Sam Anthony is a professional speaker in long term recovery from substance use disorder, who uses his personal experiences with drugs, alcohol, depression, anxiety, suicidal behavior, recovery, mental fitness, spiritual fitness and physical fitness to educate and motivate others.
He took his first drink at 12 years old as a means of hiding his anxiety and depression, in addition to trying to fit in with his peers. As he puts it, “I don’t know what you thought about me, but I was really concerned with what I thought, you thought about me.”
He moved on to smoking weed and trying pills in high school, what he refers to as gateway behavior, and that led him down a path of destruction. Running away from his problems, he left New Jersey and moved south in hopes of starting over. But, everywhere he went, there he was.
What started off as self-medication turned into a vicious cycle or addiction leading to an overdose that landed him on life support in 2013. Thinking he could still function without help and counseling, he then continued an unhealthy lifestyle and subsequently was arrested and sentenced to 3 years in jail in 2015.
Since that time, and now in recovery, Sam has passionately shared his story with thousands of high school and college students, health care professionals, and government officials through motivational talks, school assemblies and panel discussions. Sam's mission is to inspire others, provide hope for the future and educate our youth through sharing his vulnerability. Sam’s message emphasizes awareness and encouragement. He lives in Virginia with his loving wife Rachel and two sons, Micah and Malachi. With regards to his family he says, “I’d be dead literally and figuratively if not for the love of my wife. I’m grateful to have two boys who have never seen their father take a drink or a drug.”
Sam will speak anywhere he is invited.
