Interventionist interview-Pej

Quick Overview

Pej, an interventionist featured in the Soft White Underbelly series, recounts the tragic car accident at age 17 where he struck and killed a child, an event that profoundly shaped his life and career path toward helping others in recovery, despite his own ongoing struggles with addiction.

Key Points: Pej was born in Berlin but grew up in Utah until age 15, before moving to Orange County/Los Angeles, California. His childhood was good, but his father was emotionally and sometimes physically abusive, leading to tension at home and his parents splitting when he was 17. At age 17, while driving, Pej was involved in a fatal car accident where he hit a child riding a bicycle, resulting in the child's death. He was charged with vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence, but he felt the accident was partially his fault and partially the city's fault due to an obstructed stop sign. Following the accident, he moved out, lived on the streets, and became heavily involved in substance abuse, dropping out of college and art school. He eventually found recovery through Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and later became an interventionist, attributing his current path to a priest who introduced him to recovery principles. Pej now runs Zoom classes teaching others how to connect with people struggling with addiction and how to help them find recovery.

Context: This video features an interview with Pej, an interventionist based in Los Angeles, as part of the 'Soft White Underbelly' series by Mark Laita. Pej discusses his difficult early life, marked by parental conflict and an early involvement with drugs, which culminated in a life-altering car accident at age 17. This event, coupled with subsequent struggles, ultimately led him to recovery and his current career helping others overcome addiction.

Detailed Analysis

Pej was born in Berlin but grew up in Utah before moving to California. He describes his childhood as good, though marked by tension due to his father's abusive behavior, leading to his parents' separation when he was 17. That same year, he was involved in a fatal car accident while driving, hitting a child who was on a bicycle, which resulted in the child's death. Pej vividly recalls the trauma of the event, including the appearance of the child's body and the smell of gasoline, and he immediately felt guilt, believing it was his fault despite systemic issues like an obstructed stop sign. Following this, he left home, lived on the streets, and became deeply involved in heavy drug use (meth, cocaine, alcohol) throughout his teens and early twenties, eventually dropping out of college and art school. His turning point came when he was 35; his mother confronted him about his drug use, prompting him to seek help. He credits a priest who introduced him to Narcotics Anonymous (NA) principles and a recovery home for guiding him. Pej eventually became a respected interventionist, teaching others how to connect with struggling addicts and show them a path to a better life, noting that his experience with meth-related psychosis and his own recovery gives him insight when working with clients. He concludes by stating that helping others find recovery is his life's purpose.