Hi, my name is Jen and I am an addict. My clean date is January 19, 2019, and it is the most
important day in my life. It is my single greatest accomplishment, after my amazing 15 year old
daughter. I finally went to treatment in January of 2019 after years and years of active addiction
and all that comes along with it (jails, institutions and death). My active addiction included many
things I am not proud of (loss of job, loss of custody of my daughter, homelessness, arrests, and
multiple overdoses to name a few). But, today I am in recovery from my disease (one day at a
time) and I want to share the hope I have with other people who suffered for too long like I did. I
am clean today, I am employed today, I have custody of my daughter again and I am alive
today. For all of these things, I am extremely grateful. I believe any addict can stop using, lose
the desire to use and find a new way to live. I struggled for years in active addiction. I just could
not get clean, and I did not want to. I wanted to keep living the way I was living, as miserable as
it was—because I didn’t know there was another way. Thankfully, after many consequences
and some intervention from my mother (through my higher power), I went to long-term
treatment. I needed to be separated from my drug of choice long enough for the obsession to be
lifted. After that happened, I was able to open my mind and find a new way to live through the
program of Narcotics Anonymous. I am so grateful to be clean today. I am so grateful my
mother never gave up on me, even though I gave her many reasons to. I am grateful to be a
mom today, and be present in my daughter’s life. And, I am grateful that I got the opportunity to
go back to school and pursue my dreams in the social work field. I was taught that as long as I
stay clean and work a program (meetings, step work, service, sponsorship etc.), anything is
possible. Addiction is a family disease, so my family suffered along with me. I hurt my
daughter, my mother and all those family members who loved me unconditionally. Thankfully, I
have an amazing relationship with my daughter today, and with the rest of my family. My mom
attends a weekly support group for families of addicts, and it helps her tremendously. My family
is proud of me again. I was a third grade teacher for 13 years, before I lost that job due to my
addiction (you can’t pawn the students iPads for drug money and keep your job!). Now, I work in
a treatment center helping other struggling addicts find the gift of recovery. I wouldn’t have all of
these gifts (and the most important gift—freedom from active addiction), if I wasn’t a member of
Narcotics Anonymous. I love Narcotics Anonymous—it truly has changed my life. Today, I live
a life of recovery. I go to meetings, I have a home group, have a sponsor, I sponsor other
women, I do step work (just finished step 12) and I am of service to others. Today, I live a life
guide by spiritual principles. I try and share the hope with other recovering addicts that they too
can stay clean and find a new way to live—just like I did! Lost dreams awaken, and new
possibilities arise when we stay clean. Change is possible, with some honesty, open-
mindedness and willingness. We do recover!