BACK FROM THE BRINK
UNH student overcomes drug abuse, overdose to spend holidays with family
Zach Brewster has a lot of blessings to count at the Thanksgiving table this year — after overcoming a 15year battle with substance abuse, he now plans to attend medical school.
It wasn’t an easy journey for Brewster, 32, who now has nearly six years of sobriety. He started drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana at the tender age of 12, which quickly spiraled into long-term cocaine, heroin and prescription pill abuse.
“My life was just such a mess. I couldn’t hold jobs, I couldn’t do anything,” said Zach, who compared his addiction to a “switch that once it was turned on, it wouldn’t turn off.”
His father, Dr. William Brewster, vice president at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, felt helpless despite his background in medicine and extensive connections in the health care community.
“I felt very alone and very shameful,” said William, who adopted Zach at birth.
He found out about Zach’s drug use early on. “My wife broke into tears and said that my son had been suspended from school, he had gone to the school dance high,” said William, holding back tears. He said that moment kicked off a whirlwind of counseling sessions, treatment plans, run-ins with police and incarcerations for his son.
Zach was in and out of jail and treatment facilities, leading to an overdose when he was 23.
“I almost lost him there, but thank God for Narcan,” said William.
“There was just nothing that was going to work,” said Zach.
Finally, William and his wife kicked Zach out of their home when he was 27, forcing him to live on the street and eventually enter Teen Challenge, a 15-month addiction treatment program. It was then that Zach reached a turning point.
“I always thank them for kicking me out,” said Zach, who told the Herald that detoxing during Teen Challenge was the hardest time of his life.
He stayed in the program and never looked back. Now, Zach works as a resident life supervisor at Teen Challenge and is a full-time student at the University of New Hampshire. He will follow in his father’s footsteps and hopes to attend medical school after graduation, with his sights set on becoming an orthopedic surgeon.
Zach also works as an outreach coordinator for Teen Challenge, visiting schools to speak with students, and he started a homeless outreach program as well.
“To think my goal was for him to stay alive and now he’s actually helping other people,” said William. “I feel guilty, like I’m bragging about him . ... I am so proud of him.”
“I’m really grateful,” said Zach. “I’m blessed. I don’t forget where I came from but sometimes I just can’t believe that I have the life that I have today.”
‘I don’t forget where I came from but sometimes I just can’t believe that I have the life that I have today.’
— ZACH BREWSTER