- Drugs
- Friends & Family
Submitted by: Bo Brown
My name is Scarlett H. and I am a recovering addict. I come from a long line of alcoholics. I was born to teenage parents and raised by my grandparents. At an early age, I thought if only I was good enough or pretty enough, then my parents would want me.
It wasn’t until I was twelve years old that I moved back in with my mom. Mom worked long hours to take care of me and I did not get enough attention from her. This left me with a lot of freedom during my teenage years.
My addiction did not really begin until at the age of seventeen. At that time, I found out that I was pregnant and had an abortion. That is when the drinking and drugs started.
My addiction ran the gamut of extremes from alcohol to meth. In the beginning, I tried to keep it hidden and I was able to for a while. I was a functioning addict. I had kids and was working two jobs and trying to be the typical soccer mom. But, in reality, one of the jobs I had was just to support my growing habit. This continued for six years.
In 2012, my meth habit grew and I had my kids taken away. By that time, I had been arrested 14 times. My last arrest was June 1, 2016. I was tired, broken, homeless, and weighed a mere 100 pounds. My pain had become greater than my will to live. At that time, I found out that my oldest daughter was pregnant and something snapped. I knew I had to change.
Since June 1, 2016, I have been in a transitional recovery home for women. I participate in three 12-step recovery classes a week, work a full-time job, and work on rebuilding relationships with my family. When the year-long program is completed, I will get my children back. This program has truly been a blessing in my life. Since I have been in recovery, my mom and my dad have found recovery also.
If I could give one piece of advice to those struggling with addiction, I would say take it one step at a time. You have got to learn from your mistakes and there is always something better out there!