Back to the team…
Meet
Jesse Alserda
Program Staff
My name is Jesse Alserda, and I was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. I was fortunate to grow up in a loving, close-knit family and did well in school. As a child, I was active and full of energy, which led to more than a few broken bones. Those injuries introduced me to painkillers, and what began as medical treatment slowly became the start of a long battle with addiction.
As I got older, I made a series of poor choices that led me down a dark and destructive path. I began using harder drugs, became involved in criminal behavior, and ultimately threw away many of the opportunities I had in life. I was dishonest, manipulative, and self-centered, and I hurt many people who cared about me. My actions led to years of incarceration across Utah and Colorado, and my addiction to heroin completely consumed me. For nearly twenty years, I lived without purpose or direction, trapped in a cycle of pain and self-destruction.
Eventually, I reached a point where I could no longer ignore the damage I had caused—to myself and to others. I knew I needed to change. That turning point led me to The Other Side Academy, where I began rebuilding my life from the ground up. Through hard work, accountability, and the guidance of others who had walked similar paths, I learned to live with honesty, integrity, and responsibility.
Today, I am proud to be a man who stands for accountability and service. I strive every day to use my experiences—the mistakes, the pain, and the lessons—to help others who are fighting their own battles with addiction and poor choices. My journey has taught me that change is possible for anyone who is willing to take ownership of their past and put in the work to build a better future.