- Alcohol
- Drugs
My name is Paul A. I have been an alcoholic and a meth addict for 31 years. I was raised in a broken home and cannot graphically tell you what I have been through as a child as I am afraid it may trigger those new to recovery. So let me just say no child should go through what I went through as a child.
I began drinking at 9 years old and ran away from home at 12 years of age. I began the drug scene early and got involved with gangs and drugs at the age of twelve. I have been to juvenile hall a few times and have been locked up more time than I can count. I have also been to psych wards a few times and over 30 sober living homes. I have been to numerous inpatient and outpatient rehabs and my life was hell here on earth. I experienced the loss of three wives due to my addiction and left children with broken hearts along the way.
My recovery began to take its roots at the age of 42. I was looking at a long time in prison for multiple felonies and I was tired of my life. God intervened only because I asked him to. My life of recovery became the most important thing to me. It had to be, because I was going to die out there or live the rest of my life locked up.
I work my butt off for what I have today. I went back to school, got my high school diploma at the age of 43 and began taking classes to be a substance abuse counselor. I have taken the 12 steps in three different programs. I have sponsored hundreds of men and have played a part in the recovery of more people than I could ever count. Let’s just say that is my life today.
I now have two nationwide certifications in substance abuse counseling and two Christian certifications in substance abuse counseling and 156 units in Christian ministry and a state recovery mentor certification as well. I can’t even begin to tell you all God has allowed me to do in my recovery because there is so much. I have started ministries in two different churches and play on the worship team as well for many, many years now. I also work with troubled teens.
It is a gift that God has given me to work with the broken. In all my wildest dreams I never thought I would be where I am today: a dad, a counselor and a child of God. I have even been so blessed to be able to teach Sunday service multiple times. The dreams just keep coming true as I work hard every day to give something for God to bless me with. I have recently even wrote a book called: Breaking Chains, Hope for Addicts and Their Families that went to number five on Amazon’s best seller list. Today my book has even gone to number one on Kindle in five separate categories. This is a powerful book and a dream that has taken me years to write and I know in my heart it will bless many families as it was not only written for the addict but for the loved ones of the addict as well. I am about to release another book in a few months as well called Breaking Chains, Chronicles of a Meth Addict.
The key to my recovery is continuously working on my recovery just like I worked hard on trying to stay high in the past. It is a 24-hour a day job. I give God all the honor, glory and praise for my life’s work because without him none of this would be possible.
If you are reading this and you are thinking “I want that”, then you may be willing to go to any lengths to get it. Work for it and God will bless you. Recovery is a journey… a journey to freedom from drugs and alcohol. I love my life today and helping others along the way. If you are reading this and would like to speak with me please find me on Facebook. Just type “Breaking Chains: Chronicles of a Meth Addict” in the search bar and it will take you to my page. It doesn’t matter to me if you are an addict or the loved one of an addict, I would love to talk with you or answer questions. I am NEVER too busy and will take the hand of anyone reaching out to me.
May God keep you and bless you.