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Councilman Darwiche’s journey of recovery

By Sarah Shurge
Since 1989, National Recovery
Month has been observed every Sep-
tember.
This is a national observance to
celebrate the gains made by those in
recovery from substance use disor-
der, to promote the belief that recov-
ery is possible for everyone, and to
support new evidence-based treat-
ment and recovery practices for men-
tal and substance use disorders.
Addiction is a disease that
doesn’t discriminate – it can happen
to anyone, and anyone could be
going through recovery.
Councilman Rabih Darwiche is
no stranger to sharing his recovery
story. Darwiche’s story began at the
age of 19 when he suffered a knee in-
jury in basketball. He tore his ACL
and MCL and was prescribed opi-
oids.
Darwiche became addicted to Vi-
codin, without even being aware of
his addiction. After a year, Darwiche
found out what withdrawals were
when his doctor took him off his
medication and he became ill. He Councilman Rabih Darwiche shares his journey at Hype Athletics.
thought he had the flu and went back “I chose to stay because I thought: one night of this was at a three-quarter house. There
to the doctor. The doctor informed was a bad thunderstorm, the power
Darwiche that he was experiencing is better than suffering with active addiction. went out, it was 95 degrees with no
withdrawals. AC, there were bed bugs, 14 guys in
Darwiche’s family wanted him to That was freedom to me.” the living room, and it smelled like
get help, but he was prescribed sub- feet.
oxone (which was used to help treat Rabih Darwiche “I chose to stay because I thought:
opioid addiction) by his doctor. He one night of this is better than suffer-
became addicted to that for another said Darwiche. drug treatment at Oakdale Recovery ing with active addiction,” said Dar-
two years and once he stopped that, Over a six-year period, Darwiche Center in Canton and heard about wiche. “That was freedom to me.”
he started going to the streets. went to rehab around 20 times. He Save By Grace at CrossPointe Com- Darwiche went to Save By Grace,
Throughout his 20s, Darwiche would go to detox and walk out. munity Church. started volunteering at CrossPointe,
swapped out one drug for others, There are many reasons Dar- The first turning point in Dar- and got a few jobs.
using marijuana and alcohol to cope. wiche left, including: he wasn't ready, wiche’s recovery happened when he The pastor at CrossPointe asked
“If it had a name, I did it,” said he wasn't comfortable in his own returned home and everything in his Lori Gouin, the DDA director, about
Darwiche. “I wasn't progressing in skin, he was going through a heart room had been changed. He stared job opportunities and she said she
life. I was going from one job to the break, he got into a fight with some- at the cigarette burns that remained knew a guy at HYPE about a mainte-
other. Every time I’d achieve any- one there, etc. on the floor and the hair on the back nance job.
thing, I’d lose it by relapsing.” Then on May 3rd, 2016, Dar- of his neck stood up. Darwiche filled out an application
Then in 2009, Darwiche had a wiche went to rehab for the last time. At 33 years old, Darwiche was and went in for an interview where
bungee cord accident. The cord His last time and very first time at- the youngest of seven children (four he met Ali Sayed, founder and CEO
snapped and the hook went into his tending rehab were the only two sisters and two brothers) and he was of HYPE Athletics. During the inter-
right eye. Darwiche underwent sur- times he graduated. the only one living with their parents. view, he mentioned substance abuse
gery for retinal detachment, result- Darwiche almost had liver and He walked into the living room and and was talking about what HYPE
ing in him being half blind now with kidney failure and he had 16 charges looked at his parents – his father stood for (Helping Youth Progress
visual disturbance in his right eye. against him, including: possession, had Alzheimer's and dementia, while and Excel). Darwiche stated that if
“That put me down for a couple of DUI, suspended license, and he was his mother had diabetes – and he the job got in the way of his recovery,
years and I relapsed after that,” said facing up to nine years in prison. said, “three sick people can't help he’d quit.
Darwiche. “I never got caught doing anything each other,” and walked out. Sayed suggested bringing meet-
Darwiche would be sober for a until I was 30,” said Darwiche. “I “I realized if I stayed home, I ings to HYPE and Darwiche was
good six months and then relapse. went into rehab hopeless and spiri- would die,” said Darwiche. hired on the maintenance team
“You know the saying: one is too tually bankrupt.” The second turning point hap-
many and a thousand isn't enough,” Darwiche met a few people in pened a day later when Darwiche See Journey, page 4
The Wayne Dispatch · September 2025 · 3