Army veteran Chris Taylor was running for Congress in Arizona hoping to challenge Democratic Rep. Tom O'Halleran — he recently suspended his campaign after suffering a drug overdose.
"Today, I have suspended my campaign for the US House of Representatives and am seeking treatment for substance abuse disorder," Taylor said in a Facebook announcement. "I will fully cooperate with local authorities on any matters arising from my recent relapse and overdose."
Taylor served as a psychological warfare specialist in the U.S. Army and deployed to Afghanistan twice — once with the 3rd Special Forces Group and once with a MARSOC Marine Special Operations Team. When he returned, he experienced symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
"I sought help at the Phoenix VA, only to be put on the now-infamous secret waiting list," Taylor's campaign page reads. "For over 9 months I was unable to even see a mental health professional, by the grace of My savior Jesus Christ I survived but so many of my friends have not."
Taylor used his G.I. Bill to attend Eastern Arizona College. He became a state-certified firefighter with the Safford Fire Department, was elected to the Safford City Council and founded Desert Eagle Addiction Recovery for combat veterans like himself suffering from drug addiction. He was sober for years before he "recently relapsed."
"I’m not going to hide from this," Taylor wrote. "I’m not ashamed of what happened. I wish to sincerely apologize to the amazing people who have supported me. I don’t know what went wrong. I recently relapsed after having so many solid years in sobriety. I have to figure out where I went wrong."
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