First Round of Drug Abuse
Steven first experienced mind-altering substances when he was in the sixth grade—he started drinking and smoking weed. He grew up in a nice suburb of LA. He was smart, but didn’t apply himself in school, and he was always drawn to the wrong crowd.
In high school, Steven was introduced to harder drugs, like Cocaine and Methamphetamine. When he tried Meth, he knew there was an attraction there even then. He struggled with Attention Deficit Disorder and the Meth seemed to help him mellow out.
In high school, Meth was mostly a weekend activity for Steven, but after he graduated, his use started to get out of hand. With no real future plans or college aspirations, he started to use Meth on a daily basis. He lost a lot of weight and his family became concerned, but he wasn’t ready to admit he had a problem.
Eventually, he decided to completely change his life, thinking that his surroundings and friends might be part of his excessive drug use; he joined the Marine Corps when he was twenty years old.
Meth Addiction Lingers in the Background
In the Marine Corps, Steven was able to stay away from Meth and actually give some attention to his life. He got married, started a family, and went to college. He had never addressed his addiction problem before, though, and it was lingering in the background.
For a while, he was a disabled vet and he moved back to the town he was from and started doing IT work. Unfortunately, in the old community, an old habit came out of the shadows, and he started regularly using Meth again.
This time, he tried to move away from it and went to Arizona with his family, but his addiction followed him.
Addiction Peaks and Everything Falls Apart
For a long time, Steven had justified his drug use—he was holding down a great job and supporting his family. The picture looked fine from the outside: nice house, kids in private school, wife stays at home. In the inside, though, he felt empty and out of control.
Eventually he was arrested and charged for drugs and he lost his job, which required a clean record. This is when everything started to fall apart. Without the job to keep him focused, he started using Meth all the time. He experienced a lot of drug induced psychosis, often staying up for days at a time.
His family tried to intervene, but he didn’t want to get help. His wife had to work to take care of the kids, and they moved to a smaller house. In a drug-induced haze, Steven decided to start robbing buildings of their copper wire and sell it to make money. This only made things worse, because it resulted in burglary charges and the possibility decades in prison. But every time he was released from jail, he would just go back out and do it all again.
He lost everything. His wife had to get an order of protection against him. Even then, his mom reached out and tried to get him help, but he still refused.
Rock Bottom and Choosing Rehab
Steven received divorce papers and court paperwork that said he wasn’t allowed to even see his kids anymore. This was the last straw for him. He was at rock bottom, couldn’t keep a job, couldn’t stop robbing and using drugs, getting a divorce, and couldn’t even see his kids anymore. He wanted to change, and he finally decided to go to rehab.
In rehab, Steven learned a lot of new tools, worked the program, and got clean off drugs.
While he was starting to clean up and see clearly again, he was still facing prison time and a lot of damage in his personal life. So, upon getting out of rehab, the judge gave him an amazing deal of 2.5 years. When he got out of prison, he started the slow and arduous work of rebuilding his life.
Rebuilding Life in Recovery from Addiction
He had to start from the bottom, working at McDonald’s and digging ditches. He struggled through work like this for years, slowly addressing the damage he did during his addiction. He had destroyed so many relationships along the way that he now had to earn back.
It took years for Steven to finally convince his wife to let him see his kids again. After a lot of hard work and time, he is working in IT again. He can see his children without supervision. He knows, though, that he owes the opportunity to start again to rehab and that first decision to get help.
Despite all of the destruction that addiction caused, Steven loves his life now. He remained clean and is routinely going to meetings, helping others. Thanks to recovery, he has good life now and makes a difference in the community.
If you are struggling with Meth addiction and you want a second chance, you can do it too. Call (866) 578-7471 to talk to someone who will listen to your own story and help you find the support you need.
45 comments
It’s scary to me that some people have addictions lingering in the background. Like, if I started dating someone, I run the risk of being with an ex addict… I have been with addicts a few times and it wasn’t pretty.
I think this Meth substance is too dangerous to be consumed like every other drugs. The issue with Steven is the type of people he chose to associate himself with. Let us stay away from bad friends in order to stay safe.
Steven used his hands to ruin the good things that was going on for him because of his addiction. And had to find the courage to not only get treatment, but work hard to rebuild his life and relationship. I am happy for him that things are gradually working out for him now.
This article has made understand leaving drugs is not just about trying to forget it, it is something that needs to be addressed properly and not left in the background.
This is what l will refer to as a great RESET. Congrats Steven.
This is an article about a transformed life. Am happy for Steven.
It better to lose all material thing than to lose your life. I’m so glad ans happy he was able to start a new life all over again. Happiness and a sound mind is key.
That medicinal property of drugs like these is part of the illusion. Unsupervised it always gets back and hold you. It always pays to stay clean and if you will use it for medicinal purpose, do it on regulated and controlled basis.
Thank you Detax to rehab for sharing these type of stories with all of us.These stories are really very much inspirational for many people.
This is a breathtaking one. Addiction to these drugs are always detrimental. Trust me, it cuts away part of one’s life always. Anyone can truly get saved with determination and involved.
Second chance in life is important. Someone must believe in his self that he can change for the better. You also need to go to the right people, surround yourself with good people, and eventually, you will change.
Steven faced a lot of challenges when he refused to get help from his family and it’s really Good to know that even after all he went through,he recovered.
Congratulations Steven. Leaving drugs is a hard thing to do. Thanks Detox for sharing this inspiring story and helping Steven out
Meth consumption is not a good thing. It can make someone to lose his life and some important aspect or people in his life just like Steven did. Like they say what does not kill you makes you stronger. There is always the chance to start over once recovery is on your path.
It takes self discovery to recover from the use of drug or meth. Steven lost everything and start over again. Am just so happy for him that he never give up hope to start over.
Many things I have learn from this article . Really Steven you are genius. Mya god give you a lot of strength that you can progress further in life.
Any addiction that is not well treated will resurface if care is not taken. Thanks to Detox Rehab programme for their help in the life of Steven.
Steven journey isn’t a smooth one..he is a very strong person..when you hit rock bottom because of your addiction problem, commiting suicide may be an option..I’m glad he sought help after receiving divorce papers.. sometimes, challenges makes us change for the better
Losing everything isn’t losing your life. Thanks for Detox, they could be able to help out.
Rebuilding something from scratch is indeed hard. He was able to push through because he really wanted to change. Keep it up and help those persons in need.
He managed to keep drugs out of his life and I believe he never developed a full-blown addiction. This could have been the actual turning point where he could have stopped using drugs. Unfortunately, this was not the case. However, it is good to read that he finally overcame his addiction.
Losing everything and starting over is the best thing that can happen to an addict because it makes them realize the freedom they have been taking for granted. Thank God for his amazing recovery. Detox to rehab thank you for sharing Steven’s story very inspirational.
Glad that Steven change his path and stay clean and keep helping others. Rehab program gives peoole who suffered from addiction to have a normal and happy life .
Don’t wait till you lose everything including your loved ones. Learn to live a fulfilling live not and start living please.
Have learnt alot from this story and I have better understanding about addiction now.
Their is nothing insane alcohol and drug abuse can’t cause in one’s life. Upon the vital information going around, still people find it very difficult to adhere to them and stay free from issues of drug abuse and alcoholism.
It’s takes a determined mind to get off it totally. Starting afresh isn’t a crime. It’s a self recognition thing and it also takes discipline.
It’s a reset, but seriously we shouldn’t wait to loss everything before pressing the button. Let take the change now
We need to be brave enough to make this change happen in our lives. Nothing more promising than getting life after a long time of doing drugs. You see another way to life.
Recovery from drug helps to have healthy lifestyle. Abstinence is indeed the key.
This blog is very inspirational and motivational. Thanks for sharing this. It is a good thing to gain everything even after losing everything.
I,m happy to know that Steven loves his lifes now despite all the havoc that addiction caused on him and his family. Thanks to detox to rehab for sharing this article it really encouraging
This write up has addressed the fact facing my people outside there . Thanks for sharing this.
This isn’t easy because it requires patience. In fact, it is not everybody that has the privilege.
Losing everything must be a horrible experience, especially when you end sacrificing the ones you love. I’m glad that he could go through the recovery process and get clean, it’s like having a second chance in life.
The mistake spst even did was to move away from his addiction. You don’t relocate thinking you can leave the addiction behind, you deal with it. Glad he eventually realised this and got treatment.
Starting drugs at sixth grade is unheard of! Makes one wonder where the parents were.
Steven is a good example of how one can always pick themselves up even after hitting rock bottom. A truly inspiring story!
I am impressed that after his recovery he dedicates time to help others recover too. He has the heart of an angel.
Lossing everything couse of drug so worst,when I read this story I got some life of lesson that we don’t need to wait till lost everything to aware better change,and hope you permanently sober
Thank you for sharing Steven’s story with us! Very inspiring and it opened my eyes to this sort of subject. I’m really happy that he is doing alright. Hope that he continues with his amazing progress. Cheers to him!
The main problem with steven is that he has not admitted the fact that he has problem, but later he did and good to know that he has recovered.
Starting over after passed a difficult life is not easy as we say it. It’s need a lof of effort and hard work. Glad to hear you made it,
He has got into addiction in his early school days which is quite deadly for a person. But, good that later on he recovered.
The association of wrong people is enough to destroy one’s life. Steven got it wrong when he ended up with wrong people. Happ for him for getting his life back.