Macon County Stories

Susie

I have used different drugs recreationally since I was 16. It wasn’t until I was 24 years old when I developed a specific problem with opiates. I tore my meniscus, and my doctor prescribed me Hydrocodone continuously for over a year before I ended up breaking my leg pretty badly at work and was switched to an excessively high dose of Percocet. At that point, I had already developed a dependency and was going through an emotionally and physically abusive relationship at the same time. We both exhibited toxic behaviors, and our world revolved around making sure we didn’t have any withdrawals. It was to the point if I didn’t have at least 10-20 pills a day I would start exhibiting withdrawal symptoms. My prescription never lasted more than a few days each month which meant we were constantly searching the streets for them and eventually spending every dime we had on them.

I was so desperate to stop using the pain medications I went through a detox program for six days. Unfortunately, within a week of being discharged I was back to square one. Meth was regularly introduced to me as a way to stop using the pain medications, but I always refused until I became so desperate I decided to try it. While meth helped me to stop taking prescription pain medication, it created a whole new problem. I was essentially trading one for the other. After just six months, I started using an IV. From that point forward I used meth in intermittent ways (smoking, snorting, shooting) until I became a full-fledged IV user during the last six months of my active addiction.

With active warrants, I was in such deep despair and missed my children. After my car was stolen, I lost my apartment and everything I owned. I attempted to overdose and when that didn’t work I realized I didn’t want to actually die. I wanted the life I was living to die. I wanted a whole new life. I called treatment centers and narrowed my choices down to one, The Next Door in Nashville. They have an amazing program that essentially helped save my life!

After I graduated treatment, I turned myself into the authorities to serve nearly four months of my sentence. Once released, I returned to work and brought my babies home. I am now an accountant, own a car and have my own apartment. My passion is to now help others overcome addiction. I am approaching my first year of sobriety, and I don’t have enough words to describe how incredibly grateful I am that God and recovery gave me a second chance at life. My children now have the mom they deserved all along.