nurses, and recovery specialists, as well as medication-assisted treatment.

“I feel so blessed to be in the position I am in today,” he said. “I owe a lot to CHD. Now I’m very inspired, motivated, and dedicated. I’ve gotten my dignity and integrity back. Before, I felt invisible to my family. Now, I’m making my mom and dad proud of me again.”