US House Candidate In Arizona Ends Campaign After Heroin Relapse
A combat veteran running for US Congress in Arizona announced on Monday that he’s suspending his campaign after overdosing on heroin last week.
Chris Taylor, a city councilman in Safford, located about 165 miles east of Phoenix, said in a statement first told to The Arizona Republic that he “relapsed after having so many years of solid sobriety.”
Taylor, a Republican, was found unresponsive in his home Wednesday night and revived at the scene, he confirmed to HuffPost. Paramedics administered a dose of Narcan to help reverse the effects of the overdose, reported The Gila Herald.
“I know the way back,” Taylor, 33, told HuffPost of his path forward after relapsing. “I just have to put one foot in front of the other and get the help I need.”
Taylor said he’s entering a residential treatment program to address his opiate addiction, which he has been candid about since jumping into the race last May.
“The experiences that I’ve had with opiate addiction and being able to overcome that and inspire and help others to find that recovery as well are a source of strength,” he said at the time.
Taylor, who served two tours of combat duty for the Army in Afghanistan, said he has resigned from his position as a volunteer firefighter with the Safford Fire Department. He said he’s also taking a medical leave of absence from the city council while he enters treatment.
Authorities found “items related to intravenous drug use” at the fire department the night Taylor overdosed, the Herald reported. He said in his statement that he will “fully cooperate” with local authorities regarding his drug use.
“I’m not going to hide from this,” Taylor said in his statement. “I’m not ashamed of what happened. I wish to sincerely apologise to the amazing people who have supported me. I don’t know what went wrong.”
“The only thing I can do is face this head-on in complete humility,” he added. “I’m human and I have never pretended to be anything...
