What makes this story even more special is that it seemed Hamilton was never going to get a chance to play at the big league level he is capable of, as he battled addiction for several years.
“Josh Hamilton is an inspiration to me and anybody who is or has battled with substance abuse,” say Stephen Della Valle, author of Rising Above the Influence: A True Story About Alcohol, Drugs and Recovery. “He has battled through the depths of addiction and is an advocate that recovery works and is possible for anybody.”
Stephen is all too familiar with the addiction lifestyle. For over twenty-five years he lived a destructive life in which he went to any extent to feed his addiction. Upon reaching a bottom where he lost his family, his career, his freedom and ultimately himself, Stephen made a decision to get help.
Since his commitment to getting sober and turning his life around over twenty years ago, Stephen wants to share his story in hopes people can see how destructive the substance abuse lifestyle is.
“Getting sober is half the battle,” says Stephen, who is also the President of Turning Point Rehabilitation Center in Verona, NJ. “But staying sober and helping others to do so is what my main focus is on a daily basis.”
“Unfortunately most celebrities take advantage of addiction and rehabilitation facilities by using them as more of a publicity stunt than anything else,” says Stephen. “It’
Rising Above the Influence is Stephen’s honest and inspiring account of the depths one man can fall to—and the heights he can achieve if only he reaches out a hand for help.
For more information on Rising Above the Influence please visit www.risingabovetheinfluence.net.
