Joseph Habedank, former lead singer of popular gospel group The Perrys, recently went public with news of his prescription drug addiction and recovery.
In an exclusive interview with The Blaze, published Monday, Habedank described how he became addicted to pain medication, and how he was delivered from dependency.
After ten years of performing with the Southern gospel group, Habedank announced in May 2013 that he was leaving The Perrys. A statement from the singer revealed little about the reason for his departure.
"I have decided to step down as Lead Singer at this time," a letter from Habedank, published on Facebook, read.
"[Co-founder of The Perrys, Libbi Perry-Stuffle] and I talked earlier this week, and while I would never want to abandon her in such a great time of need, sometimes The Lord has other plans."
Habedank's announcement came just months after The Perrys' bass singer and Perry-Stuffle's husband, Tracy Stuffle, suffered a massive stroke. Fans were shocked by the untimely resignation, and were left to speculate about the reason for the departure.
Habedank, 28, revealed that the resignation was the result of an ultimatum.
"The group that I was with became aware of my problem and came to me and basically were very kind and gave me an ultimatum said 'Hey, you know, what would you like to do? We can't really have you on the road, but what would you like to do?'" he told The Blaze.
The singer stated that he had "really became dependent on... prescription drugs and, in specific, opiates," after being prescribed pain medication for a throat ulcer.
"I just kind of fell in love with the feeling that it gave me," he said.
By the time his bandmates confronted him, Habedank was taking 10 to 12 pills per day.
Less than a month after his resignation was announced, he checked into the Cumberland Heights Alcohol & Drug Treatment Center outside of Nashville.
Habedank completed 30 days of in-patient treatment, an outpatient programme, and 90 support group meetings. He has been sober for more than 430 days, and hopes his story will help other Christians struggling with addiction.
"My biggest passion in life, though, is to not only help the addicts, but to help the addict in the church, because prescription drug abuse is rampant in the church," he said.
"I just have this huge passion to raise awareness about prescription drug abuse, because it's so easy to justify it in our minds."
Habedank recently released his first solo album, "Welcome Home," and said the project is autobiographical.
"[It's] kind of a soundtrack to my life the past two or three years," he explained.
"This album, I think can help people ... I believe in what it stands for and what it can do for people."
"Welcome Home" is available now in digital retail stores.
