I Shot Someone at 17... Then Became a Crack Addict | Ep 185

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Jason Mains for an incredible story of violence, addiction, prison, relapse, and the ongoing fight for recovery.

Jason's life was marked by trauma from an early age. As a teenager, he survived a brutal assault after being jumped and thrown from an overpass—an event that changed the trajectory of his life. Just two years later, at 17 years old, Jason made a decision that would alter everything when he shot another person, leading to a lengthy prison sentence before he was even an adult.

While incarcerated, Jason witnessed unimaginable experiences, including discovering an inmate who had taken his own life. Prison became a place where survival was the priority, but addiction would continue to follow him long after his release.

Once back on the streets, alcohol and cocaine quickly took over. Jason explains why drinking always led him back to cocaine, how his addiction escalated into crack cocaine, and the dangerous lifestyle that followed—including robberies, violence, and repeated trips through the criminal justice system.

Throughout the conversation, Jason also shares the unexpected role art and music played in his life. From creating portraits while in prison to performing music after his release, he reflects on how creativity gave him purpose, even as addiction continued pulling him back.

The episode takes another unbelievable turn as Jason discusses experimenting with methamphetamine, taking massive amounts of LSD, relapsing after four years of sobriety, and ultimately finding himself back in jail and treatment.Today, Jason is once again fighting for his recovery and speaks candidly about the challenges of staying sober, taking responsibility for his past, and continuing to move forward one day at a time.

This is a raw conversation about consequences, redemption, and the reality that recovery is often a journey—not a straight line.

🔥 Expect emotion. Expect truth. Expect hope.

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