Before: Ricky has only been in recovery now for six months. After years of substance use and many failed tries to get clean he feels like he will be finally going to succeed. It seems like substance use has been a part of his life, all his life. He started drinking when he was 15. Shortly after that, he began using methamphetamine. His whole family were gang members and into drugs. At 17 he got married and tried to settle down, but his drug use continued. He was working at a chicken plant and cooking meth at 17 and started doing crack with my wife. He was divorced at 22.
After: He decided to leave Mississippi where he was born and raised, and come to Houston to start a new life hopefully. After sleeping on a sidewalk, he came to the Sobering Center at the Houston Recovery Center. I was there for four days and met Eric Richardson. Eric and the entire staff at HRC were great. He really cared about me and cared about all their clients. I still see Eric every week, working with clients.
Today, I have put my old life behind me. I have a good job doing “intake” at Open Door Mission, hearing the stories of others’ lives like mine and learning from them. I’m proud of my success so far in becoming a better man and being there for my children. To others struggling with addiction, use his life as an example of success. You can recover. I read the bible, “giving it up to God” and pray – meditate on a new life.
Background: I have only been in recovery now for six months. After years of substance use and many failed tries to get clean I feel like I am finally going to succeed. It seems like substance use has been a part of my life, all my life. I started drinking when I was 15. Shortly after that, I began using methamphetamine. My brother “cooked” meth and my whole family were gang members and into drugs. At 17 I got married and tried to settle down, but my drug use continued. I was working at a chicken plant and cooking meth at 17 and started doing crack with my wife. She had a $ 250-a-day habit. I was divorced at 22.
I finally realized that I had to get out I have six kids. One was raped by his uncle, used as a sex mule, and finally kicked out of his house by his mother. My oldest daughter was raped by a 16-year-old. I have been in prison three times. I have Hepatitis C and liver disease. I finally realized that I had to get out, to get away from the gangs, the people, and the environment I was living in or I would be dead. To try and be there for my kids. I decided to leave Mississippi where I was born and raised, and come to Houston to start a new life hopefully.
Arriving in Houston and after sleeping on a sidewalk I came to the Sobering Center at the Houston Recovery Center. I was there for four days and met Eric Richardson. Eric and the entire staff at HRC were great. He really cared about me and cared about all their clients. I still see Eric every week, working with clients. I read the bible, “giving it up to God” and pray – meditating on my new life.
Today, I have put my old life behind me. A huge burden has been taken off my shoulders. I read the bible, “giving it up to God” and pray – meditating on my new life. I have a good job doing “intake” at Open Door Mission, hearing the stories of others’ lives like mine and learning from them. I am surrounded and supported by good people. I am going to be successful this time. I’m proud of my success so far in becoming a better man and being there for my children.
To others struggling with addiction, believe there is more to life than alcohol and drugs. You can use my life as an example of success. I’m so grateful. You can recover and find support. A facility like Houston Recovery Center can help. They are compassionate, understanding and really care. Believe there is more to life than alcohol and drugs.