This Kentucky Restaurant and Bakery Serves Up Second Chances for People in Recovery

DV8 Kitchen in Lexington offers employment and life-changing support to people recovering from addiction

Robert and Diane Perez are the owners of DV8 Kitchen. The restaurant employs those who are in recovery from substance abuse. Courtesy of DV8 Kitchen

Robert Touchton had struggled with addiction since he was 15 years old. It started with marijuana, then he moved on to alcohol, painkillers, Xanax, cocaine, and ecstasy.

“There was no love in it. I could literally sit there and just watch people in my life disappear,” said Touchton, 33, from Lexington, Kentucky. “I hated myself and I hated the world.”