Outreach Worker Joe Gladding Reflects on 13 Years of Sobriety

Joe Gladding, an outreach worker with the Huron-Perth chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association, recently reflected on his journey to sobriety, which spans nearly 13 years. His story is a testament to the power of personal transformation and the importance of seeking help.

In the spring of 2013, Gladding returned to his mother’s home after more than a decade of battling addiction. Exhausted and unsure of his next steps, he found himself at a crossroads. “I wasn’t trying to get clean at that point. Everything had just ground down. I was just exhausted physically, emotionally, mentally,” Gladding recalled. It was a call from an ex-girlfriend that prompted his mother to intervene, leading to a pivotal moment in his life.

During that crucial conversation with his mother, she posed a simple yet profound question: “What’s your plan?” This inquiry forced Gladding to confront his reality. “I realized at that moment, ‘I don’t have a plan. I’m out of plans,’” he shared. This realization ultimately led him to seek help at a detox facility, marking the first step on his path to recovery.

Gladding’s struggles with addiction began long before he started using drugs. He grew up in Stratford, Ontario, in a loving family environment, yet he faced challenges that contributed to his substance use. “I had everything that I needed. We weren’t rich, but we certainly weren’t poor,” he stated. Despite this supportive background, he became aware that addiction can affect anyone, regardless of their circumstances.

His early life was punctuated by grief, starting with the loss of his grandfather at the age of five. This traumatic event, coupled with difficulties in forming friendships, led him to seek comfort in food and eventually alcohol. “I remember there was this thing where it went into my body and something changed, and I didn’t feel the way I felt before,” he explained.

As a teenager, Gladding experimented with alcohol and later progressed to marijuana and other narcotics. His addiction escalated in his early twenties after experiencing the death of his father and the loss of a cousin in a car accident. Although he achieved financial stability by purchasing a house at 23, his life took a downward turn due to cocaine use.

Following his first arrest, which resulted in a four-month prison sentence, Gladding faced the harsh reality of foreclosure and mounting debt. “I just didn’t see any light when I got out of there,” he admitted. This cycle of incarceration continued, leading him to spend about two years behind bars.

Despite the challenges, Gladding viewed his time in jail as a temporary escape from the chaos of addiction. “When you start going ‘jail is appealing,’ you know it’s not good,” he expressed. The absence from family events marked a decade-long disconnect, culminating in a poignant realization when he reconnected with his niece, who was preparing to get her driver’s license.

That moment in 2013 when Gladding decided to commit to rehab transformed his life. “I spent the entire next year, with the support of my family, working on getting clean,” he said. His dedication paid off, and he now celebrates nearly 13 years of sobriety.

Gladding’s journey led him to pursue further education, obtaining a certificate in the addictions care worker diploma program from McMaster University. He began his career as a peer support worker at a men’s treatment facility and eventually secured a position at the Canadian Mental Health Association, where he has been employed for approximately nine years.

In his role, Gladding has engaged with around 1,400 clients from April 2024 to March 2025, providing support throughout Perth County and collaborating with paramedics and social workers. He emphasizes that his approach is non-intrusive, allowing clients to choose whether to engage with him.

Gladding’s message to those struggling with addiction is clear: “Just reach out to someone, even if you don’t know who to reach out to.” He believes that taking the first step towards help can lead to significant change. With his own story as a beacon of hope, Gladding continues to inspire others on their journeys to recovery.