At one time, Andrew Zimmern, an Emmy and four-time James Beard Award winner, TV/media personality, chef, writer and passionate global citizen, used people, was addicted to heroin and living in an abandoned building in lower Manhattan in New York.

At night when he passed out from drug and alcohol abuse, Zimmern said he poured Ajax around the pile of dirty clothes he slept on to keep the rats and roaches from crawling all over him.

“That was me right before I tried to kill myself,” he said. “That didn’t go as planned.

And, I really did a good job of it. I don’t want you to think I didn’t try hard enough.

“I really tried. I drank two quarts of Vodka and at a fist full of barbiturates. As the doctors said to me when I finally got to a hospital I swallowed enough drugs to kill an elephant.

“And, somehow, I lived. I woke up two days later and I lived. Two days after that, was the beginning of my current sobriety.”

Zimmern, who has been sober for over three decades, was the keynote speaker Oct. 23 during the Riveon Mental Health and Recovery Pearls of Wisdom annual Benefit and Recognition Dinner at Embassy Suites Rockside in Independence.

Christi Paul, a news anchor at Channel 3 in Cleveland, was the master of ceremonies.

At age 30, when Zimmern said he sobered up, he did something he had never done: he called a friend and told him that he didn’t know what he was doing and needed help.

“I had never admitted to anyone that I didn’t know what I was doing,” he said. “I knew how to do everything.”

As Zimmern asked for help, he realized he had to give up his booze and drugs.

He said he got involved in a 12-step sobriety program.

As the creator, executive producer and host of the Bizarre Foods franchise and other endeavors, Zimmern has devoted his life to exploring and promoting cultural acceptance, tolerance and understanding through food, talking openly about his struggles overcoming addiction and achieving lasting sobriety.

At the gala, Riveon Mental Health and Recovery recognized outstanding contributions made by individuals and organizations in support of addiction recovery and mental health.

The President’s Award, recognizing a company or individual who has made exceptional contributions to the mission of transforming lives impacted by mental health struggles and the disease of addiction, was presented to Joe Matuscak, chief marketing and development officer at Riveon.

The Community Service Award, which honors a community leader who has given time, talent, energy, service and civic support for those suffering with mental health issues and the disease of addiction, was presented to Meaden & Moore Wealth Center and HMS Industries LLC.

The John Longlais Award, which honors a Riveon staff member, Board of Directors member or supporter in recognition of their exceptional work in the field of mental health and addiction treatment and prevention, went to Todd Jaros, secretary for the Riveon Board and pharmacist for Discount Drug Mart, and Maggie Matuscak, wife of Joe Matusca, for her contributions over the years to the Pearls of Wisdom Gala.

Funds from the Pearls of Wisdom assists the nonprofit in its mission of prevention, treat and recovery.

The mission of Riveon is to transform lives and strengthen communities by providing comprehensive behavioral health services.