“I have the same story that most addicts do as far as a rough childhood, so I’ll skip all of that. What really started my downfall was a toxic relationship. Neither of us was healthy, and we were especially not healthy for each other. Things went downhill fast the last couple of years we were together, and the marriage ended in a nasty divorce. I was naive in thinking that we would be able to handle it like adults. We had caused each other a lot of pain, and the legal battle was long and hard. Since he had more money and thus more power in the courtroom, I ended up losing custody of the children. That was my breaking point. I completely lost all sense of who I was. A friend turned me on to crystal meth, and at first it killed the pain of what I was going through, but things quickly turned dark. Within a year and four months I had lost everything. I found myself arrested and in jail for the first time ever in my 37 years. I could not believe what had happened to me. My parents didn't raise me this way. It was completely mind-blowing. Thankfully, Judge Dwyer allowed me into the Shelby County Drug Court program. I attended over 150 hours of intensive out-patient treatment, went to three NA meetings a week, called in three times a day, submitted to random bi-weekly drug tests, and met with the judge thirty-eight times. A year and a half after I began the program, I graduated with special recognition. Even though I had finished high school a year ahead of schedule (making only one “B” the entire time) and attended the University of Memphis, I hold my graduation from the drug program as one of my biggest accomplishments. For the year and four months that I was on crystal meth, I gave up on myself and allowed the drug to take over. Thankfully, my higher power had other plans for me. Today I am almost 2 years clean of one of the most addictive substances out there. I have regained my position at work and in my career. I have also worked very hard at being a good mother again. My ex-husband and I split our time now with the children; they are the major reason I’m still here. Being a good role model for them is what I strive for every day. I am one of the lucky ones. I got out before too much damage was done. I can’t imagine not having my parents, friends, work family, and my whole support network to help me on this journey. They encourage me in so many ways and remind me never to give up on myself again.”
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