- Drugs
Sandra H.’s Story
August 19th, 1981: I ran away from The Meridian Home for Girls in Royersford Pa to the streets of Fort Lauderdale, FL.
June 11th, 2011: I walked home…
I am Sandra Huffman, and I walked 786 out of 1300 miles, from Fort Lauderdale to Washington DC and then to Philadelphia, to Celebrate National Recovery Month and my being 5 years clean and sober. I sowed a trail of mustard seeds to cultivate messages of hope, healing and recovery to victims of addiction, abuse and homelessness. “Sandra’s Walk” began on June 11th, 2011 on the Fort Lauderdale beach. I arrived in Washington, D.C. in September to participate in DC-based Recovery Month activities and PRO-ACT’s Recovery Walks in Philadelphia and surrounding areas. And this is my story.
My substance issues started when I was a child. I was adopted at birth in 1966 by parents who had struggled with chemical dependencies, My stepfather was a doctor and had me on Ritalin and Donatol at the age of 7. I know I have been an addict since the age of 7, because I remember sneaking down to get more because I liked the feelings the medication gave me.
I was on the street as a teen and again as an adult late in my addiction. I struggled for over 30 years with substance abuse and the world that goes with it, and now at 44 I am going on 5 years clean and sober. I will be walking and talking about recovery at shelter and recovery centers all along my 1300 mile journey up the East Coast of the United States. How did I manage to beat the statistics and fully recover from nearly thirty years of multiple chemical dependencies? Long-term treatment and continual involvement are essential components of recovery.
I met Broward County Drug Court Judge Marcia Beach and Judge Gisele Pollack. They loved me until I could love myself. At the age of 38 I started going to jail and that is what saved my life. My first in-custody treatment during incarceration was only 30 days. This short time is inadequate in many cases. I was one of the many offenders who failed to fully detox during my initial 30-day treatment program, and I ended up back on the streets and back in jail. The second and third offenses resulted in a 90-day treatment program which saved my life. This particular program provided more comprehensive treatment which included classes, speakers, spiritual support and fellowship meetings. I felt supported and loved, and I finally developed the strength and stamina that I needed to continue my recovery.
“A mustard seed of hope was planted, I dove in with both feet and my whole heart…I could, I would recover. I knew it was going to be hard.”
Upon completion of the drug court program I admitted myself into a Christian halfway house. I went back to every public agency I ever misused in the past and regained their confidence in me. I successfully fought to reclaim custody of my children. I began advocating the importance of long-term treatment by helping to organize benefit concerts and walks. I spread my message in public forums and told my story on the radio and in newspapers. I publicly fought for the program that saved my life. I got involved and stayed involved. I was given a mustard seed 5 years ago, and now I have several. I choose to share these seeds with my brothers and sisters.
During my walk I visited institutions, homeless shelters and recovery centers where I spread the message of hope through public speaking engagements and participation in fellowship meetings. I proceeded to Royersford, PA to officially express my appreciation and support to the Meridian Home for Girls by meeting the girls now residing there. My dream is of opening a 3/4 sober living home for parents in recovery that have a minimum of 6 months sobriety. They will live with their children for one full year in a 12-step sober environment to continue recovery of the entire family.