“The night I got arrested, I couldn’t go 10 minutes without taking something,” he said. “Nine years later, I don’t think about drinking or drugging anymore.”

He told the participants that staying sober gets easier as you go, and told of how he still attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in New York City and now serves as a sponsor for those who are trying to get sober.

Anastasio warned, though, that he has seen deaths and prison sentences come for addicts he knew who did not stay sober.

Anastasio was on his way to his native state of Vermont when he was arrested by Whitehall Police. He said he gives thanks almost every day that he did not hit or hurt anyone while driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, as he was that night.

“I thought I would come in here and say, ‘I’m sober,’ and get to go home,” Anastasio said with a laugh. “At the time, I thought this was the worst thing that ever happened to me. Today, it’s without a question the best thing that ever happened to me.”

McKeighan said drug court case manager Melanie Gulde was responsible for arranging Anastasio’s appearance. Gulde said he has come up a few other times to talk to participants. He and his wife drove up from New York City for the day.