Was Trey Anastasio arrested for drug possession? 2006 incident explored as rock band member opens addiction recovery center

Phish guitarist and songwriter Trey Anastasio has opened an addiction recovery center called Divided Sky in Ludlow, Vt. to help people deal with addiction and get out of it. The 59-year-old opened up about his past run-ins with drug addiction and journey to sobriety in an interview with PEOPLE published on July 24.

The Phish superstar was addicted to the painkiller OxyContin when he was prescribed the drug in 2000 after a dental operation. He hit rock bottom on December 15, 2006, when Trey Anastasio was stopped by the cops near Vermont for reckless driving.

Upon searching, the cops found a stock of anti-anxiety drugs, heroin, and painkillers that were not prescribed to him. The authorities charged Trey Anastasio with illegal possession of drugs and intoxicated, reckless driving.

Anastasio described the incident in the interview and got extremely emotional while contemplating that he could've fatally harmed someone while driving in that state.

“The minute I got arrested, I was relieved. I knew it was over.”

The guitarist pleaded guilty and spent fourteen months in community service and a court-mandated drug treatment regime. Fortunately, the treatment worked, and Trey Anastasio claims he hasn't touched drugs or alcohol ever since.

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"It’s never too late to have hope" — Trey Anastasio talks about the motive behind his addiction recovery center

Trey Anastasio (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

Going by his recent interview with PEOPLE Magazine, Trey Anastasio's principal motive behind opening the addiction recovery center is to give something back to the community that has done so much for him.

“I’ve seen people in dire situations come back from this. It’s never too late to have hope. Families can be saved."

According to the former Phish guitarist, addiction isn't something to judge a person for and it is a disease like any other ailment. Sobriety is just a way to get better and discard the disease from one's body.

“This can end. Anyone can get off drugs and stop drinking. Your loved one is a sick person trying to get well, not a bad person trying to get good.”

Melanie Gulde, Anastasio's caseworker from his days of addiction recovery, is the current program director of the addiction recovery center. The two together hoped to embark on a mission of saving people from plummeting to their demise because of addiction.

Divided Sky was the manifestation of that hope and the center helps patients get out of their misery by engaging them in a 12-step program to get rid of their addiction. Although the program is expensive and costs $7,500 for 30 days of help, there are several financial aids available to help the patients seek help without worrying about finances.

“We want to be available to everybody that needs help. It’s a place of healing. Everybody who works there is in recovery. Virtually everyone understands, and there’s no judgment."

According to the guitarist, one of how Divided Sky helps keep the price of the treatment down is by not engaging in detox therapy. He further elaborated on the various nuances of the center and the way the treatment works. Some people get well within thirty days, while others need more care and love.

"Some people need longer than others. There's a staff that assesses the condition that your loved one is in, and some people would come 20, 30 days, other people might need 90. It's based on your individual situation. Some people might need longer and that's perfectly fine.”

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Divided Sky program director Melanie Gulde explained Trey Anastasio's encounter with addiction in her own words

Melanie Gulde was one of the major support systems for Trey Anastasio during his days of addiction recovery and was there with him throughout the journey. Currently working as the program director at Divided Sky, she opened up about Trey's problems in an interview with PEOPLE magazine.

“Trey’s story is strikingly similar in that what starts out as experimental substance abuse turned into full-blown addiction including the ramifications that go with it. Self-loathing, physical repercussions, and family discord are all side effects of active addiction," she commented.

Gulde further added that the backstory behind everyone's addiction is different, but the outcome is the same for everyone. Trey Anastasio could acknowledge his problem and aspire to get better.

She concluded by pointing out that resilience is the greatest gift of humans and explained how people at Divided Sky take Trey's story as an inspiration and propel their recovery process by using his story as a catalyst.