I Thought Prison Was My Only Way Out | How Addiction Led Me to 15 Years in Prison

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning · Apr 24, 2026 · 1h 45m

Jason Brewer’s story is one of the darkest we’ve ever shared.

After experiencing severe trauma as a child, Jason spiraled into addiction, violence, and eventually a life of crime. What started as drinking and drugs quickly escalated into armed robberies, crack addiction, and a path that led him to serve over a decade in prison.

In this interview, Jason opens up about:

The childhood trauma that changed everything

His descent into drugs, violence, and crime

Robbing gas stations to fuel his addiction

The moment he knew his life was over

What prison was really like

How he finally turned his life…