Brandon Novak: Pro Skater and 'Jackass' Star

MEDFORD, N.J. - March 7, 2016 - PRLog -- Brandon Novak, originally known for his career as a pro skateboarder, appearances on MTV’s Jackass movies and several spin-off TV shows, has become more famous for his continuous struggle with addiction. On March 2^nd, the star received a very warm welcome at Ambrosia’s Medford location in New Jersey in which he spoke about his journey through recovery.

“I was a sponsored, professional skateboarder at the age of 14 – and I started using heroin. I was given an ultimatum, either clean up and continue skating or remove myself from the team. Skating was something I was passionate about...it was my life-long dream, but my love and need for heroin were greater.”

“The day I quit skating is the same day I quit caring and believing…It was just so easy to get high instead.”

Brandon’s struggle in early recovery is well-documented in his film and memoir, Dreamseller. The Baltimore native struggled with addiction to alcohol, prescription pills and illicit drugs for 11 consecutive years before entering his first treatment facility. Between multiple relapses, overdoses and stints in rehab and jail, Brandon has finally come out on the other side to share his trials and tribulations about recovery and how fame has glamorized such a dark and fatal disease.

“The places I lived [streets, abandoned houses, garages] represented everything I felt on the inside: cold, dark, hopeless and numb. I went from giving autographs to being a homeless drug addict with fifty-cents to my name.” Fortunately for Brandon, that fifty-cents was used to make a one-way, life-saving call to get drug and alcohol treatment.

As Novak shared his tumultuous experience with harrowing strength and unwavering hope, not a single soul stirred in the Ambrosia Treatment Center meeting room.  His activism helps influence radical change for society’s stigmatized view about the disease of addiction.  In fact, Brandon is currently wrapping up his new documentary, Where Is My Needle? that bridges the gap between his relapse and recovery and helps change the perception of what an addict looks like.  He remains active on social media and continues to travel the nation with the message that recovery is possible, even for the ones deemed helpless.

“You may not understand why you have to go through some experiences, but you have to trust and believe in the process. Because that process is your life, and that’s all you have.”

Ambrosia is looking forward to having Brandon as a guest speaker on a monthly basis.