Back to the team…
Meet
Trisha Garner
Program Staff
Trisha grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, surrounded by a large extended family and a close bond with her brother. She played sports throughout her childhood and generally did well in school but life began to shift. She started using substances at a very young age, and before she was a teenager, that use had escalated into more serious drugs.
As her addiction progressed, Trisha learned to live a double life. She drifted toward the streets, and the lifestyle which slowly dismantled her relationships. She became manipulative, dishonest, and emotionally harmful to those around her, often receiving the same treatment in return. Recklessness took over, putting both her life and the lives of others at risk. Along the way, Trisha lost what she cared for most—her two kids—as a result of her selfish choices. After nearly twenty years of addiction and multiple overdoses, she reached a point of complete exhaustion.
A cousin told her about The Other Side Academy, and not long after, Trisha found herself there. At first, the structure and constant community were overwhelming. Acting on emotion and immaturity, she walked away—only to immediately realize she had made a mistake. She returned and was graciously accepted back. This cycle repeated once more, ending with Trisha in the ICU. It was then that she recognized her way of thinking and living was not working.
Against the odds, Trisha made it back to the Academy again, this time committed to doing the opposite of everything she had ever known. Today, she is a woman defined by accountability, strong boundaries, and purpose. She influences others for the greater good and has dedicated her life to service, using her experience to help others find a way out and a way forward.
Trisha stayed at The Other Side Academy for just over four years as a student, and through the whole-person changes she made, she earned a position as a staff member. Today, she continues her journey as a lighthouse for those still in the lifestyle and a beacon of hope for those who are lost. She is also now afforded the opportunity to rebuild the relationships with her kids—relationships she never thought she would have back—through the same humility, accountability, and commitment that transformed her life.