- Drugs
- Faith
Like so many others Denise inherited a family history of addiction. Her sister and all of her uncles use. Denise started using in high school, eventually winding up in and out of jail. She even gave birth in jail and missed her father’s funeral due to her drug use. She knew she had a problem, but she wasn’t ready to make a change. She saw drug court as a way to get out of jail, but, now nine months sober, she knows it was the best thing for her.
She had to learn to trust and put faith in the system that had locked her up multiple times. It took some time, but eventually she began to open up. This small-town girl saw the opportunities available in a big city, and adjusted to the bus and the different types of people in an urban area. She even has a job. She hopes her next step will mean an apartment of her own and being reunited with her son, but whatever the future holds she’s already come so far. Her attitude is so different from what it was a year ago. Instead of just giving up she keeps going. Some days the lessons are as simple as learning to accept a compliment. It’s hard, but Denise is beginning to believe in herself. While it may have seemed easier to remain in her addiction, she knows that all her hard work is paying off.
“I didn’t think I could do it on my own,” she recalls. “Somewhere along the line I changed my mind.”
Of course she’s not on her own. She has a whole community behind her, offering support and encouragement.