Gospel singer shares his story of addiction

Gospel singer Joseph Habedank hopes telling his story of overcoming prescription drug addiction will help others in similar situations.
Habedank, 29, of Nashville, Tenn., will hold a concert at 6 p.m. Sunday at Bethel Pentecostal Fellowship in Patterson, while sharing his personal struggle with drug addiction.
Habedank was lead singer for a southern gospel group called The Perrys and songwriter for about 10 years. Habedank is a native of Dayton, Ohio. According to his bio, Habedank is a multiple award-winning and Dove Award nominated singer/songwriter. Habedank started singing professionally at age 17.
He’s also a recovering prescription drug addict who has been sober for about two years, he said. Habedank grew up in a conservative, Christian home, but his brother struggled with addiction for many years, he said.
Habedank hated watching his brother struggle with drug abuse so Habedank went his own way to pursue a music career, he said. He achieved success by winning awards for his music, but during that time, he got an ulcer in the back of his throat that abscessed into his ear and jaw.
He described the experience as “the worst pain I’ve ever been in,” he said. To fight the pain, Habedank took narcotics and was soon taking oxycodone every day, he said.
He was “pretty much a walking dead man,” he said. At the time, Habedank still sang with The Perrys in churches, as “basically just a functioning drug addict,” he said.
Eventually, Habedank had to stop touring with the group and went to drug rehab, he said.
“It was just a crazy journey, something I never really expected, but the best thing that ever happened to me and probably never would’ve been able to have my solo career had that not happened,” Habedank said.
Addiction isn’t an easy topic to discuss, he said. Because prescription drugs and alcohol are readily available, anyone could be an addict regardless of who they are and what career they have, he said.
Habedank’s goal is to help other people trying to fight addiction. Habedank wants people to know that everyone messes up and it’s all right.
“That’s what grace is for,” he said.
Habedank released an album titled, Welcome Home, which can help people struggling with addiction and the families of those fighting addiction, he said.
Sunday’s concert will be free to the public, and a love offering will be taken during the event, Habedank said.
Habedank also has special connection to Bethel Pentecostal. His sister visited the church one time and told Habedank that he really needed to hear Dustin Jett, who attends Bethel Pentecostal, sing. That conversation led to Habedank and Jett becoming friends, he said.
Habedank now makes a living traveling to churches across the country as a soloist. He did a performance at Bethel Pentecostal in 2014 and decided to come back, he said.
“It went really well, and they booked me back,” Habedank said.
Habedank now has lots of friends at Bethel Pentecostal, and he “loves Bethel and all the people there.”