Newburyport Man Plunges Into Icy Ocean to Fight Addiction

Man Plunges Into Icy Ocean to Fight Addiction

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Feb. 25, 2021 – For about 15 years, Rosa has been raising money through Chucky’s Fight to support recovering addicts and speak to youth about addiction at schools.

”I believe it all starts at prevention,” Rosa said. “If you don’t start, you don’t know what you’re not missing, basically.”In 2003, Rosa’s 20-year-old son Vincent died of a drug overdose.

The next year, his 23-year-old son Domenic lost his battle with substance abuse, too.

Rosa scattered his sons’ ashes in the ocean where he now swims at least once a day. “I’m not doing cartwheels when it says twenty-below-zero windchill down there,” Rosa said. “But I make myself do it, and I’m always glad that I do.”

While freezing and snowy days are not easy on the body, Rosa dives into the Atlantic not only for his boys but also his own sobriety.

”I haven’t missed a day in years. I make that commitment, and I tell people l that I make myself do it the same way I make myself drive by the liquor store that’s 100 yards up the road. To me, it’s a mental choice you make,” Rosa said. “I buried two sons. And I feel guilty sometimes, because I wasn’t always making good choices.”

Mulholland hopes talking about addiction will make it easier for people to get help.”[Addiction] is a huge problem,” Mulholland said. “It shouldn’t be a stigma. We’re all human.”