Trey Anastasio stopped by the Clark County Juvenile Drug Court in Vancouver, WA yesterday to speak with about 75 young drug offenders. The Phish guitarist praised the work of drug courts, which he credits with helping him recover from an opiate addiction that almost ruined his life.

Anastasio was arrested in upstate New York in 2006 while driving intoxicated and possessing illegal drugs. He was charged with multiple felonies, but chose to participate in a drug court program instead of spending a year in jail. Drug courts put a greater emphasis on rehabilitation than incarceration, however they use the threat of jail time as a way to encourage staying clean. Anastasio has now been sober for six years.

The Columbian reports that Anastasio told those in attendance, “The fact that this happened to you so young could be the greatest gift that ever happened to you… do you want to be sitting here when you’re 50, all your friends looking at you? It’s embarrassing.”

The Trey Anastasio Band kicked off their West Coast tour in Seattle on Tuesday night, Anastaso performing a solo acoustic “Wilson” in honor of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. TAB will play again tomorrow night at The Fox Theatre in Oakland, CA.