The Ups and Downs of Addiction

There are many roads to the top in life. And though the path through drug addiction will get users high, it by no means provides a route to the top. A path dominated by substance abuse can bring people to incredible, and sometimes unbelievable, lows.

Sometimes, the path through addiction can be difficult to imagine, so we compiled 10 confessions from former drug addicts who bravely chose to share their stories on the Internet. We charted each journey on a timeline to show the downward trajectory of drug addiction: the highs, the lows, the stealing, the lying, the lost possessions, and the lost families; all of this in the name of the next fix. These are stories of addicts — by addicts.

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Addiction Trends

When looking at the data, we noticed a couple trends. One of two things tended to spur people down the path to addiction: For one, alcohol was often a gateway to doing the harder drugs like cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, painkillers, etc. Though marijuana is often referred to as “the gateway drug,” marijuana only appears in three of the 10 stories we analyzed. Only once, in Felicia’s story, did we see marijuana as the sole gateway. In both Huggie and Jordan’s stories, marijuana was a gateway in tandem with alcohol. Secondly, relationships with drug users could also serve as gateways to addiction, as we saw in the case of Geneva, Laurie, and Juli.

Though the road through addiction rarely ends pretty, positive endings aren’t just for the movies. With the help of rehabilitation facility and support groups, many of these stories featured happy endings.

David’s path was perhaps the largest fall from grace before his rebirth. He started out as a successful graduate student at Johns Hopkins University. He had everything going for him, including published works in respected journals and speaking engagements in foreign countries. But his addiction and an untimely arrest ultimately cost him his career, sending him into a downward spiral that, he wrote, included 35 overdoses on prescription drugs over the course of nine years. However, once he went through rehab, he came out clean, re-enrolled in school, and rededicated himself to his postgraduate education. He completed his doctorate, and he is now working to publish a book on his experience with addiction in addition to working as an advocate for drug addicts.

Jordan’s catalyst for addiction was a relationship with a heroin user. Though she previously swore she’d never do it, heroin addiction consumed her life, leading her to bounce from one home to another, stealing from loved ones, and even living with a significantly older man as she chased her daily fix. Detox and rehab helped get her away from heroin, but a second chance from her father, who had previously kicked her out of the house, brought her back to sobriety.

Ryan, whose story takes him through what he describes in his own words as the “hell” of OxyContin addiction, found his gateway into addiction in the form of alcohol. After his alcohol abuse got out of control, he kicked the habit — and replaced it with pills. However, after a stint in rehab, he found a new purpose as a life coach, husband, and father.

For Amy, the road to recovery was a long, winding one. It took her two recoveries, two suicide attempts, and a journey through two different addictions — methamphetamine and alcohol — to get back on her feet and back to sobriety.

For Huggie, his path through crack addiction took him to the lowest of lows as he found himself doing anything short of prostitution for crack. After wandering the streets, homeless, and later landing in prison, he was able to find the strength to kick his habit and start a new life as a barber.

Stacy’s story is one in which addiction didn’t come of a conscious decision but more out of circumstance. An injury led her to pain medication, which sparked a descent into addiction, the destruction of her relationships with family, and ultimately the arrest that brought her back to sobriety.

Recovery Works

As you can see, rehab works. These are real stories of people who found themselves in throes of drug addiction and were able to find new hope and new purpose. If you or a loved one is struggling with drug addiction, it’s never too late to seek help and start over new. Call 1-888-493-4967 today.

Methodology

We scoured the net for personal life stories related to addiction told in first person. Outlining these stories, we’ve color-coded significant life events surrounding their addiction to help visualize the associated ups and downs.

Sources

Jordan –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4rt5EYQMfo

Ryan –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmHJ4HGbCPo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgXR_GS7WMY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWqxJRYEn-A

Amy –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iit0U1Q3JO4

Stacy –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUhXhuXeDfY&spfreload=10

Laurie –
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/30/nyregion/heroin-takes-over-a-house-and-mom.html?_r=0

Huggie –
http://www.wvgazette.com/article/20141208/GZ01/141209448

Jeff –
http://lagrangenews.com/news/home_top-news/50784435/I-thought-Id-die-a-junkie

Felicia –
http://www.drug-addiction-support.org/you-have-to-go-through-the-worst-before-you-get-to-the-best.html

Juli –
http://www.drug-addiction-support.org/from-snorting-to-shooting-anything.html

David –
http://www.drugfree.org/stories-of-hope/hopkins-homeless-true-story-prescription-drug-addiction/

Fair Use

Feel free to use and share the images found on this page. When doing so, we ask that you please attribute the creators by providing a link to this page so readers can view additional assets and learn more about the project.