While every teenager finds great excitement in getting their driver’s license, this long awaited day for Allegheny County Councilwoman Bethany Hallam came with a slew of emotions. She had finally done it. The last piece she needed to regain her life from before her decade-long battle with substance-use disorder had finally fallen into place.
Now in her early thirties, Hallam is a licensed driver and sits on one of the largest legislative bodies in the country, just six years after being incarcerated for drug related offenses.
Hallam grew up in Pittsburgh’s North Hills neighborhood and lived a comfortable, upper-middle class lifestyle with her family. She was involved in her schooling and has two loving parents who encouraged her to participate in sports.
“Little did they know it would be the catalyst for the trouble in my life,” Hallam said.
Early into her high school athletic career, Hallam suffered an ACL injury that required surgery, extensive physical therapy and prescription painkillers. Once recovered, on her second day back to practice, Hallam sustained a similar injury to her other leg, restarting her entire journey.
This cycle of injury, rehabilitation and re-injury began Hallam’s struggle with substance-use disorder.
“I was really living a double life,” Hallam said.
Hallam graduated high school and started college at Duquesne University, but her addiction remained at the forefront of her life. Eventually, she transitioned from prescription painkillers to heroin as a necessity.
“I didn’t care about anything else because I needed the drugs to get by,” Hallam said.
During this incredibly dark part of her life, Hallam stated that she “lied, cheated and stole” to feed her addiction. She even admitted to selling her mother’s engagement ring to get money to purchase drugs.
“I was just someone that today I wouldn’t even recognize,” Hallam said.
Now in her early thirties, Hallam is a licensed driver and sits on one of the largest legislative bodies in the country, just six years after being incarcerated for drug related offenses.
Hallam grew up in Pittsburgh’s North Hills neighborhood and lived a comfortable, upper-middle class lifestyle with her family. She was involved in her schooling and has two loving parents who encouraged her to participate in sports.
“Little did they know it would be the catalyst for the trouble in my life,” Hallam said.
Early into her high school athletic career, Hallam suffered an ACL injury that required surgery, extensive physical therapy and prescription painkillers. Once recovered, on her second day back to practice, Hallam sustained a similar injury to her other leg, restarting her entire journey.
This cycle of injury, rehabilitation and re-injury began Hallam’s struggle with substance-use disorder.
“I was really living a double life,” Hallam said.
Hallam graduated high school and started college at Duquesne University, but her addiction remained at the forefront of her life. Eventually, she transitioned from prescription painkillers to heroin as a necessity.
“I didn’t care about anything else because I needed the drugs to get by,” Hallam said.
During this incredibly dark part of her life, Hallam stated that she “lied, cheated and stole” to feed her addiction. She even admitted to selling her mother’s engagement ring to get money to purchase drugs.
“I was just someone that today I wouldn’t even recognize,” Hallam said.
Not long after, her behavior led her into trouble with law enforcement. Little did she know at the time, her first-hand experiences with the criminal justice system would help springboard her political career and life beyond her illness as a strong reform advocate.
Although Hallam had several misdemeanor run-ins with law enforcement throughout her addiction, she first noticed glaring disparities in the criminal justice system after receiving multiple felony charges for driving under the influence.
Because Hallam’s family could afford strong legal representation, she ended up having her multiple felony charges reduced to misdemeanors and a ten year suspension of her driver’s license— an event she feels would not have happened had she come from a lower socioeconomic background.
“I had this privilege,” Hallam said.
As her experiences with the criminal justice system intensified, the disparities and inequalities became all the more apparent, especially after she failed a parole drug test and found herself an inmate of the Allegheny County Jail.
Once in jail, Hallam noticed a variety of policies and practices that she felt penalized inmates for their financial status. According to Hallam, phone calls, snack foods and other basic goods were charged astronomically high, leaving inmates who couldn't afford these “luxuries” increasingly isolated.
“We criminalize poverty,” Hallam said. “We criminalize homelessness.”
All too often, Hallam stated, incarcerated people, especially those who commit crimes of survival, are stigmatized and ostracized for their pasts. But once an inmate herself, Hallam had a drastic shift in perspective.
“They weren’t criminals. They weren't bad people,” Hallam said. “They were people like me.”
During her nearly six months in prison, Hallam got sober for the first time since she was a teenager.
“I had a clear mind for the first time in over a decade,” Hallam said.
Upon her release, Hallam attempted to rebuild her relationships with her family and her livelihood. Feeding a life-long passion for politics and a newfound hunger for social justice, she decided to start campaigning for state representatives Sara Innamorato (D-PA-21) and Summer Lee (D-PA-34).
After excelling at the political work, Hallam was encouraged to run for Allegheny County Council — a position she didn’t even know existed — against a 20 year incumbent.
“I’ve always been a go big or go home person,” Hallam said jokingly.
From the very beginning of her candidacy, Hallam expressed a deep desire to be fully herself, to not put on a front or facade, but to let her authentic character, personality and past speak for themselves.
“People would laugh me out of rooms,” Hallam said. “I just kept telling my story.”
However, it was this unapologetic transparency and vulnerability that allowed Hallam to disarm her political opponents. While her rivals sought to belittle her for personal history, her refreshing honesty opened the door for her to connect to her constituents at a much deeper level.
“I had never seen a candidate who had a story I could relate to,” Hallam said.
In a country where roughly one in every 100 people are incarcerated and nearly 20 million people struggle with substance use disorder, Hallam’s story hit closer to home than ever before.
“That’s why people die,” Hallam said. “Because we don’t talk about substance abuse.”
But, just as she had hoped, her story touched the hearts of thousands of voters and Hallam won the at-large seat in a landslide.
“I never thought I was going to win,” Hallam said.
Throughout her recovery, Hallam frequently reminds herself that all she has, she has to share with her family, community and constituents.
“We can only keep what we have by giving it away,” Hallam said.
True to her recovery mantra, Hallam seeks to give as much of her life as she can to the Pittsburgh community.
Her numerous, and most notable, accomplishments during her short tenure on Allegheny County Council, and now sitting member of the Jail Oversight Board, include a bill that grants an extra $50 per month per inmate in the county jail to help alleviate the economic disparities she saw while incarcerated. Her unique perspective and intimate experiences with the criminal justice system allow her to address specific, often unnoticed problems, these vulnerable members of society face.
Her commitment to those struggling in her community is undying.
A mere ten days after getting her license back, Hallam was struck head-on by a driver under the influence of drugs who had fallen asleep at the wheel — just as Hallam had frequently done years before.
The irony of the situation was not lost on Hallam, and while her new car had been totaled in the accident, she felt only compassion for the driver.
“I couldn’t be mad at him,” Hallam said.
Despite her national headline-making political career, long-term sobriety and success as a County councilperson, Hallam remains humble, knowing that her life could have continued down a very different path.
She has lost countless friends to substance-use disorder. She has lost her freedom, her family, her peace of mind and, quite nearly, her life to the disease, yet Hallam continues to utilize her newfound platform, health and sobriety in the service of those around her.
“I never forgot where I came from,” Hallam said, “Again, you can only keep what you have by giving it away.”
Although Hallam had several misdemeanor run-ins with law enforcement throughout her addiction, she first noticed glaring disparities in the criminal justice system after receiving multiple felony charges for driving under the influence.
Because Hallam’s family could afford strong legal representation, she ended up having her multiple felony charges reduced to misdemeanors and a ten year suspension of her driver’s license— an event she feels would not have happened had she come from a lower socioeconomic background.
“I had this privilege,” Hallam said.
As her experiences with the criminal justice system intensified, the disparities and inequalities became all the more apparent, especially after she failed a parole drug test and found herself an inmate of the Allegheny County Jail.
Once in jail, Hallam noticed a variety of policies and practices that she felt penalized inmates for their financial status. According to Hallam, phone calls, snack foods and other basic goods were charged astronomically high, leaving inmates who couldn't afford these “luxuries” increasingly isolated.
“We criminalize poverty,” Hallam said. “We criminalize homelessness.”
All too often, Hallam stated, incarcerated people, especially those who commit crimes of survival, are stigmatized and ostracized for their pasts. But once an inmate herself, Hallam had a drastic shift in perspective.
“They weren’t criminals. They weren't bad people,” Hallam said. “They were people like me.”
During her nearly six months in prison, Hallam got sober for the first time since she was a teenager.
“I had a clear mind for the first time in over a decade,” Hallam said.
Upon her release, Hallam attempted to rebuild her relationships with her family and her livelihood. Feeding a life-long passion for politics and a newfound hunger for social justice, she decided to start campaigning for state representatives Sara Innamorato (D-PA-21) and Summer Lee (D-PA-34).
After excelling at the political work, Hallam was encouraged to run for Allegheny County Council — a position she didn’t even know existed — against a 20 year incumbent.
“I’ve always been a go big or go home person,” Hallam said jokingly.
From the very beginning of her candidacy, Hallam expressed a deep desire to be fully herself, to not put on a front or facade, but to let her authentic character, personality and past speak for themselves.
“People would laugh me out of rooms,” Hallam said. “I just kept telling my story.”
However, it was this unapologetic transparency and vulnerability that allowed Hallam to disarm her political opponents. While her rivals sought to belittle her for personal history, her refreshing honesty opened the door for her to connect to her constituents at a much deeper level.
“I had never seen a candidate who had a story I could relate to,” Hallam said.
In a country where roughly one in every 100 people are incarcerated and nearly 20 million people struggle with substance use disorder, Hallam’s story hit closer to home than ever before.
“That’s why people die,” Hallam said. “Because we don’t talk about substance abuse.”
But, just as she had hoped, her story touched the hearts of thousands of voters and Hallam won the at-large seat in a landslide.
“I never thought I was going to win,” Hallam said.
Throughout her recovery, Hallam frequently reminds herself that all she has, she has to share with her family, community and constituents.
“We can only keep what we have by giving it away,” Hallam said.
True to her recovery mantra, Hallam seeks to give as much of her life as she can to the Pittsburgh community.
Her numerous, and most notable, accomplishments during her short tenure on Allegheny County Council, and now sitting member of the Jail Oversight Board, include a bill that grants an extra $50 per month per inmate in the county jail to help alleviate the economic disparities she saw while incarcerated. Her unique perspective and intimate experiences with the criminal justice system allow her to address specific, often unnoticed problems, these vulnerable members of society face.
Her commitment to those struggling in her community is undying.
A mere ten days after getting her license back, Hallam was struck head-on by a driver under the influence of drugs who had fallen asleep at the wheel — just as Hallam had frequently done years before.
The irony of the situation was not lost on Hallam, and while her new car had been totaled in the accident, she felt only compassion for the driver.
“I couldn’t be mad at him,” Hallam said.
Despite her national headline-making political career, long-term sobriety and success as a County councilperson, Hallam remains humble, knowing that her life could have continued down a very different path.
She has lost countless friends to substance-use disorder. She has lost her freedom, her family, her peace of mind and, quite nearly, her life to the disease, yet Hallam continues to utilize her newfound platform, health and sobriety in the service of those around her.
“I never forgot where I came from,” Hallam said, “Again, you can only keep what you have by giving it away.”