True Stories of Addiction: Andres
Meet Andres, a kind and caring soul. He grew up in a loving home with no intention of ever going down the path that he ended up taking. He has two wonderful parents who have been together for over 40 plus years and an older brother that was not just this brother but his best friend also. Despite Andres and his brothers 11-year age difference they always found a way to have fun.
Andres’s parents didn’t know their oldest son, Andres’s brother, was experimenting with drugs, alcohol and going to party’s; they thought believed he was just a normal kid doing “kid” things. So, they told their oldest son to always bring Andres where he goes so they can grow closer together because of the age difference. Andres’s brother obeyed his parents and took his brother where he went despite how young he was.
Introduced to Drugs and Alcohol
At just five years old, Andres, was introduced to alcohol. Andres’s older brother was told to bring Andres where ever he went so he took him to a party with all of his teenage friends. At this party you could find drugs, alcohol and whatever you needed to keep you partying all night. Since Andres was just five no one offered him drugs but he drank to the point where he doesn’t remember much of what happened. To this day, his brother has to explain to him what happened that night, because of how young he was and the effects alcohol had on him.
Andres’s parents are both hard working and loving. They didn’t see that Andres’s older brother was pulling him down to the path of addiction with him. Andres’s brother did not intend for his brother’s life to end up like it did. However, he ended up having a great profound impact on how he went about his life. Andres was the youngest of the family, including his cousins. The Since his older brother and the cousins got involved with drugs and dangerous situations, so Andres looked up and to them so he followed their example.
Marijuana – Cocaine – Crystal Meth – Heroin
When Andres was introduced to marijuana, his addiction started to progress. He started missing and ditching school and hanging out with people his parents did not approve of. These people Andres hung out with were involved in gangs and living in dangerous areas. This caused Andres to see, hear, and witness things a young kid never should. Andres didn’t know any better; he thought this was normal because of the influence his brother had on him.
Andres and his family ended up moving out of state. Andres He was relieved, because he thought he was going to get another shot at life away from the drugs and alcohol. Although he was excited to start over, he found drugs and alcohol the first night he got settled into his new home. He didn’t know any better. His brother showed him that alcohol and drugs were just a normal way of life.
Tragedy struck Andres and his family when his only brother was arrested. This hurt his family so badly, that Andres remembered witnessed tears falling down his father’s face, which was not a normal sight to see. This opened Andres’s parent’s eyes to the path they were taking and told Andres he was going to grow up just like him if he didn’t change his ways.
The thought of going to prison scared Andres, but not enough for him to change his ways. He was doing cocaine right when he got to Arizona. He loved the cocaine, because it reminded him of the Crystal Meth he smoked back in Texas. His cocaine habit took over his life to the point he dropped out of High School his first year and he never went back. His brother didn’t finish school, so why should he?
The Cocaine wasn’t enough anymore so he started using Crystal Meth again. Then, he was introduced to Prescription Pills, pills which were expensive and hard to find. Andres was experiencing withdrawals from the Opiate pain medication and was willing to do whatever to stop the pain. This “whatever” he was willing to do ended up changing his life forever. This “whatever” turned to out to be the love of this life, Heroin.
Heroin Addiction Brings You Down
His Heroin addiction progressed quickly, and within two weeks, he went from smoking heroin to using it intravenously. It wasn’t long before he was sleeping in a shed, on the streets, and in his car before he crashed it. His family did not want anything to do with him unless he got the help he so needed. It wasn’t long before Andres got arrested just like his brother. He did some time in jail and was released on probation. He didn’t hold up to his deal with the courts and ended up going on a three-month drug run.
His drug run wasn’t anything exiting;, it was more depressing than anything. A miracle happened and Andres’s probation officer found him using and abusing Heroin. His probation officer gave him a deal:, if he was to go to a detox center and get treatment, he wouldn’t go to jail.
The Journey of Recovery
Andres agreed to this deal and went into the detox center the next morning. This is where his journey of recovery begins. As soon as he was medically detoxed he had to get into a treatment center to stay out of jail. This treatment center was trying to get him to commit to 90-days but he felt that was to long so he agreed to stay 30-days. He went into treatment and he was introduced to the 12-step program and made many friends he now calls his brothers in recovery.
Although Andres grew up with his brother and cousins drinking and doing drugs around him, he knew there was something more to life than his addiction. He now has nieces and nephews that his brother who has also recovered allows him to watch. His dad allows him to house sit his home when his parents go out of town. A year ago, this wouldn’t be possible for Andres. He wasn’t allowed around his family because of the person his addiction made his become. All of this is possible because he is doing the work of a 12-step program and living in God’s will.
Andres has recovered from a lot, you can too. There is hope for anyone struggling with addiction you just have to put in the work to change your life. Give us a call was are happy to help. Our number is: (866) 578-7471.
