George O'Briant originally hails from Roxboro (Person County), NC; at 14, his family relocated to Durham, NC. Following a significant injury from a car accident, he fell in with an unsavory crowd, leading to involvement in substance abuse, alcohol, and minor criminal activities. As a result, George decided to leave school--as a result, he got placed in foster care. With the support and guidance of his foster parents, he enrolled in Job Corps, successfully achieving a GED and obtaining a food service certification.
Upon his return from Job Corps, George found himself deeper entrenched in the drug and street culture of Bull City (Durham, NC). This path led him through three prison terms totaling 8.5 years. However, his final period of incarceration in 2004 marked a turning point in his life. During an experience in solitary confinement in April 2005, George underwent a profound spiritual awakening—an encounter with Jesus Christ that ultimately transformed his life.
During his participation in drug treatment while in prison, George began to envision a new purpose for himself as a drug counselor. Upon his release, he actively pursued a college education in drug counseling. For the past 12.5 years, George has dedicated himself to the helping profession, with the most recent five years as a North Carolina board-certified alcohol and drug counselor. Additionally, he has found happiness in his marriage to the love of his life. George highlights that while sobriety can lead to external improvement, the true essence of holistic recovery lies in internal transformation.
