12 Amazing Years of Sobriety
Growing up, it was just me, my parents, my younger sister, and a half-brother. I had a good life. I was always told I was a very sensitive and polite kid. I enjoyed riding dirt bikes and BMX bikes.
When I was 14 years old, I started chewing tobacco and drinking. By the time I was 15, I had started smoking weed, and I broke my arm. I got a prescription for Vicodin and Percocet. This was the first time I got really high. I started asking all of my friends at school for pills because I knew they made me feel really good. I wanted a break from reality. At one point, I got a “screw-it” attitude, and I didn't care about anything other than trying all of the drugs.
My drug use continued to escalate, and when I was 27 years old, I started shooting meth in my neck. I did this because the high was more intense, and I found it hard to do it in my arms sometimes. There was this one time I will never forget. After I did it, I felt like I couldn't breathe. I ended up losing my voice for 6 months. The doctors said that there was no fix for it, so I thought I would not be able to speak for the rest of my life.
I went to two other inpatient programs. The first one was a 12-step program, and I did it to make my parents happy. I got high right away, so I told my dad that I didn't want to do 12-step programs anymore. He sent me to a luxury rehab in California, and that was okay for a while, but it was more like a vacation. Then, I decided on my own that I was done. I asked my dad to help with the research and to find the best alternative rehab he could find, and he found Narconon.
The sauna part of the Narconon program is the best. It heightened all of my senses that were dulled from all of the drug use. My thinking became clearer. Close to the end of the sauna program, my voice slowly started coming back. I was over the moon. It was the most exciting time of my life. The staff couldn't get me to be quiet!
Another thing I liked about the program is that it covered all aspects of life. Even how to study better, and gave me some invaluable tools that I now share with everyone. I started working out and going to the gym, and I still do that to this day, and that has helped me stay off of drugs.
“I have full custody of my awesome 8-year-old daughter. There is always hope for a better life, especially when you get clean.”
I now have almost twelve years sober. My life is amazing now. I am about to start getting into professional bodybuilding, which began while I was at Narconon. I am a member of the Operating Engineers Union, working full-time. I have full custody of my awesome 8-year-old daughter. There is always hope for a better life, especially when you get clean.
A.N., Narconon Graduate
