Alyson’s road to recovery has been long and windy. She made a few stops along the way, occasionally turned around, ran out of gas and had to refuel. But no matter what obstacle she has battled, her daughter was her ultimate motivation. Getting her back from CPS and creating a healthy environment in which to raise Jenny was Alyson’s door to recovery.

Alyson grew up in a dysfunctional home, started hanging out with the wrong people, and dropped out of high school. She was diagnosed with depression in her early teens and much of her drug use was self-medication. At the age of 17, she was kicked out of her parents’ home and lived alone in an apartment, struggling to get by.

In 2003 her primary care physician referred to her CODAC to get help with her mental illness. She was told she had bipolar disorder but her erratic mood was actually due to a cycle of drug use and depression. Alyson didn’t expect her life to fall apart because she didn’t think her use was “that bad.” The truth was that Alyson used from morning until night. Even when she found out she was pregnant, she continued to use methamphetamine throughout her pregnancy. The father of her daughter was not around and for Alyson, the only way to make it through the evening was to use all night long. Alyson was evicted from an apartment after the authorities had come and soon CPS came to investigate. They took Alyson’s baby girl, Jenny, only about a year and a half old at the time.

Alyson began attending groups at CODAC’s Recovery Support Center and focused on getting her daughter back from CPS. She was doing well for about a month or so until she ran into an old friend, moved in with someone who was a dealer and a user, and quickly fell back into old habits. Eventually she reached a breaking point—the drugs were everywhere she looked, and she just couldn’t lead that lifestyle anymore. She called her CPS case manager and said, “I’m going crazy. I need help. I relapsed.”

Alyson’s next and final stop in the CODAC system of care was Las Amigas, a women’s residential rehab facility where she experienced a journey of recovery she now describes as the “greatest experience of [her] life.” She admits that going through treatment at Las Amigas was very difficult at first she doubted her ability to make it through the six month long treatment. Alyson used drugs the morning of her move into Las Amigas for the last time. She acknowledges the multi-faceted elements that went into her recovery at Las Amigas: Having support, learning to get along with other women, the root of addiction and where it stems from. She also learned more about herself and the deeper issues to her problems that she had never faced before.

“Completing the program at Las Amigas was amazing,” Alyson says. Being able to work and learn self-worth but also know that people cared and believed in her was essential to her success. Alyson has now been clean for 20 months!

Alyson’s advice is that “recovery is possible.” She tells her story to show others that she can empathize with them because she has been in their situation; that she has lost everything and had to struggle but that it is still possible to lead a fulfilling life as long as you never give up and keep hope. In her work as a Recovery Support Specialist, Alyson tries to emphasize others’ strong points and highlight their improvements.

Her life now is still a “daily struggle” but she has plans to return to school and get her degree. “All I want to do is help other men and women and show that’s it’s possible to accomplish anything [whether you struggle with] mental illness or substance use,” Alyson says. She currently works at a local detox facility and will to continue to work in the behavioral health field. 

 

 

 

 

Seeing Suzette A. today, you would never suspect she had been addicted to methamphetamine. Suzette has a steady job at a local social service agency as a parent aide, her daughter is starting kindergarten this fall, and Suzette hopes to get her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. Her desire is for “people on drugs to see [her] and realize that there is hope.”

April 22nd, 2006 was the last time Suzette “used.” She enrolled in CODAC’s Recovery Bridge program on May 3rd and CPS took Antoinette for 37 days. Suzette credits CODAC as being integral to her recovery.

Suzette’s greatest supporters at CODAC were Darlys Heydon and Mike St. Ores. “Darlys was the hard-ass.” Suzette says. “More like my Dad, Darlys knew which buttons to press to get me to confront the issue. Darlys helped me slow down and concentrate on recovery.” Heydon’s guidance helped Suzette to process issues she had with her dad which motivated much of her drug use. Mike St. Ores became a key resource in Suzette’s journey. St. Ores’ guidance and Heydon’s discipline were the “perfect combination,” she says.

Suzette is the co-leader of a 12 step program, part of a filmed project called The Breakthrough Series: a unique approach to substance abuse and recovery, and an active member of her church, the Victory Assembly of God. She is dedicated to taking care of her energetic six-year-old daughter and her pursuit to rebuild her marriage. No matter how busy she gets, she always remembers to “practice what you preach.”

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“Sobriety is the best thing that ever happened to me.”

3 years ago, Chris thought he would never say those words. Alcohol and cocaine were the words he uttered the most.
Chris started out as a social drinker and slowly it turned into a dangerous addiction. Eventually he found himself drinking and snorting cocaine everyday. “All I cared about was getting high” says Chris, now sober for over a year.
Many nights were spent sleepless unless he ran out of cocaine. Any money that found its way to his pocket was spent immediately on his drug of choice.

His sobriety was triggered by a life threatening auto accident that occurred while under the influence of alcohol. He was given his second DUI and sentenced to two months in jail, probation and drug rehab. While at CODAC he started to realize the mess he had made with his life, family, financial situation and his emotions. One step at a time he began cleaning things up and getting back on track with his goals and life. Chris now works for CAT and has a career ahead of him. Chris works hard everyday to stay sober and make the right choices. “I’m happy. I’m a good person now and I don’t miss the life I had.”

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In October of 2005 life changed dramatically for Pennie, a recovering meth user. Her life of sobriety began after an abrupt call to reality when her three children were removed from her custody by Child Protective Services. “It was one of the worst days of my life, I had hit rock bottom” says Pennie now ten months sober.

Pennie began using meth in 2003 when she was a working mom and raising three children on her own. She never had enough energy to clean her house or help her kids after she finished two or three shifts at the local convenient store. Meth gave her the added boost of energy she needed. Little did she know, this lifestyle would take her down a path of pain and difficult times for her and her children. In April of 2005 Pennie was arrested in front of her children for possession of meth. “My daughter still gets upset at the sight of a police car,” says Pennie as she recalls the day her children will never forget.

Pennie found herself at CODAC thanks to a friend also in recovery. Since October 31, 2005 Pennie has been sober and getting her life back with the help of CODAC’s Recovery Support Center. She attends group meetings, AA meetings and is doing her community service at the center. Finding a two bedroom apartment and taking parenting classes are the final things Pennie has to complete before being reunited with her children.

“Lot’s of good things are happening for me.” Pennie has gotten a part-time job and is creating a network of support from family and friends. She is looking forward to a life of recovery and a life of joy with her children, “My past is my past, I’m working on my future.”