Day Job:
Judicial consultant/gang expert

What I lost to addiction:
My addiction not only cost me my freedom, it prevented me from having healthy relationships with others. I lost countless Christmases and birthdays without my family. I think my mother suffered way more than I did because she just didn’t understand how I could stick needles in my veins and constantly be in and out of prison. The good thing is that she did see me recover. The smile on her face when I would visit her is engraved in my mind to this day.

What worked for me:
I started my recovery in a 90-day residential treatment center with 12 months of after care. I began attending AA meetings on a daily basis because I wanted to learn how to live within the mainstream. I hung out with members of AA whom I thought were following the principles behind the 12 Steps. I prayed daily for myself and for others who were suffering more than I was.

I involved myself in positive extracurricular activities such as going to the movies with friends in recovery. I played my guitar to unwind and I enrolled in college. But it was the foundation I developed through AA that led me to God, which made it easier to unravel all the garbage I created in my life.

Rules I live by:
I am a member of the “no matter what club” which means I do not drink or use no matter what happens. I do not associate with people who are actively involved in using/drinking or criminal activity. I hang out with winners.

I write constantly and am raising three grand boys’ (whom I have adopted and am raising alone) ages six, three, and two. I work daily at being the best role-model I can be for them.

Best advice for newbies:
Write everyday if you can. Write about your past, about your day and what you plan for your future. You should also have a friend you can talk to about anything without being judged.

What I value most in recovery:
My freedom and my ability to wake up every morning without being sick and without desperation. I always keep in mind that I was one of the lucky ones to have overcome such terrible odds of ever recovering.

Stigma I faced:
My stigma was not necessarily connected to my addiction but to my incarcerations, which were a result of my addiction.

What I learned about myself:
I’ve learned that although I became a monster, I was not a terrible person. I am a loving, caring and loyal person capable of having feelings like anyone else.

Proudest moment:
Obtaining my doctorate degree

SHED THE STIGMA:
If you’re a person in long-term recovery who wants to share your insights, please contact us at [email protected].