Learning a New Way to Live
I grew up in southern California, in a small town called La Cañada. As far as childhoods go, mine was great. I traveled all over Europe and most of Asia with my family, up to fifth grade. I started to get picked on and act out around then. At age 13, I was sent to a youth rehab for behavioral problems as well as drinking alcohol and smoking weed. I spent two and a half years there.
In my time in youth rehab, I learned a lot on the topics of drugs and alcohol and not in the right way. Within a few months of leaving, I started using alcohol and weed again, as well as cocaine. Shortly after that, I was introduced to meth. Within a few weeks, I was using meth intravenously. I also started smoking heroin and using whatever drugs happened to be around.
In addition to the use of drugs and alcohol, I surrounded myself with negative influences. I felt resentful towards my family for sending me away and craved the admiration of someone. I looked up to these terrible members of society and started to model myself off their example. I caught three charges and was facing jail time.
About two weeks before my court date, my parents said they had found a rehab that they thought I would like. That rehab was called Narconon. This was in 2014. The thought of leaving the life that I had become so accustomed to scared me, but I also felt so worn out and tired. I was sick of surrendering my freewill to an inanimate object. I decided to go and try to get clean.
My dad drove me up there, and we said goodbye, and I love you. The withdrawal was rough. I suffered from sleep deprivation-induced psychosis due to my meth use, which lasted a few months. I honestly did thoroughly enjoy the Narconon program. It felt more impowering by far than any other program I had ever been to.
“Even years after I stopped using meth, I was still learning something from Narconon. Not just how to stay clean but how to stay happy and productive and help others to achieve the same.“
Even years after I stopped using meth, I was still learning something from Narconon. Not just how to stay clean but how to stay happy and productive and help others to achieve the same. Assisting people to get off drugs and alcohol is the most rewarding accomplishment I have achieved in life right up there with getting sober myself. Narconon taught me that I’m not helpless or worthless. That I have the power to make my life what I want it to be. I don’t know how to repay that, but it's not going to stop me from trying to every day.
C.W.—Narconon New Life Retreat Graduate
