- Drugs
- Friends & Family
Submitted by: Susanne Johnson
I have been on my recovery journey for just over one year. My use of substances started at the age of 13 with the consumption of weed and progressed from there. I hit my personal bottom when I went to jail. I lost all trust of my family and finally understood how much I hurt them in the past. I feel lucky and blessed that I got a second chance whenI was in jail and got admitted to a treatment facility.
My biggest struggle in my recovery circled around my old friends who all continued using drugs and drinking. It dangerous for my newfound sobriety to be among them, and I have learned quickly that I have to change a lot about my life. It is not done with just stopping drug use. In order to maintain my sobriety, I have to do a lot more– and part of that was to stay away from all my old friends and instead spend time with my new buddies in recovery. It was hard at first to accept that I had a problem, but now that I’m okay with it, I have peace in sobriety.
I would like to tell people that have not tried to get sober that it is possible. Recovery works, and the fellowship of my new friends has helped me achieve what I have today. I attend a 12-step meeting every day and the program works. Now, I’m very proud that I don’t have to use drugs anymore. Substance use just stopped me from focusing on other goals and dreams.
I’m 23 years old now and finally see a good future ahead of me. I have choices today and opportunities to live a nice life. Finally after some time of sobriety, I got my family back. They trust me again and it is my goal to keep this trust alive.
Don’t give up if it is hard at the beginning. Work the program and put the efforts in you need to reach recovery. I’m happy I chose this path for me.