In 2001, Jeff Bates was on the verge of a recording deal with Mercury Records when he was arrested for theft and drug possession, a result of his crippling meth addiction. After coming so close to achieving his dreams, “basically my career was over before it got started, and all my hard work went down the tubes,” says Bates. “I also lost friends and their trust, and every shred of self-respect and dignity I had. I honestly believe if I hadn’t gotten arrested, I would be dead now.”

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