- Alcohol
- Drugs
- Friends & Family
submitted by: Susanne Johnson
At age 16 John started to drink alcohol and shortly thereafter used cocaine. These are two drugs that are often used in combination, and John experienced how addictive and bad this combination can get. Self-destructive behaviors, profound problems in relationships and financial problems took over his life. John went to his first treatment program about ten years ago but only stayed clean and sober for approximately nine months before he relapsed and went back to his old life. He reintroduced drinking into his life first. Moderate drinking seemed to work for a while, but before he knew what happened, he was back into addiction again.
Today John is 40 years of age and is giving recovery another try. He knows he can’t continue living like he was and already has three weeks clean and sober in his current program. He has a job in human resources and could not get time off for inpatient treatment so opted for an outpatient program recommended by his therapist. He remembers his first treatment experience well and hopes that this outpatient experience will help him to get back into sobriety. His advice to those not yet in or new to recovery is, “Don’t do it for somebody else; do it for yourself.”
John’s family is very supportive but they could not make it to the Heroes in Recovery 6K run in Atlanta with him. He attended with a friend and enjoyed the run, as he tries to stay healthy and active. Breaking the stigma of addiction is a great cause he likes to support with his attendance. He feels ready for a life in recovery and looks forward to more activities and fun times.