Robert Hayward

Robert Hayward is the Author of two books on addiction: 'The Thirteenth Step', One Mans Odyssey of Recovery', and 'Killing Pain' Understanding the Opioid Pandemic and the American Obsession with Oxycontin, Heroin, And Other Painkillers'. Hayward was born in Southern California and started drinking and using drugs at age 14, then became a prominent drug dealer, smuggler, and manufacturer, and an alcoholic and addict for 26 years. He got sober in 2000, that is the story behind 'The Thirteenth Step'. After 6 years of good sobriety, he was prescribed Oxycontin for pain, and began 6 more years of hell as an opioid addict. That is the story behind the new book; 'Killing Pain'.

He is now been clean for 16 years, has a degree in Drug and Alcohol Studies, is a licensed Interventionist, Drug counselor in California: CCAPP, CADC-1, and Washington State Substance Abuse Counselor, where he now runs the Wellbriety Recovery Program for the Spokane Indian Tribe. Married for 40 years, he has 3 children and 4 grandchildren. Hayward wrote Killing Pain to expose the origins of this current opioid pandemic and takes the reader through his own personal hell as an opioid addict. How bad it got, the insanity of getting clean, and how Recovery Is Possible. His book allows everyone to experience addiction,how miserable it is, and how it can be overcome.