- Drugs
- Mental Health
I am 17 years old, and currently in rehab. I live in Mobile, Alabama and I have an addiction to drugs. Everyone says weed isn’t a gateway drug but it was for me. First time I tried it, I thought I needed it non-stop. After a while I got sick of the same high and turned to other drugs. From there, it went downhill.
Once I took my first pill, I loved it. I started with meth and got hooked. Then came the Joe. I would do anything for it—rob, steal, hurt the ones I loved. I got so bad, that I would steal bikes and take them to the Joe man.
The first time I got locked up, they sent me to rehab. It was hell. Coming off the drugs was harder than doing them. While in rehab, I was swearing I would quit. It was easier said than done. I got out and did well for a while, but was soon back in the same footsteps.
This time I was on the drugs harder. I turned to a junkie. Just staying clean was the hardest task I faced. It’s not easy. It got to the point I was sick of it. People might say I’m too young to be addicted, but you are never too young. Once it’s in your life it’s tough to leave it.
I kept doing the same things—that’s what got me in rehab again, this time for a longer stay. Doing drugs isn’t worth getting taken away from your family, but addiction is a serious thing. So I’m here now trying to start a new mind set for when I get out. Today marks 146 days sober. Not much longer and I will be in the “real world” with the drugs. It ain’t gonna be easy. But we will see how strong I really am.