DENISE I am a grateful recovering addict named Denise Jones. I was raised in Toledo, Ohio in a 2 parent household. I am #5 of 9 children. Growing up I was rebel- lious, I was always in trouble. A lot of the times I did not cause trouble. If one of us kids did something my father would not ask no questions, just whoop us all. My thinking was, I am going to get a whooping anyways, so I did what I wanted. When I became an adult I began smoking marijuana, I did not like the feeling,then I was introduced to crack-cocaine. I enjoyed the feeling, be- cause for those few minutes, in my mind, all my problems went away. I know now how silly that thinking was. The crack began to alter my mind. I could not take care of my patients any more, then I decided to stop and quickly real- ized I could not stop. This continued for a long time. When I realized I could not stop, I decided to come to Joshua Treatment Center for treatment and help stopping..I chose treatment in desperation.; While in treatment I learned a lot. Upon my completion of 30 days Residential treatment I chose to continue with out-patient treatment and sober living. I was so angry with myself even after 30 days in treatment. In sober living I continued to do what I wanted instead of following rules, directions and suggestions. When it came time for weekend passes, I could not go, I was on restriction. I received restrictions from passes, phone. Every time I went somewhere, I had to go with staff, so needless to say, many times I said “I am leaving” “I am a grown woman”. However, there was something about when the head man over the houses came and said to me” You
do one more thing, I do not care how much you cry, who you have called me,(to include the housing staff) I am going to kick your butt out of here.” It was right then right there, I realized and cried and made a decision to surrender. I began to get busy. I started making sober support calls (as requested )Obtained a sponsor and started to build my sober support system, chose a home group, got involved with doing service work. I got comfortable with being clean and sober. I love meetings and the Narcotics Anonymous fellowship. I got to as many sober functions as possible. I attend conventions, all over, I am GSR for my home group and I attend as many meetings as possible. I have recently moved into my own apartment and in a very short time I will be a license driver again. I have goals today, I know this works, so I stay in the process today and welcome change because I love the changes I have made in my life today.
AARON My name is Aaron Mays. I came to UMADAOP in November 2014 after struggling with drug addiction for over 40years. In that 40years I was incarcerated over 25 years. I was terrified of becom- ing institutionalized. I was in a 30 day program and was about to come home. I was terrified because I knew I was going to use again but didn’t want to. I went to a counselor and told her about my fear. She told me about the UMADAOP one year program. I didn’t want to go because it was a controlled environment which to me I was institutionalized. I’m glad I went because it was the best decision I ever made in my life. After graduation I was 53 years old. Now I am 62 living my best life. I have almost 9 years clean thanks to the UMADAOP program which saved my life. I continue to be a success story. I thank the program And will always have love and respect for UMADAOP. PS It would be an honor to come please send me time and place.
9
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online