Tucson mother overcomes drug use.
By: Jamie
My dad died 31 years
ago when I was 14. I was mentally and physically abused as a kid, and
that sticks with you. So, his death just spun me. That’s where
everything started. I used meth and alcohol to numb the pain.
When I think back to
then, there is no happiness to it. It’s pure misery and hell.
At one point, my two
boys and I lived in our car for three months. They would shower at
friends’ houses. I would wake up shaky from alcohol and wait until
the store opened at 6 a.m. so I could buy a drink just to be able to
get the kids off to school. That’s when I hit bottom. You get tired
of chasing that high and it wasn’t fair to my kids. I decided I
wasn’t going to use anymore. I was tired of hurting and hurting my
kids and significant other.
Now I’ve been
sober for more than ten years.
When I think back to
where I was and where I am now, I get choked up, especially because
my kids constantly tell me how proud they are of me.
When I talk to
someone struggling with addiction, I assure them they are not alone.
They can find compassionate and nonjudgmental support at CODAC, with
staff who know, from personal experience, what it is like to overcome
addiction. And CODAC has many groups where you can get encouragement
from other people who are in your situation now.
I truly know what
it’s like to be a recovering addict who’s been to the bottom. And
I am living proof that you can get your life back. There were times
when I wasn’t so sure I would make it, but I did.
The help is here if
you want it.
We believe in you
and can help you every step of the way.
Drug &
alcohol treatment
No judgment
We believe in you
Walk-in or Call 24/7
380 E. Ft. Lowell
This article appears in Aug 4-10, 2022.
