Hartford Business Journal

fake diploma and transcripts. In 2010, he was arrested for passing a fake prescription at a Boston pharmacy. "at was my first significant drug offense," Eacott said. A judge transferred his case to Hartford and he was ordered to an outpatient program, but couldn't shake his drug use. OxyContin was Eacott's limit at the time, but as money got tight he transitioned to heroin, which was cheaper, accessible and lasted longer. He recalls first snorting heroin at age 23 or 24. He would start with four or five bags a day, each bag roughly 0.10 grams, but as his tolerance built, he needed more and more. He bought drugs in Hartford, living a "double if not triple life," for himself and others, eventually getting arrested late one night in the city while trying to purchase drugs. Police called his parents aer midnight to retrieve his car and dog, which had been with him. "So I got to see the face of my mother just absolutely devastated as I was being transported in the back of a Hartford police car off to Jennings Road — and obviously that look has been ingrained in my head ever since," he said. He detoxed in jail and was ordered treatment and probation. "Basically that pattern of my going away to treatment and doing extremely well and then coming back home and relapsing … happened over and over and over again from I would say 23 to about 30, 31," he said of being arrested, violating probation and relapsing multiple times. at's why when he first heard about getting in- home treatment it felt right, Eacott said. New purpose in life Eacott said he learned about the program shortly aer spending seven months in prison. Aware Recovery Care's approach was being tested among five people. He was client No. 3. Randazzo, the program's founder, was on his care team. He completed the program in 2011 and Randazzo offered him the option to become a certified recovery adviser and work for Aware. He worked his way up in the company until Randazzo offered him the opportunity to invest in 2013. The company has grown from about 40 to 50 clients and 25 employees before Anthem's coverage to more than 400 clients and 110 workers between Connecticut and New Hampshire, Eacott said. Eacott said the program saved his life and he's now married. He said he feels a purpose in life and works at a job he loves. "It's been absolutely amazing to help and watch this company grow from literally an idea going against the grain of the industry to watching it … massively grow and have support and have success," Eacott said. H Aware Recovery Care Collaborative Team Model Besides providing in-home treatment, Aware Recovery's strategy includes putting in place a number of other specialists to help someone in recovery. They include: • Addiction psychiatrist • Registered nurse / nurse coach / clinical social worker / masters-level clinician • Licensed individual therapist • Certified recovery advisor • Licensed marriage and family therapist Matt Eacott with Aware Recovery Care Chairman and Founder Stephen Randazzo, who offered him a job after Eacott completed Aware's treat- ment program. H B J P H O T O \ \ B I L L M O R G A N 20 GREATER HARTFORD HEALTH • Fall 2017

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