Rod Gardner had it all—a thriving dental practice, a loving family, and a respected place in his community. Yet beneath the surface, a struggle with anxiety and religious scrupulosity quietly undermined his success. When he took his first prescription pain pill in 1983, he believed he’d found relief at last—but instead uncovered a far more dangerous trap.

Second Chance Again is a raw, unflinching memoir of a professional man’s descent into the “cycle of shame” and opioid addiction. Dr. Rod Gardner, DDS, takes readers behind the facade of success to reveal the deception, fallout, and redemption that marked his journey.