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From hardcore drug addiction to clean and sober, these people have made some amazing recoveries.
I am 1.5 years sober from meth and have never felt more fulfilled and happier in life. I found myself after having lost myself for so long.
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Today I’m 6 months clean and I couldn’t be more grateful. Last November I woke up in the hospital after finding out I had endocarditis from using heroin and meth. The Doctors couldn’t believe I was still holding on. I wasn’t supposed to make it. By the grace of God I was given a second chance. After two months of being in the hospital I got to leave healthy with a new outlook on life.
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As of today, I am 4 years clean from drugs. I have a career, a house, a dog, and a fiance. It was a struggle but it was definitely worth it. Stay strong!
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The picture on the left is me at 22 years old, already in my first methadone clinic. While on a cocktail of that, pills, and whiskey, discovered a windshield with my face. 15 years of alcohol and drugs. In the end, I was homeless, a thief, derelict, degrading myself, not bathing or taking care of simple hygiene. I felt hopeless and would pray to God to die in my sleep every night.
To avoid prison, I went to yet another rehab. This time I was so tired I listened. This time I tried the suggestions. I didn’t believe any of it would work for me, but I didn’t want to use anymore. I found a spark of hope, and eventually recovery. This isn’t about willpower, weakness, or bad judgment.
This is the disease of addiction. The picture on the right is me today at 45 years old. I own a home, a car, have a family, friends, a great job, and most importantly – peace. I’m proud of the person I am today, and I never thought I’d say that. I didn’t think I’d live to see 30. I post this to hopefully give hope to anyone that struggles with addiction. There IS life on the other side. There IS hope. If a junkie like me can do it, anyone can. I don’t do this alone. Support is imperative, and not using dope no matter what happens.
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7 months alcohol and heroin free
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Sober 20 years next month. This is me in dec 1995. This is me in dec 2017. I overcame addiction, homelessness, and a history of incarceration.
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I’m 30-years-old. I have been battling addiction since I started steroids when I was 19-years-old. I was in prison for 14 months in the state of Ceara in Brazil. I was raised by a fantastic family and there were no signs of this upcoming battle while growing up.
I developed an addiction while competing in bodybuilding. Steriods, amphetamine, and cocaine. Last year I was smoking crack on a daily basis. I was the arrogant know-it-all type and I was quite angry, for what reason, I still don’t know. But, the emptiness inside was always there until I went to rehab on 5/27/19. Today, I am 78 days sober. I’m humble, because I set my pride aside and asked for help. It saved my life.
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8 months ago I overdosed and almost lost my life. The doctor said he didn’t know how I survived. I was in the ICU for 10 days and my face was partially paralyzed. I got out of the hospital and immediately started using again. Broken and beaten I eventually sought professional help, and after that I moved into a sober living. Today, I am 84 days sober.
My face healed and my life has changed in so many ways. The journey hasn’t been perfect, but it definitely has been worth it. Show this picture to your family and friends. This is the end result of drugs. I am one of the lucky ones.
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Happy 13 years sober to me. 19 years old. I thought I was the most amazing person. I weighed about 100 pounds. I was a dick. I stole from my friends for drugs. I stole from my family for drugs. I lied. Cheated. Hurt very good people. I had no one left besides my step dad when I quit. No one believed me anymore.
It was a very hard time. It’s been ten years and I am ready to leave the past, in the past. I am not an ex-addict. I am not in recovery. This fall I will walk up on stage and collect my BS in accountancy. I have accomplished so much from that person I was 13 years ago. I am a whole, strong, and amazing person and I am damn proud of myself.
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For most of my life I struggled with addiction. Today, I am 2 years and 6 months sober off meth and pills. In recovery I got my driver’s license back after 18 years. I am working full time, and next week I start college to become a drug counselor. Recovery is possible.
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The picture on the left is when I overdosed from shooting fentanyl. I had a heart attack in an Applebee’s bathroom. I spent six weeks in the hospital after that. Two weeks in a coma, two weeks learning how to walk again, and two weeks in the psych ward because of how suicidal I was. I’m ashamed to admit it, but I still used again after that.
One day I just couldn’t take it anymore. I called a friend who I knew was sober and told him I was willing to do ANYTHING. My friend took me through the 12 steps and I changed my life. For anyone out there who is hopeless, look at me. On August 9th I celebrated one year clean.
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What 5 years clean from heroin looks like.
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It started with pills, mainly percocet when I was 21. I was really sick one day and a friend gave me heroin. I started shooting it at 24. I tried meth for the first time at 25. I was shooting them both in no time. Over the next 3 years I overdosed 8 times. If I wasn’t homeless, I was living at a trap house with no electricity or running water with a 61-year-old man who was on disability and sold meth.
In and out of jail constantly for possession, identity theft etc. I used needles I found in the bottom of a shopping cart full of trash. I didn’t care. I was 100 lbs. I hated myself and I truly wanted to die. I went to prison. I did 15 1/2 months on 18. I got clean. I’m 30-years-old now, I’ve been clean for 2 years and 8 months, and I have a 6,5-month-old baby girl, and a great fiance. Finally, as I lay here breastfeeding my beautiful baby I can say I love myself and I enjoy life now without heroin or meth
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Six years clean
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I was one of those addicts that nobody believed would get clean. It’s beyond me that I am sitting here today, laying out at a pool mind you, with a YEAR! A year without a sip, a hit, a pill, a puff, nothing. Absolutely nothing. To be honest, I didn’t think I could do it, the amount of times I’ve been done or scared out of my mind… but I’ve stayed clean knowing nothing will get better if I picked up. Through the support of so many, my program, and my spiritual practice I am here. The photos show a glimpse of the journey. Of the pain, to the joy I get to experience today.
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Hello, my name is Cory. I struggled with my addiction to crystal meth for almost 15 years. In 2014 I was diagnosed with stage 2 rectal cancer. I survived that and then jumped back into the addiction that caused me to lose my wife, my stepdaughter, my son, my job, my self-respect and my dignity. During this time I fell deep into my addiction and started a life of crime.
It all eventually caught up with me, but the court system decided to give me a second chance and placed me in drug court. This program completely changed my life. Since I started the program in May of 2018 I have become clean and sober. I was encouraged to go back to school, and am now 2 semesters away from receiving my Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts.
I am a full-time cook today. I have full custody of my son now. I have completed drug court. This program saved my life and my son’s life. I owe everything to the program that held me accountable when I couldn’t. A lot can happen in a year when your clean and living right!
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I have been in recovery for a year and a half. This was what I looked like, daily, for years. This is what my husband dealt with. This is what my little girls walked in on. This is what my family and friends saw, on the rare occasions I left the house. I was SICK. I was DYING. I was so far gone I thought I could NEVER recover. I was so lost I couldn’t imagine a life without using. I just wanted to die. I didn’t realize I was hardly alive
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The mug shot was my lowest point; living on the streets using heroin and meth daily. It was on May 3, 2018 that I was arrested and pulled out of my addiction. Recovery not only feels good, but looks good
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Clean off heroin for 18 months. The most important things to me are having sober people around me as support, the 12 step program and a higher power. Those 3 things have been my key to success.
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My wife and I when we were in active addiction, vs. Us in april 2017. We now both have over five years clean from drugs and alcohol and we have a 3 year old girl. Life has been challenging but compared to our old lives, we are quite literally living a dream.
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During addiction vs being sober. 1 year 2 months and 25 days clean!
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He was drug-addicted and found sobriety in 2011. No he has founded this nonprofit which seeks to help people that are just like he was.
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My main drugs were heroin and meth. I got arrested one night in September 2012 and that night my world came crashing down while at the same time opening up. I fell to my knees that night alone and broken and in that time a peace and truth rushed into my life that gave me a path to find sobriety for good a few months later.
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22 months clean from meth and xanax and all other drugs I was prisoner to.
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18 months
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I spent 22 years abusing drugs, alcohol & most of all myself. I overdosed on heroin and on crack several times. I finally had enough of chasing a high that never got me high enough or lasted long enough.
I realize now I was running from myself and my emotions all along. I got clean on may 10th, 2018. Because of my higher power and na I am alive, healthy and full of gratitude and hope today.
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One year sober! Started with cocaine, then oxys, then I got put on suboxone, and stayed on it for 8 years. Before I went to treatment I was on 16mg of suboxone, 4my of xanax, 60mg IR adderall, and 20mg of ambien. I was also going as much cocaine as I could, along with the occasional mdma and lsd.
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My name is Alana. My clean date is 04/05/18. I spent over 10 years in active addiction. I spent the last 4 years in and out of rehabs, detox centers, halfway houses, and jail. I lost two marriages due to my addiction. I ruined all of my relationships. I ended up losing my children. I lost my home and all my material possessions. Everything I loved or valued meant nothing when it was a choice between them or the drugs.
I ended up homeless with a needle in my arm and not a penny to my name – doing whatever it took to get one more. I was looking at time in prison and still couldn’t stop using heroin and meth. I got sepsis and almost died, then got high the next day. I was hopeless and just wished I would die.
16 months ago, I checked myself into rehab for the forth time. I was tired, hungry, and had no place to go. Nobody wanted me around. I reached out for help. Life can be so beautiful. Today I am a mother. I have a job that can count on me to show up. I am sober and I am never looking back
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Here’s my before and after. Next month will be my 3 years clean from crystal meth.
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I was a drug addict for years… I’m not anymore!
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Before I quit using drugs vs. 4 years clean! Any type of upper, whether it be coke, MDMA, or methamphetamine. I’m ashamed to admit it, but it is what it is. My entire life changed! I spent 14 months in an in-patient rehab. After completing the program I became employed and was rapidly promoted. Prior to getting clean, I wouldn’t even stay at a job for more than a few months.
My work ethic is top notch, I have an amazing relationship with my family, I actually have money, I’m able to make payments for my vehicle and rent, and most importantly I learned a lot about myself and grew exponentially as a person. These are all things I couldn’t grasp and take hold of before. I also must add that I have learned to love myself. I’m proud of who I am, and for the first time in my life I’m okay with who I am. That’s the biggest thing that changed.
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