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During the 90-minute presentation, DeLeon spoke about the ways in which using drugs impacted his life and the lives of others around him. He also discussed the work he has done since serving time in prison to prevent adolescents from making the same mistakes that he made.

“I think you can beat drugs and alcohol without God. But if you have God’s spiritual principles in your life you’re going to have a recovery beyond your wildest dreams. Because it’s not about getting clean. It’s not staying off the drugs. It’s about renewing your life and growing into the person you were destined to be, finding your purpose in your life.”

Ohio remains the epicenter of the opioid epidemic. In light of the drug issues in the area, the Family Recovery Center’s Education Department brought a nationally-renowned speaker to the city of Steubenville Tuesday.

Students at James Caldwell High School learned first-hand the dangers of drug abuse and gang violence from Michael DeLeon, 52-year-old motivational speaker from Rockaway, on Tuesday, April 18.

“If we don’t come together, every sector of society, we are going to continue this pandemic,” says DeLeon.

Michael DeLeon wants kids today to make better choices than him. “I don’t want my past to be their future,” DeLeon said.

Michael DeLeon, a national public speaker from New Jersey, spends most of his year visiting schools and community organizations around the country, speaking to kids and adults about the growing drug epidemic.

Michael DeLeon’s life changed dramatically at the age of 24, right after he tried cocaine for the first time. The former vice president of sales and marketing at a multi-million dollar packaging company, DeLeon had quite a life. But he also put in a lot of hours and...

Times-Union December 8, 2016 Two ex-convicts shared their stories with Tippecanoe Valley Community High School students Tuesday. Michael DeLeon and Crystal Vallee spoke to students about staying away from drugs as part of  a four–day tour of area schools. DeLeon, who...

Michael R. DeLeon has been called many things: drug addict and gang member on the one hand, motivational speaker and filmmaker on the other. In his quest to reach young people about serious life issues, particularly drugs, DeLeon has picked up a couple of other...

A recovered heroin addict shared his story with Wallenpaupack Area High School students a few weeks ago. Michael DeLeon travels the country, telling how caffeine pills led to cocaine and eventually heroin; but his connection to a gang led to his mother’s murder and a gun being held to his young daughter’s head.

Fighting the battle against addiction takes a lot of arsenal. Just saying no doesn’t work. The scared straight approach is ineffective. Big-time celebrities speaking to students at assemblies or the relative of someone who has died from an overdose can be well...

Michael DeLeon is on a mission: a mission to educate our country’s youth to stay in the right direction when it comes to serious life issues, especially drugs. DeLeon is the founder and powerhouse behind Steered Straight Inc., a nonprofit organization formed in 2000...

Amish communities from three Indiana counties met Monday night to talk about a common problem: heroin. Amish elder Ben Stoltzfus says the problem of opioid addiction hasn't spared his otherwise isolated community. "It's just slowly creeping in here," he said. Heroin...

“Honestly that little sticker, it’s going to catch someone’s eye and that right there that can spark up a conversation,” said Stephen Ogle, with Steered Straight.

In a region many travel to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, an issue is underway that has caused great heartache and concern, while leaving some to wonder what can be done to address the area’s struggle with addiction. To learn more, at Wallenpaupack Area...