What it was like?

Drug use became a hobby as early as 16. The problem was that I used drugs to cope with life and I became addicted rather quickly. I spent years in active use desperately trying to find a way out. When one drug presented consequences, I would switch to another drug. This cycle was to become my life. Going in and out of rehab just became my “thing” and it was getting exhausting. There had to be a better way to do this. There had to be a better way to live life.

What happened?

The horror stories you hear about addiction started to come true in my own life. I would hear about people overdosing, going to jail, or ending up homeless and I would always think “that won’t be me.” However, a lot of it started to become my reality so in a last ditch effort to save my life I grabbed a garbage bag full of my belongings and checked back into treatment.

What it is like now?

Addiction taught me a lesson in fortitude. A lot of bad things happened when I using and I assumed that all of these things were going to break and destroy me. Ironically I overcame them and became a stronger person, but I owe it all to the people who believed in me when I wasn’t able to believe in myself. Community is what saved me. Now that I’m sober I’m able to reach out to the people who are still struggling and walk alongside them. They know I’ve been there, they know I won’t judge them.