Devon man 'lucky to be alive' is proof lives can be turned around Joshua Pearson, 27, says that giving up alcohol has been even harder then quitting hard drugs Updated Joshua Pearson is preparing for an enduring fundraising challenge (Image: Joshua Pearson) Proof that you can turn your life around, no matter how bad things get, is a 27 year old recovering drug addict and alcoholic who was on the brink of death. Joshua Pearson has bravely told of the downward spiral he fell into after dabbling in binge-drinking and legal highs in his early teenage years while living in Newton Abbot.