Oct 31, 2022
Johnny Allison’s substance use started as a way to cope with the trauma of war and chaos of military life. His recovery started as a way to become the soldier and person he knew he was and could be. Today, he is a Veteran, SMART Facilitator, and the Lead of the SMART UK Veterans Program.
In this podcast, Johnny talks about:
- What motivated him to join the British Army
- The ties between his boxing career and serving in the military
- Why his substance use started and not understanding what was happening
- How the COVID isolation affected his mental health and well being
- How he was becoming a shadow of himself
- His drive and commitment to finally getting help
- Finding SMART and how it helped him manage his thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
- Why he wanted to become a facilitator
- Creating the 1st Annual International Veterans and First Responders Webinar
- The best things about attending a Veterans meeting