'Recovering out loud': Local couple shares story of drug addiction, recovery

The couple is sharing their story of substance abuse and their path to recovery as part of Indiana's 'Know the Facts' campaign, which aims to raise awareness that addiction is a disease, it's treatable and recovery is possible.

News 18's joe paul spoke with the couple to share how they are breaking down the stereotypes of drug addiction.

Lori henry is a case advocate here at the ywca of greater lafayette's advocacy center.

She was also a resident in this building when it was a domestic violence shelter.

That journey is proof of how she's come full circle to escape a life of domestic violence and drug addiction.

"he said, 'dad, i'm done being bad, can i come back home?'

Dock henry lost custody of this two children while battling a meth and heroin addiction for 21 years.

But it was those words from his then-seven- year-old that brought him out of the fog of substance abuse.

"so it changed my life at that point.

So from that point in time, for the first time in my adult life, i cried for someone other than myself, and that's when my path to recovery started."

He's now a part of phoenix recovery solution's quick response team.

Which responds to overdoses and mental health crises in the community.

Dock met his now-wife lori henry at home with hope, a recovery house in lafayette.

He's regained custody of his children and lori is working to become their adoptive mother.

"without her, i couldn't do what i'm doing, and i mean that in everyday living.

I wouldn't be the man i am today nor the father that i am today without her."

Lori is now a case advocate for the ywca of greater of lafayette.

The couple is four-and- a-half years clean.

But they've witnessed close friends and loved ones succumb to drug addiction.

"i remember my sponsor and other predecessors telling me, 'you need to get a black dress because you're going to bury a lot of people that you love and care about,' and it's true."

The couple is now sharing their story as part of indiana's "know the facts" campaign.

The campaign wants to raise awareness that addiction is a disease, it's treatable and recovery is possible.

"the lafayette recovery community helped me give myself my life back.

The lafayette recovery community is thriving.

We're recovering out loud.

It's happening."

Lori and dock henry are urging anyone dealing with addiction to reach out and get help.

You can find a link to some of those resources on our website, wlfi.com.

Reporting in lafayette, joe paul, news 18.