
I started taking substances at a very young age.
I was 10 years old, and I thought drugs were the answer I needed. I didn’t have a horrible childhood, but I had some horrible instances and periods of time growing up. Drugs made me forget every horrible thing/moment that happened in my life. I started using drugs here and there but I enjoyed how they made me feel too much, so I ended up using them daily very quickly.
Everything about my drug use progressed for 24 years. I went from smoking to popping pills to snorting substances. After none of that was enough, I went on to the more “harsh” drugs. After doing the “harsh” drugs for about a year, I wanted to get even more high so, I started using a needle. Addiction caused nothing but havoc in my life. I lost custody of my children for a period of time. I lost every place I had to live. Every vehicle I owned, I either sold, or I couldn’t afford to keep it.
For about five years straight, I ended up living couch surfing, on the streets or in a vehicle. I started getting in trouble with the law and landed myself in jail about 14 different times. I was on the run for about two years. When I got caught and received more charges on my name, I knew something had to change.
I ended up doing over a year in county jail and during that time, I knew I needed help to reach the other side of this disease. I mean, I was doing drugs while I was in jail. Jail wasn’t the answer I needed for the help I needed. While I was in jail, I decided to apply for Drug Court, and was accepted. I felt something in my heart change when I was presented with my approval letter.
After getting released from jail, I tried so hard to stay clean and to do what was expected of me in Drug Court. It wasn’t enough for me though. I relapsed and got sent to treatment. Treatment was where the change started for me.
I was introduced to MAT (medication-assisted treatment), a program that could help me with my drug addiction problem. I started taking Suboxone and stayed on that for a few months. My life started to change, and I started to graduate to higher phases in Drug Court. I gained employment and bought my first vehicle with “clean money”. I was moving forward for the first time in over 20 years of my life. It felt good, and I wanted to keep this feeling in my life. I kept working on my recovery and fixing the mess I had made of my life. I have been in recovery now for three years. My recovery journey started on 6-26-20.
I moved to Louisville and joined the AppleGate Recovery family in June of 2022. During the time I have been part of AppleGate Recovery, I got married to the love of my life. I have joint custody of my children, and I am able to provide for them more than I ever have. I recently bought a new vehicle, my credit score is now considered good, and my husband and I have moved into our first house together. I am a full-time student going for my Associate of Science in Public Service Management, and I have received two promotions at my current job. My life has changed completely for the better, and I owe the change to MAT and the support of a 12-step program.
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If opioid addiction is impacting your life or the life of someone you care about, reach out to our treatment center. We are here to provide the support and care you need to take the first step toward recovery.
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