Why He Needs a More Rigid Foundation Than Serenity – Chuck N.

Joining us in this segment is an old friend, Chuck Negron, former lead singer of Three Dog Night. He is on the phone with us from Southern California. Chuck, good evening and welcome to Recovery Coast to Coast. Hey! Thanks for having me. Congratulations. Thank you very much. A lot of shows. Chuck Negran joining us tonight on Recovery Coast To Coast, former leadsinger of Three Dog Night back in 1968. He hooked up with Danny Hutton and Corey Wells. The group went on to be one of the hottest bands of the late 60s, early 70s. And then Chuck Negram, and he hit bottom. And I do mean bottom. This is a guy that probably should have been dead. It's a miracle that he's alive and in recovery. He's been in recovery since 1991. Chuck, talk about the end of the using and what got you into recovery. You know, my loved ones and my girlfriend at the time, she just kept putting me in rehabs. And finally, in one, in lieu of going to jail, I went to cry help. And it really ended up being the perfect place for me because they really were very hardcore, serious, 12-step oriented. And, you know, I wasn't treated like a celebrity. I really, really had to work hard to stay there. And my life changed. You know, the gift of hearing, you Know, I heard all of a sudden and it all made sense. And I was very sick. The reason I'm clean as silver today was that I got so sick I couldn't leave. Because if I would have left, my mind wanted to leave every day for a couple of months, but my body just couldn't cash that check. The obsession was trying to get me out of there. So the gift was that i was so physically sick. I weighed 126 pounds and i had 15 teeth. um and uh you know i thought i was very cool you were living on the streets for a while right yeah yeah well yeah and it was it was a choice i robin would have taken me in at any time except for the end she did throw me out but yeah i lived in this abandoned building with this other addict um that you know we copped and get high um so you know it was real gift for me cry help and uh gave me a real foundation i stayed in a better part of the year and i'm really glad i did because i was so physically ill i found out i had hepatitis a b and c but i had emphysema that my right lung was scarred and totally black from pneumonia and then i got pneumonia again while i while i was in cry health and i was very very ill and the prognosis was not very good for a long life. So I've been very, very blessed to be around and enjoy all these years clean and sober. Chuck Negron joining us tonight on Recovery Coast to Coast. You went through treatment, what, 35, 36 times? Yeah, 37. 37 times? 37 different treatment centers. I shouldn't say different treatments. Yeah, 27 different treatment center. Some of them I went to several times. And so it was more than 37 tries for this 37 different treatment centers. I was, you know, I was a hardcore case. I was an addict. I never stayed long enough even if I complete. I think I completed a couple. But it was, like, 30, 60 days. And for an addict who's been an addict, you knows, for 20-something years, that's really not long enough. You really need to be in recovery in a place for a long, long time. Now, there are people that get sober in meetings. And, you know, God bless them. I was, you Know, I wasn't one of those. I got too physically ill. Chuck Dungaran joining us tonight on Recovery Coast to Coast. You know, I think it's important to again say that you've been through treatment, you know 37 plus times because people say how long do you go with an addict? How many times do you give them? How far do you Go? You go as far as you can in one step more and it doesn't make any difference how many times you go through treatment. It's important that you find that path eventually And Chuck found his back on September 17, 1991. What is recovery like for you today, Chuck? You know, this has probably been the first couple of years that because of my work and my children, I haven't been as close. Like I would go to a meeting every day. I have a home group at 6 o'clock. I'd be there every day and sometimes go to 3 o' clock. And this is probably the second year where I've not been able to do it, you know, as much just because of the work. And I'm actually thinking of, you Know, I've got to revamp and, You know, find a way to get back on this, you know, the schedule that served me so well. So life shows up, and it's very easy for us to embrace family and stuff and neglect the serious disease that we have. I'm admitting I actually need to get back to a more rigid foundation because it brings me more peace. It's not that I think about drinking or using. I'm even very blessed, but I still don't have the serenity and I don't have the patience. And I'm not as God-centered as I am when I'm doing the things that save my life. Back in 2006, this is a family disease and you saw the disease raise its head in your son Chuck? Yes. What happened with Chuck and how is he today? I saw Chuck, yes, the day before yesterday And he looked terrible. And, you know, I said, you're using him. And he said, no, no. At any rate, his mother sent me an email that night. And she said, yes, he's in trouble again. You know, so he's really had a battle. He has really had to battle. And he, you know, he had to serve some time. He went to prison. I mean, with all the resources and all the help I was able to get him He went to prison and, you know, got a habit in prison. So it's been a very, very difficult journey, you know, for us. And, you know, I'm very blessed that he's alive and, you know. We're doing the best we can. I appreciate you asking. One day at a time. That's all that we all have. Yeah, but I know for mine, I don't give up on him because, I mean, you You know, the problem with addiction to normal people is the addict and alcoholic does such a horrific thing when they're using. So they look at this whole thing as a moral issue, and it's not. I mean, these are normal people, great people. When they're not drinking or using, that's why we've got to get them sober so they can be of service to the family and society. But it's a very difficult thing because so many people just condemn addicts But, you know, it's not an easy road And, you Know, my son has been in probably 10 to 15 rehabs So, You know, I'm just hoping he gets it 1991 is when you found your way through CryHelp Are you still involved with them at all? Yeah, I have what they call a PC card It's a privilege card where you can go and take people out And it's part of the process where after you get two years, you can come and take people out. Of course, I've been taking people out for years. Sure, sure. But yeah, and you take them out and you make them you know, to dinner and you'd take them to a meeting and you know sometimes you sneak in a movie and you so yeah, I'm involved and I go to alumni. They have alumni meeting and we so many people gone through that place. So, you know, you get to see miracles there. Absolutely, absolutely. It's a great thing. So, yes, I am involved. I just did their picnic. I mean, they have a barbecue every year, and it's their major fundraiser for the year because Cry Help is still 50% of their beds are free, 50%. That's amazing. Yes, still. So they do a lot of fundraising. So I just played my band. And, you know, we did a free concert for them and did a full show. And it was great. So, yeah, I'm still involved with them. When you're out on the road, is it difficult being on the rode in terms of, you know, the triggers, the temptations, the stuff that's out there? No. I've been very blessed. I actually, the guys in Blood, Foot & Tears drink, you're a normal guy. And when the show's over, they drink. I mean, you know, not that I've seen any of them drunk, but never even thought about it. Never even thought About it until one day I saw a guy drink on stage, and it was just hot. And I, you Know, I said, You know what? That's inappropriate. You can't drink onstage. And that was the first time I even thoughtabout it. It never even was anything that had to do with me tricking. I've been blessed. God intervened and took away the obsession. And when the obsession was removed, I was able to work on learning how to live and stay sober. But the gift was the obsession wasn't removed. And it is a gift because it has not returned. And it's not very attractive to me to see people loaded, especially after you see your son loaded. It's like you never want to see anyone loaded again. Chuck Negra, I'm nice enough to join us for a few minutes tonight on Recovery Coast to Coast. Chuck, I wish you continued success in your career and certainly one day at a time in your recovery. And I will certainly keep your son in our thoughts and prayers. Oh, you're so kind. And you people out there, say a prayer for my son. He needs your help. We will do that.