It All Started When I Was a Teenager

When I was 14 years old, I started using Ambien, Ativan, and Dilaudid and smoking weed to cover up the problems I was having at home. I was constantly getting into fights, doing badly in school, and doing anything to get attention at home. When I turned 16, I walked in on my Dad who was overdosed in our kitchen at home. He was lucky the paramedics saved him, but from that point on I pulled away from my family, hated my dad and fought even more. As time went on, I couldn’t hold a steady relationship, cheated on all my girlfriends, and used behind their backs.

I also started selling coke, Xanax, and roxies. I used lots of coke, Xanax, and roxies to numb myself. At this point, all my relationships with family and friends was pretty much nonexistent, but I was still functioning and supporting myself. Then one day, I was at the basketball courts in a bad neighborhood and one of my closest friends got shot in the head and killed. That’s where my addiction really went downhill. I started taking 6 to 7 Xanax a day and snorting 2 to 3 grams of cocaine a day, partying every night till the point I started having seizures. I still kept using just because I couldn’t confront my friend’s death.

I tried a 12-step program and it did nothing for me. I went right back to using. Then one day my parents called me and told me about a program that another family member went to and it helped him. So, I ended up giving it a shot. Now because of this program, I am doing great! I have a great job and am not worrying about going in and out of jail or being shot at or being killed.

This program gave me my family back and a life I could be proud of.

—DJ Narconon Graduate