Meet Joey Vira

I was born and raised in Beckley, WV. It is a small community similar to Monroe. Becoming a product of my environment, I began using at the age of 14. After dropping out of college secondary to substance abuse, I joined the military and spent 4 years in the US Army on active duty. During that time, I acquired the propensity to drink uncontrollably as I traded “illegal” for “legal”. I continued on this path for about 13 years until I had the choice of a second divorce or seeking help. I chose help.

I have now been sober since May 13 th , 2011. During that time, I returned to school to obtain my bachelors degree and then continued on to earn a MBA. I am still on my second marriage, and plan to stay there, and have two wonderful kids, a 10 y/o boy and a 8 y/o girl.

The darkness of substance abuse is part of my journey that I would not trade for anything. I was blessed enough to survive and be who I am today because of it.

I want to use my experience to help others. I use everyday as an opportunity to get people to understand they are worth more, can do more, and deserve more than what they think they do. That life is a blessing and can be joyful, we just have to find where that joy is. That we can shape our environment, not become a product of it, and if we cannot shape it, we can leave it. Choices.