Addiction is what got me where I am today.
I am addicted to alcohol and have been for the last five years. I have been through a lot to end up here, but I like to think of it as not the end, but rather just the beginning.
Let me tell you how I got here.
I was born and raised in Reno. My mom raised me on her own and I grew up believing every other kid had a mommy that drinks beer all the time. When I was 12 years old, I decided to try alcohol and I was addicted by the time I was 15 years old. I dropped out of high school and became a prostitute by the age of 17.
Addiction had complete control of my life and I felt hopeless.
I was missing out on high school — the prom, football games and graduation. I was living life in the fast lane, driving on the wrong side of the road with no hands on the wheel.
My life was out of control.
When I found out I was pregnant with my daughter, I decided to turn my life around. I stopped drinking and prostituting. I had my daughter when I was 19, but six months after I had her, I started drinking again. Within four months, I lost my job, apartment and my daughter and I had to stay in a homeless shelter. Shortly thereafter, I was arrested for prostitution and I lost my daughter to Child Protective Services because of my addiction.
At that point, I realized I needed to change and that I needed help to do so. I heard about STEP2 and that they offered treatment for women and a chance to get my daughter back.
I have never had so much support in my life. I have learned the tools to help me in my recovery, I have reached my goal of staying sober and I have reunified with my daughter.
I could never thank STEP2 enough for the life they have given me.
They have shown me that I am worth it and to work hard so that my daughter doesn’t have to live with an alcoholic mother like I did.
