“Struggling? Me Too.”

You’re Not Alone

With over 48 million people struggling with substance use disorders in the United States, culminating in over 250,000 annual deaths due to alcohol and drugs, we are in a crisis of epidemic proportions. And this crisis has names and faces.

Read their stories below.

Recovery Means Completely Transforming Your Life

STORIES OF TRANSFORMATION

Neck Brace, Rock Bottom, and Redemption

Drew hit rock bottom with a broken neck, a meth addiction, and prison time. But when he surrendered to God, everything changed. His story is a raw and powerful reminder that it’s never too late to start again.

Drew’s Story

I grew up in a bad neighborhood where I was jumped and bullied. To feel accepted, I hung out with an uncle who used meth regularly. Over time, I started sneaking it from him, and found myself addicted. No one in my family even noticed until I overdosed. My uncle still feels responsible.

In 2015, I broke my neck in a car accident. I couldn’t continue some of the things I was doing to get drugs, so started selling pain pills to buy meth. I think that was my lowest point, when I wasn’t willing to stop, even with a neck brace.

My family suffered throughout my use. They were afraid for me because I was stubborn and hot-headed and I used my hands to deal with situations instead of my head. Over time I realized that being in prison was basically cheating on my now ex-wife. I stole the time she should have had with me.

God says “I’m not a plea bargain, not a wishing well. But I will change you if you give yourself up to me.”

I was deep into drugs and stealing to keep up my habit, and for the last time, I was arrested. At first, I tried everything to get out of trouble and go back to my life. When I look back, I realize that God was saying, “I have a spot for you, they leave the light on all of the time, in the county jail.” Because I decided then and there that I was going to do my time. I sat in a jail cell for 27 months, doing time for every single day I had hanging over my head.

I did my time so that I could appreciate my freedom.

When I was finally transferred for a warrant out of state, the judge asked me what I would do if I was released that day. I told him honestly that I would go to Adult and Teen Challenge. He released me. And because I was finally a man of God, I followed through and showed up for treatment..

Emily’s battle with alcohol ended when faith gave her a new identity and hope.

Emily’s Story

My alcoholism began when I was about 23. I was in a relationship with a guy that drank every night, so I drank with him. Over time, he wanted to quit, and was able to quit cold turkey, but I couldn’t.
Instead, I often ended up drinking alone. Being drunk helped numb my depression and anxiety. I realize now that my problems stemmed from having no sense of my own identity. When I was younger I’d been a swimmer, and that role helped define my worth and my identity. When I was no longer a swimmer, it felt like I had no identity at all.

I tried AA, and that helped me stay sober for a week or two, but I really couldn’t stop drinking. I eventually got a DWI and was arrested; that was a low point for me. I had been on the phone with my dad when he realized I was driving drunk; he called the police to pick me up. I was resentful about that for a long time, but now, I realize how much his action helped me.
I woke up the next day, living a nightmare. I felt so ashamed, depressed, and anxious. I wanted to control the situation and hide my problem from everyone. Even though, I wanted help, I was never quite ready to quit and make a real change.

Somehow, my family convinced me to go to the short-term treatment program at Adult & Teen Challenge.

The morning I came into the program, I remember feeling that I wasn’t ready. My dad brought me to admissions, looked me in the eye, and told me he was so proud of me. I carried that look and statement from my dad with me through the whole program.

That’s what I imagine God is like; he says he’s proud of me.

When I was finally transferred for a warrant out of state, the judge. When COVID first hit, I was tested for the disease, certain my test would be negative. But it wasn’t. I had to quarantine and was in isolation for two weeks. I could have become depressed and angry; that’s what the old me would have done. But instead I realized that this period of isolation gave me time to focus and work on myself. The connections and sense of sisterhood I felt in the program were so helpful to my recovery. The pandemic actually slowed us all down and gave us more time to pour love and understanding into each other.

Addicted, ashamed, and broken—Albert found freedom when he finally surrendered to God’s love.

Albert’s Story

When I was young, things were pretty good until I was about 12, but then my parents’ fighting escalated dramatically. One night, they were fighting with guns and they shot each other. Neither of them was seriously injured, but I didn’t feel safe at home anymore. I started to hang out on the street, smoking cigarettes, drinking, and smoking weed.

I used drugs to have fun and to soothe me. It began as a weekend, binge-using thing.

Eventually, I started using cocaine. It’s the devil’s candy. Doing it gave me a momentary sense of control and power. There’s nothing good about it, and I knew it could kill me, but I didn’t care. I still did it.

The worst thing that I remember happening when I was under the influence took place when I was with my daughter. We were in the car, and she asked to see my gun. I was so high that I actually gave it to her, thinking it was unloaded. She pulled the trigger. The gun went off, and a bullet went right through the ceiling of the car. I did that. I was so out of it that I gave my daughter a loaded gun.

At some point, I just realized I was tired of being broke and broken.

I was tired of not being a good man and feeling so worthless, so I gave treatment a chance. When I first came into Adult and Teen Challenge, I didn’t like it, and I wasn’t planning to stay. But near the end of short-term treatment, something broke in me. Suddenly, I felt all my shame and anger just begin to lift, and I was finally able to submit to authority and to do what was being asked of me.

It was at this time that I started to believe in God.
Since coming to treatment, I’ve learned what peace feels like. I didn’t know before that I could feel peace in the smallest things, like just being present for my brothers in the program. I’ve been able to mentor some of the younger guys here and to let them know there truly is a better life ahead.

And, now that I’m not using, I’m able to see my kids and talk with them. My mind isn’t cloudy anymore; instead, I’m just calm and peaceful.

Trapped by addiction and abuse, Tamela lost everything—until God restored her hope and showed her true worth.

Tamela’s Story

I went to Concordia University and graduated with a teaching degree. I was married twice, but neither marriage lasted. After my 2nd divorce, I had lots of depression and anxiety. My issues really began when I started self-medicating with pot, wine, and cigarettes.

I fell in love with a man, and he introduced me to meth. I trusted him. And when I was hooked, the abuse started.

I didn’t realize I was addicted to drugs at first; it just felt like partying a lot. But we lost everything and ended up homeless, living in a van. Throughout my life, I have struggled with co-dependence; because of that, and because of my addiction to meth, I walked away from everything familiar to be with an abusive man that I barely knew.

By the grace of God, my mom and sister figured out where I was and found a way to rescue me from that horrible life. But once I was safe and back at home, I still felt lost and didn’t know what to do next. I still struggled with addiction. One day, my sister had a seemingly random conversation with someone who was in recovery. My sister came home and told me she knew what was next for me.

When I came into treatment, I was just a shell with low self-esteem and no joy in my soul. Now I have regained hope and see my value in Jesus. I have been loved upon and lifted up.

Haunted by pain and lost in addiction, Ismael found healing, purpose, and love through Christ.

Ismael’s Story

I was born in Mexico City. When I was 11, my dad brought us here to the United States. I was in heaven and loved everything about our new lives, but my dad hated it here. He felt lost without anyone knowing who or what he was, and decided to go back to Mexico City. My brother and I didn’t return to Mexico with my dad; instead, we went to live with my uncle, where we were both completely neglected. No one cared what I did or if I came home at night. I started hanging out with older guys and smoking weed. I started partying and drinking heavily, and ended up with alcohol poisoning when I was only 15.

I was so depressed in that life; I tried to take my own life more than once. I wondered why I wasn’t good enough for God to love me. I drank more and more to take away the pain. I hung out on the streets

At 17, while I was out one night, I was jumped and beaten; I ended up in a coma.

When I was discharged from the hospital, I was determined that nothing like that would ever happen to me again. I began physical training and, over time, came to believe that aggression and physical violence would keep me safe. That’s when I was introduced to cocaine – between cocaine and alcohol, I was just sliding through life.

When I was young, I wanted to be a doctor. Now I felt like a street doctor — I was “helping” people with drugs.

I spent the next few years selling drugs and trying to believe that I was a good man. I had money. I was strong. I had a family. I used drug money to buy my daughters everything they wanted, but I was never there for them. I pushed people away and never understood why. Eventually, I started to use meth. Like meth always does, it took over, and I lost everything.

When I came to treatment, it felt amazing. I had all this pain in my heart that was poisoning me, and I didn’t even know it. At first, I didn’t recall many of the traumatic things that had happened in my childhood, but when I started counseling, I was able to remember things and also process them. I had been pushing those memories down and using drugs to ignore the pain my whole life. Being here taught me how to accept love and how to deal with life in a healthy way. I’ve also learned that people love me no matter what. I don’t have to be perfect.

After years of chasing success and self-medicating with alcohol, Jeff hit a wall—but he found his true purpose in Christ.

Jeff’s Story

I started smoking marijuana and drinking when I was in high school. By the time I was 27, I considered myself a functioning addict. My addiction progressed to painkillers and eventually to heroin and meth.

I lost everything. The first time I went to prison was for stealing tools from my company.

From there, I tried five different inpatient treatments, six outpatient treatments, but I just couldn’t find a way to quit. After ending up in jail again, I finally decided to enter a long-term program. I told myself I didn’t want to be the same. I didn’t want to be a drug addict anymore.

At first, I was confused when I heard about having a “relationship with Jesus Christ” because I thought relationships were just with other people. Then, about three months into the program, I was in the chapel and worshiping to “He loves us.”

I felt the presence of God so strong I started crying. From that day on, I knew what it felt like to have a relationship with Jesus.

He broke the chains of my addiction. Now, when I wake up in the morning, I don’t have to fight to stay sober. This Christmas, I’ll be spending time with my family and my kids for the second year in a row.

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