Former Patriots player shares his opioid addiction story in Portsmouth

JESSICA: FORMER DEFENSIVE LINEMAN CHRIS SULLIVAN HAS A SUPER BOWL RING WITH THE PATRIOTS FROM 2002, BUT NOT LONG AFTER, IN 2005, HE WAS ARRESTED. HE WAS DEALING WITH AN ADDICTION TO PAIN PILLS AND HEROIN. TONIGHT HE WAS ONE OF MANY WHO SHARED THEIR STORY ABOUT SUBSTANCE MISUSE. ♪ JESSICA: SOME EXPRESSED THEMSELVES THROUGH MUSIC, WHILE OTHERS CUT RIGHT TO THE POINT. >> I AM AN ALCOHOLIC AND I NEED TO REMEMBER WHERE I CAME FROM AND REMAIN GRATEFUL FOR WHERE I AM TODAY. JESSICA: PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION TOLD THEIR EXPERIENCES AT SHARING HOME, STORIES OF RECOVERY, AN EVENT PUT ON BY REALTORS FOR RECOVERY IN PORTSMOUTH TO RAISE MONEY FOR NONPROFITS IN THE AREA. ONE OF THE SPEAKERS WAS FORMER PITTSBURGH STEELER AND NEW ENGLAND PATRIOT CHRIS SULLIVAN. >> I STARTED BUYING PAIN PILLS IN 2001. I WAS GETTING A BIG J CHECK -- BIG PAYCHECK. JESSICA: CHRIS ADMITS TO NOT FEELING COMFORTABLE WITH PUBLIC SPEAKING, BUT WANTS TO GIVE BACK AND REDUCE THE STIGMA OF ADDICTION. I NEVER THOUGHT SOMEONE LIKE ME WOULD STRUGGLE WITH ADDICTION. I HAD THE STIGMA IN MY HEAD. I DID NOT PICTURE ME, A COLLEGE GRADUATE, NFL. IT WAS THE HARDEST THING I EVER DID. >> I AM A DIEHARD PATRIOTS FAN AND WE HAVE THIS PERCEPTION THAT PEOPLE LIKE HIM OR OTHER PEOPLE ARE IMMUNE TO THIS. ESPECIALLY HIM SHARING HIS STORY AND TELLING WHAT HAPPENED BUT THAT HE OVERCAME IT, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT. JESSICA: RELATORS FOR RECOVERY IS HOPING TO RAISE $10,000 FOR 4 DIFFERENT FACILITIES -- DIFFERENT NONPROFITS. INFORMATION FOR HOW TO DON