Joel Lindgren finds a path out of addiction with Allina Health

[Allina Health Newsroom, June 25, 2025] Joel began using alcohol and drugs as a teenager living in suburban St. Paul. He recalls using crack cocaine as a 14-year-old and being addicted at 15. His alcohol use was chronic. He took whatever drugs he could get his hands on. At 27, he started using methamphetamines.

Joel’s life became a cycle of using and drinking, run-ins with law enforcement and treatment centers. He tried treatment more than 30 times — some were court-mandated, some were to get off the street, and some with the hope of conquering his addictions. “I got something out of all of them, but I wasn’t ready for them,” said Joel.

About six years ago, Joel was picked up for possession of 1.5 ounces of methamphetamine. There was already a warrant out, so the arrest resulted in a second-degree drug charge. Joel went to jail and then to treatment again — but he still wasn’t ready to commit to change his life and violated his parole.

He landed back in jail. Eventually, during COVID, he was released to a treatment program. After 30 days, he moved into a sober house in the northern suburbs. It was then that he found the addiction treatment programs of Allina Health.

“I absolutely loved the approach,” said Joel. He attended an intensive day group program and completed it. When he graduated, though, he celebrated by relapsing. And with another warrant out for his arrest, he went back to jail, followed by in-patient treatment. He returned to the sober house for a bit before moving in with his fiancée who was pregnant with his child.

The cycle wasn’t over yet though. He committed several small probation violations and went back to court. The judge told Joel if he returned to court, he’d be sent to prison. Joel returned to treatment at Unity and stayed clean and sober for four months before relapsing. He knew what would happen if he were arrested again and decided to take responsibility for the situation.

Carrying letters of his progress from his counselors and providers with Allina Health, Joel turned himself in. The judge, though, could see the difference in Joel and allowed him to stay out of both prison and jail. Grateful and determined to continue his new approach to life, Joel returned to treatment at Allina Health and continued with his probation. He was baptized and worked the twelve-step process, including making amends to those he had wronged.

Throughout his life, Joel struggled with anxiety, depression and ADD/ADHD, making his addiction treatment more complicated. He worked closely with an addiction psychiatrist to determine what medications were best to treat his conditions.

Today, Joel is building a new life, with his fiancée and their pre-school aged daughter. He has reconnected with adult children and is supporting others on the recovery journey by leading a weekly crystal methamphetamine anonymous meeting. When people ask him for help, Joel sends them to the Mental Health and Addiction Center on the Unity campus of Mercy Hospital. He also talks to addiction groups at the center. “I’m going there to help someone else and tell them where I was, what I did and where I am now. I tell them the steps I took. I’ve gotten a lot of questions after the talks and that makes me feel great.”

Joel attributes his ability to successfully address his drug and alcohol addictions to the staff at Allina Health, in particular his counselor, Colleen. “The staff at Unity are so understanding. They listened and helped me in every way that they could. When my brother passed away, the staff was there for me,” he explained. “I’ve never had anybody really believe in me and know me as well as Colleen knows me.”

Joel’s hopes for his future health are simple. “I just want to be able to live a happy life and deal with stuff like I am. Whatever I’m doing, I just want to keep doing it. I don’t know why I didn’t do this 20 years ago.”