John Berry was honored at the Forensic Intensive Recovery (FIR) annual employee recognition event for his 17 years of dedication to the program and his recent pardon granted by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
At the event, John was a keynote speaker and shared his journey of recovery, from the criminal justice system to being a case manager in Philadelphia Treatment Courts as a part of PHMC’s FIR program. John helps addicts in the court system to get into recovery and behavioral health treatment in order to reduce criminal recidivism. His story demonstrates how drugs can take over a person’s life, pointing them toward poor decisions. John started drinking at 11 years old and began using drugs soon after. He found himself spending time with the wrong company and was charged with criminal acts. By his accounts, his transformation began when he went into detox, enrolled in a 12-step treatment program and moved on to earn a bachelor’s degree in science from St. Joseph’s University. As a role model to the clients he serves, John often says, “It’s not about me; it’s about what I can do for somebody else today.”
