My Recovery Story

 

I was originally born in Queens, New York, and raised in Atlanta, Georgia.

During my childhood, I was part of a family with strong values. Despite growing up in a fatherless home, I had a stable support system. My mother, a single parent, raised me, my three sisters, and my brother alone. I was a kid who loved being around people. I had big dreams of building a successful future for myself and my family.

Before drugs and alcohol, I was a normal kid with a clear path ahead of what I wanted to accomplish. I will never forget graduating from Tuskegee University. That day, I felt for the first time like I was seen, like I was capable of achieving something meaningful. That accomplishment stayed with me, even through my darkest times during my addiction.

But like many, I faced personal struggles. My journey with addiction began in my teens, starting with casual drinking, which then led to experimenting with marijuana at parties. At first, I considered it to be harmless. But over time, these substances took hold of me like nothing I had ever experienced before. It was my solution to help me escape my stress, pain, and insecurities. I was no longer able to live without it.

Addiction destroyed my focus, my long-term memory was shot, and my moral compass was non-existent. My family watched me right in front of their eyes spiral out of control, and though they wanted to help, I pushed them away.

In 2012, I moved to Los Angeles to “escape my addiction.” But instead, it only spiraled more out of control, and what I thought would never happen did. I hit rock bottom and got a DUI. This was a wake-up call.

My family rallied together to do an intervention to get my agreement to get into treatment. During my intervention, several family members encouraged and supported me to go. Through their persistence and care, I agreed to get help and started on the program at Narconon Colorado: A Life Worth Saving.

Although the staff were so kind, when I first arrived, I was terrified. I didn’t trust myself, and I didn’t think I could finish the program. But the staff—many of whom were Narconon graduates themselves—accepted me without judgment or preconceived ideas. They were so compassionate, and that was definitely a contributing factor to the program that gave me the confidence and courage to make it through.

“I started to see myself not as a failure but as someone capable of change. I no longer blamed others for what I had done. I learned to take responsibility for my actions. But most importantly, I was able to rebuild my relationship with God and my family. I understand how my choices affected those I loved.”

One of my biggest wins during the Narconon program was regaining my self-respect and integrity. I started to see myself not as a failure but as someone capable of change. I no longer blamed others for what I had done. I learned to take responsibility for my actions. But most importantly, I was able to rebuild my relationship with God and my family. I understand how my choices affected those I loved.

Graduating from the Narconon program was quite emotional, but I can tell you for the very first time in a long time, I felt proud of myself and what I had accomplished.

I am committed to giving back and helping others caught in the grip of addiction. I have plans to open a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility and save lives. I want to restore my relationship with my son, remarry, and complete my law degree. Eventually, I hope to write a book about my journey to sobriety.

Don’t wait to hit rock bottom. If you are currently struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Asking for help doesn’t mean you’re weak—it’s the first step toward recovery. You do matter, and you are worth saving. I encourage you to seek help.

—J.F., Narconon Graduate