Trey Anastasio shares his Drug Court experience on Capitol Hill

May 6, 2009 - Trey Anastasio shares his experience in Drug Court at the twentieth anniversary of Drug Court celebration on Capitol Hill. The event, hosted by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, was attended by members of Congress and Drug Court leaders from around the country.
Learn more about Drug Courts at www.AllRise.org.

[@Cec813]

The last concert before my life went down the toilet was a Phish show on new years in Miami. I was smoking crack in the upper level of the arena. For the next five years I lived outdoors and my life was hell. I got clean 3 1/2 years ago and I now walk into courtrooms to advocate treatment for substance abusers. I would like to say congratulations to Trey for turning his life around, and give great support to Drug Court systems. All thats left is to see Phish clean on New Years...Trey, Miami?

[@treybegood]

Trey...this made me cry, brother. I can't begin to tell you how thrilled I am to see you sober, happy, & healthy, and I commend you're courage in coming forward to talk about such a serious issue. Since I first heard your music in 1992 you've been, with the utmost sincerity, a true inspiration and hero to me. Wherever life may take you from here on out, I hope it's long and full of JOY. Thank you for all the wonderful memories. I long to shake your hand one day.

[@Trageikeman116]

God dammit we love you Trey.

[@MrKrichdry]

i really wish he kicked the door down and played first tube

[@wags53177]

Thank god you got help, I'm glad your still with us. Thank you.

[@ubermandrew]

hugs not drugs, life not strife, happiness not spitefulness. you've been given all these things Trey, and I'm proud to see you using them all to their fullest!

[@theohmygods]

We love you Trey! Here's to an enlightened, sober life.

[@pauleanonymous]

Great work Trey! I'm really glad Trey went through this ordeal... because now Phish is back together and playing their best music in their entire careers. Which is a great example... you don't need drugs to do the amazing. What a good man!

[@fox2mike28]

Attaboy Trey!!! We love you and are behind you all the way in your crusade to stay sober and keep rockin' the 'doc.

[@Jesse2735]

What a great speech! Trey you are an inspiration to the world, a torch bearer, and a great man. Stay on the path.

[@KillEM1254]

Damn I never knew this was the reason Phish broke up. I'm so glad you got back together, I would've never had the pleasure of seeing you live. Congrats Trey!

[@hosscat74]

This is only One of the reason why they have played a giant part in my life the past year. I didnt even know of then until the surprise concert i was taken to in Chicago last year. But now im a Phan for life. Rock on trey, Jon, Paige, and Mike. You are all the best.

[@pagesidehigh]

i found my boyfriend dead -od'd 8 wks ago - he was an oxy snorter 4 years & started banging H on NYE 2011. he was 32. my family is devastated beyond words. thank god u got right trey - u have made me so happy for 16 yrs and worried so much 4 u. dope sucks kiddos - ive lost 6 friends since oct 2010.

[@ChiltonMediaGroup]

If only I was a messed up teen in upstate New York, so I could have met Trey!

[@MJZ1974]

Keep it up Trey! 2009 sober Trey is a million times better than 2003-2004 wacked out Trey.

[@shanedizzleee]

We love you Trey and we're here to support you always!

[@TheTaoistdragon]

We are all grateful that you came out of it Trey. Good for you, good for us.

[@andy23822]

Thanks Trey, Mike, Jon ,Paige ......Iv'e been seeing you guys since 1993......what a great ride it's been.......keep it up......

[@michaellazerow]

Very brave. Nice work Trey. Inspirational.

[@arz703]

we all love u trey and are so happy you are better

[@kindjordan]

That was awesome!

[@phishfacemountian]

thank you trey for everything

[@gn0m0n]

I'm a long time fan who got sober around the same time and didn't know he'd done all this. So awesome!

[@augustlove21]

Thanks Trey, you are an inspiration

[@HappyOrangeTheBand]

This should help us all grow up and evolve.

[@sjdrumlab]

This warms my heart

[@IWantDaveKast]

trey is a great man. so glad he is doing well

[@phishinallday]

we love you Trey.. and you are obviously more than a guitarist..but you know that

[@Schlitzrock15]

Very nice speech Trey, keep on keepin on.

[@zpiersall]

I'm so inspired by this!

[@tynnsey]

trey dude thats awesome man! that video just made my day. thank you. that makes me want to keep staying sober. drugs have caused nothing but pain and hell in my life and god has deliverd me, thanks for the encouragment trey. now im gonna go try to learn how to play you enjoy myself, on guitar because its one of my goals ha

[@llgraffman]

love you trey!

[@maddog0610]

Way to go Trey!

[@brianberek]

beautiful

[@mikezimmerman9547]

holy cow I never knew that's why Phish broke up. Man, congrats Trey, I will pray for you and others success. These type programs are wonderful, organic programs that make sense, and Trey spoke to it well.

[@96phjams04]

I haven't seen phish since Deer Creek 2004, were it was gettin really stupid. You can still burn, but down let the fire get outta control. Trey is great there must have been an incredible amount of pressure on trey. Not only trey,but the band. I really hope to see phish this fall, sober.

[@dcmxxx15]

At 4:40 Trey, you start speaking some real truth that its a damn shame people don't understand. I wish there was something we could do to change this awful way of doing things. Lets save money and lives and try to HELP not PUNISH!

[@phishinvan]

Drug courts are very important. The vast majority of non-violent drug offenders do NOT need to be in jail. There are time when obviously this is not the case, but it saves many lives and keeps families together. I'm all for drug court.

[@tadowjonez]

Blessed are we for the NADCP. Now he has ta' stay sober, the hardest part. It's ok Trey. Just let it all out on the 18th fret during , I don't know, let's sayyyyyyyyyyyyy, Julius. First song ta' pop in my head, besides lifeboy.

[@MikeyBFreedom]

Heavy...Inspirational

[@theseanze]

Hehe! The introduction was a great geek-out in front of politicians! interesting

[@sienamoon]

love u trey

[@IamBobRoss23]

Keep the music coming!

[@sneakypower576]

Amen!

[@telemarkgurl]

It's great Trey is talking about these gatherings to let thouse working in Drug Court know they make a difference. I challenge Trey to take it one step further...to spread the word to his fans. With Phish back on tour, so are, sadly, fans who use drugs.

[@dmbondemand]

This seemed very surreal but if it's honest, which it seems to be... more power to him. We can't say whats true for everyone but when someone honestly believes in their convictions which cause harm to no one... you can't help but support them.

[@cheesesteak93]

@arz703 hell yeah man. gonna be some good ass shows

[@bix7mile]

Trey is Jedi

[@Fluffyfluffyhead]

Yeah, I'd probably say that.

[@PhrankieC87]

"A Guitarist you might say?!"

[@arz703]

yo phluffy keep it up brother and i'll see the rest of you kids at UIC :)

[@PhactorPhiction]

This is real cool.

[@quickeveryoneactlega]

yet i doubt you blame phish like these other tools? I'd rather not get into it but I went down the opiate road the same time at Trey, climbing out in 06. cheers friend!

[@broreguard41]

I love how this guy explains everything haha hes so not like a hippie haha

[@redsoxrbeasty]

Stay drug free Trey! And rock on guitar!

[@HELLADJ]

lifeboy? "hanging by a thread" 2:42

[@pagesidehigh]

cranking 7.16.94 HOOD

[@marxofacistmoderate1]

My guess is when they stopped touring. Their music is way, way too tough to play unless you're mostly sober.

[@quickeveryoneactlega]

I GUARENTEE this was done by Trey as comm. service.

[@nickc387]

@pauleanonymous I agree with everything, but dude mid 90s phish is the bestttttt

[@philipwalter87]

oh my god... oh my god, the rolling stone is wrong. Trey is not one of the best guitar play of all time. He is the BEST EVER!

[@221bigmac]

WHO THE FUCK DISLIKED THIS??!

[@stankownya]

@hambuga lulz

[@thejustineaster]

4:34 you hearing this, dea? that's how stupid the drug war is. take it from trey, these people need help and treatment, not prison. duh.

[@dmbondemand]

This seemed very surreal but if it's honest, which it seems to be... more power to him. We can't say whats true for everyone but when someone honestly believes in their convictions which cause harm to no one... you can't help but support them.