Trey Anastasio Speaks at Drug Court Rally

Phish frontman Trey Anastasio is an example of how drug courts can work and today he spoke at a Drug Court Rally in Washington, D.C. Big Red spent 14 months in the Washington County, NY drug court program doing menial tasks such as scrubbing toilets after getting arrested for Driving While Intoxicated and possession in Whitehall. He graduated the program and has maintained his sobriety while getting his life and his band back together.

Here’s video of his speech from today’s rally…

Trey Anastasio @ Drug Court Rally 2011

CLICK HERE for a video shot from a different angle and take a look at an account from a fan who met Trey at this morning’s event.

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11 Responses

  1. So proud of Trey, it takes a strong will and spirit to admit your shortcomings and failures, but he did it and has been the better for it ever since. Saved himself, his family, and his band and made millions of fans happy in the process.

    The pickers will nit, the whiners will complain and the haters will leave snarky comments that often contain terrible grammar and spelling but this guy is all about the love. Here’s someone who’ll send it right back at him.

    Congrats, Trey, on staying sober and living life to the fullest, you’ve earned it. Thanks for all the good times and good music. if you never play another note in public, you’ll still be a hero to me for this kind of thing.

  2. I think that as fans we all owe it to the Drug Courts, maybe that will be the next “good cause” they give to or we as fans should give to.

    Obviously something that is close to our hearts…seeing as they saved and may have even made a hero for so many.

  3. So proud of Trey! It’s fantastic to see Trey on the other side of his problem and helping to get people the same help he received.

  4. I too am very proud of Trey. Yes he’s a hero to me and he will forever be. I’ve dedicated half my life to following him around the country and do feel a very personal connection to him.

    Facing your demons is something that a lot of people celebrity or not never have the stones to do. Trey looked his square in the face and no pun intended “punched them in the eye” It takes a man to admit when you need help and that your life has spiraled out of control. Trey has said many times that the police officer in Whitehall who pulled him over saved his life and he’d have been dead in 6 months.

    Bravo to you Trey you are a hero and an idol to so many of us. Often times it’s easy to forget that you are a human being with inner demons, struggles, and personal challenges the same that we all strive to overcome each day as well. Your dedication to your sobriety and to bringing so much joy to so many people is something that I never take for granted. Thank you for your commitment to the drug court program, to being such a vocal champion of the cause and quite simply for doing what you do. You’ve touched my life in more ways then I can ever begin to sum up and through your music you have brought to me some of the people in life that I hold most dear. A simple couldn’t ever do it justice but I know that if you ever do read this you know exactly what I’m saying. From the bottom of my heart, thanks Trey.

  5. Really what a crock of shit, that was a bold face lie forced upon by the messed up system in which we live in ….let see prison or Drug court. Not that hard of a decision. Meanwhile Phish is back , and he is now surrounded by drugs again,while I do not believe he is sober I am glad he is off the Junk. His music has improved since he “sobered” up so thats good …but this shit is for the birds …just remember the lyrics from “On your Way Down” Trey …and good luck in the lions den!!!

  6. @drugged out. You are absolutey right that it’s a no brainer to pick drug court over jail.
    What you are missing is how far that is from bs. We should not be treating addicts like criminals. We should be providing help for them to be productive again. That is exactly what drug courts do and it is why they had a rally in the capital today. Trey benefited from a program that should be available nationwide, but is not. He is advocating for that program because it makes a difference.

    Do I know for certain that trey is still sober? No. Do you know he’s not? No. So shut the he’ll up. What Trey did today is commendable. It’s civil discourse about an issue that affected him personally.

    Calling this a “crock of shit” is quite the opposite of civil discourse.

    Just saying.

    Calling

  7. I took this video of Trey yesterday. He is most certainly still sober. As a recovering addict it is quite easy to see when someone has relapsed. Trey is a shining example of why the drug courts work. I am so proud of him for speaking up for them and showing others how well they work. I work in a bar and go to shows regularly. I am constantly surrounded by booze and drugs. I have no desire to use because I know what it will do to me. I suspect Trey has also had the obsession lifted from him (it comes in the working of the 12 steps) which is why he is able to be around drugs and booze too without the desire to use.
    Thank you to all the loving supportive people that have commented. What is sent out comes back threefold.
    Thank you Trey for the music, the love and the laughter and thank you for being an inspiration! love and light!!

  8. Trey is all about giving back here. This is genuine and poigniant; addiction is a serious and potentially lethal disorder of the mind body and spirit; phish’s fans may not all be sober, but it looks like Trey has a bit of clean time under his belt. Why not make a difference? He lived to tell and that’s a BFD!

  9. Trey is all about giving back here. This is genuine and poigniant; addiction is a serious and potentially lethal disorder of the mind body and spirit; phish’s fans may not all be sober, but it looks like Trey has a bit of clean time under his belt. Why not make a difference?

  10. When Trey’s voice became raspier and raspier, I knew what was most likely up. How did I know this? Well, because I too had an on and off struggle with Opiates myself. Opiates are generally an “end of the line” drug. You start out with the psychedelics, move onto coke and than start taking something “to bring you down”. Nobody goes into it thinking they will become and addict, and truth be told, many do not. However, if it hits fertile ground and the right brain chemistry it can become very tough.

    I was on and off for about 8 years, the last 2 or 3 I tried hard to stop, sometimes I would be successful for a little bit, but I would end up back on. I lived in this crazy cycle of a few months off, two – three week binge, taper off, few months off, back on over and over again FOR YEARS.

    It took Suboxone and therapy, plus a strong desire to quit to finally get me off. I have been sober (completely) for over a year. Others use 12-Step programs. Some use SMART Recovery. You have to find what works for you. I now know that I cannot use hard drugs. I have no idea if I will ever use anything mind altering that is not prescribed. Right now though, its best for me to not use anything.

    I still go to shows, I still have tons of fun. I have been all over the place and experienced both good and terrible things because of my use.

    I think Trey is still sober, we will be able to tell if he isn’t. It is so great to see him up there playing with the rest of the guys while they are clearly just loving it. Trey has the gratitude part down, and that is one of the biggest keys to getting and staying clean.

    Drug Courts are a step in the right direction for this nations drug policy. While I do not think addiction is a disease, I do think it is a HEALTH not LEGAL problem. We need to treat addicts, not incarcerate. Drug Courts are a major step in that direction. And THEY WORK. Statistics show that Drug Courts and Harm Reduction are the most successful way into pushing people into treatment.

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