Healing Together: An Interview with Justin Harris and Shana Ackles, Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of Mothers Against Addiction

In this special interview, we are joined by two inspiring leaders at the helm of Mothers Against Addiction (MAA): Justin Harris, the Chairperson, and Shana Ackles, the Vice Chairperson. Together, they have transformed their personal struggles with addiction into a powerful force for change, offering support and hope to families who are grappling with the devastating impacts of addiction.

Justin’s journey, rooted in the rugged beauty of Alaska, has been one of resilience and growth. From building a successful career to confronting the challenges of his brother’s addiction, Justin has channeled his experiences into meaningful action. His dedication is evident in initiatives like the Christopher Walden House of Hope, which provides critical resources for those in need.

Shana’s story is equally compelling. As a business consultant, life coach, and mother, Shana has faced the harsh realities of addiction firsthand—growing up with an alcoholic mother and later marrying a man who struggled with alcohol dependency. Through years of personal growth, Shana has learned the importance of setting boundaries, practicing self-love, and forgiving both herself and others. Her journey has led her to a place of compassion and strength, where she now helps others navigate their own challenges.

Together, Justin and Shana lead MAA with passion and purpose, working tirelessly to support mothers and families as they navigate the complexities of addiction. Join us as they share their stories, insights, and the powerful lessons they’ve learned along the way.

Can you start by telling us a little about yourself?

Justin: I was born the Big Island of Hawai’i. My mom moved to Anchorage, AK when I was 4 to be close to her parents after my grandpa retired here from the Air Force. The great state of Alaska has been my home for coming up on 5 decades. I love it’s wonder and majesty in all things nature! I fell into the mortgage game in 2001 and have made a career of selling home loans ever since. My company, First Rate Financial, celebrates 20 years of having a positive impact on the community and the people we serve in June of 2025. It’s been a wonderful ride…with lots more goodness yet to come!

Shana: I am a business consultant, life coach, speaker and trainer. I am Justin’s other half, a mom, soon to be grandma, athlete, cook, gardener… 

Could you share how addiction has personally impacted your life or the life of someone close to you?

Shana: My mother was an alcoholic, left the family when I was young, 13, I then married a man that struggled with alcohol addiction, and the demons that come with that. I spent a lifetime creating walls and a need to control thinking I was helping others and, in the end, only isolated myself in a very unreal world.

Justin: My younger brother, Brandon, has struggled with addiction for his entire adult life. He started smoking weed in high school. He progressed to harder drugs as a young adult – cocaine, crack, heroin, crystal meth, and more. He has been in and out of jail for as long as I can remember. The results have devastated his relationship with most of our family, including his kids, mom & me. His twin sister, London, is the only person he has any meaningful contact with him from time to time. 

What advice would you give to mothers who are struggling with their own addiction or are supporting a loved one through theirs?

Justin: Shana & I had a front row seat to watching her best friend, Dar, lose her son to a heroin overdose in Sept 2019. Chris got addicted to pain killers as a motor cross racer as a kid. The prescription pills led to heroin. He was in and out of treatment for a long time. He finally got clean and sober in 2014. He was married and the top producing team agent in the largest real estate company in our market when he made a fatal mistake by relapsing. I still remember Shana getting the phone call from her to tell us the news. The grief and pain in her voice was unbearable. We walked with her & Ed through their loss. A few months later we took them to Campobello’s to talk about doing something with Chris’ legacy. The Christopher Walden House of Hope was born of that conversation. The mission of CWHOH is to provide beds for treatment. To date we have raised close to $2M and opened 3 treatment facilities in Alaska. We have also partnered with VOA Alaska with the Christopher Walden School of Hope. We are truly blessed to be doing great work in Alaska in Chris’ honor. MAA is one of the great things that has come as a result of our involvement with CWHOH.

Shana: I think the one thing I can say is you can not change anyone that doesn’t want to be changed, you can LOVE with boundaries understanding that if you don’t protect yourself you cannot ever help another when they are ready. AND, you NEVER give up, you never lose sight that everyone has an opportunity at a better future.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced during your journey with addiction, either personally or as a supporter?

Shana: My challenge is trying to change the unchangeable, literally living the definition of insanity. AND, realizing that everyone is doing the best they can with what they have. I chose to not allow my mom into my life for 18 years for not seeing that SHE was struggling, it wasn’t about me. Today, I see her differently and am creating a bond that I am grateful for.

Justin: 1. Life is always happening for you, not to you. There are always blessings in every opportunity! They may not look or feel like you want them to…and if you are open to receiving them, they will come. 

2. Love is always the answer. We can want for our kids to be sober and live a productive life…and they aren’t going to want our help until they are ready. In the meantime, all we can do is meet them where they are at in search of deep relationship…with healthy (and loving) boundaries in place. 

How did you find the strength and resources to keep going during the toughest moments?

Justin: For my brother – setting boundaries rooted in love. I am a believer in people and see the best in everyone. Unfortunately this opened the door for him to take advantage of me a number of times, including stealing thousands of dollars. I have learned to love him for who he is without giving his access to abusing me. Getting burned one too many times is how I learned to set healthy boundaries. 

Shana: I have worked with a coach for years, diving deep into how I can forgive myself first, love myself first and from that comes forgiveness and love for others.

What message would you like to share with mothers who feel isolated or hopeless in their battle against addiction?

Shana: There is always, always hope.

Justin: I am a self-proclaimed personal growth junkie. Tony Robbin’s teaches about the six human needs that everyone on the planet has – certainty, uncertainty, significance, growth, contribution, and love. My number one need is growth. I strive to be growing always in all ways. As a life long learner, I attend 6-8 seminars/workshops, read 50+ books, and listen to countless podcasts. One of my super powers is implementation. All of this knowledge has compounded over the last 5 decades to giving me a rock solid foundation and numerous resources to effectively deal with tough times, not only for myself, but for the people I am so blessed to have in my life. 

Are there any specific resources, programs, or strategies that you found particularly helpful in dealing with addiction?

Justin: I get it. I, too, have felt isolated and hopeless. I experienced a deep depression after I lost my first company due to a turn in the market in 2008. I didn’t have the financial reserves to weather the storm. It led to my car being repossessed and not one, but two foreclosures. My ego was devastated as my identity was wrapped up in being successful and a good provider for my family. Where focus goes energy flows (another Tonyism). The more I focused on what I no longer had, the more depressed I got. A lot of soul searching and walking in the woods is what pulled me out of my depression. I discovered that I wasn’t the things that I had lost, that I was whole and complete…and loved  just the way I am. This belief allowed me to raise my gaze and start to focus on meeting other peoples’ needs rather than my own. This provided a foundation to rebuild my life to a much better spot than I had ever been before…and getting better by the day. I am blessed beyond measure today! 

Shana: I think finding local support groups like the ones that I work with, and filtering what you hear, see, do, protect yourself from the toxic surrounding you that doesn’t serve you and that you cannot control.

Is there anything else you would like to share about your experience with addiction?

Justin: There are so many resources out there for people struggling with addiction and their loved ones. Try a few on for size and see what works for you. AA, Al-Anon, recovery homes to name a few. You don’t have to be great to get started, but you have to get started to be great. Just admitting that you need is help is a fantastic place to start. LFG!