To keep up with The Addiction Series please go to / theaddictionseries Laura drank alcohol like most kids in high school. She then moved to pain pills, heroin and more. She's in recovery today! This is her story.
I was the one who could never get sober. After going to prison with two strikes i decided i really needed to change my life. I couldn't afford another strike. I had to get sober and now have 4 years 8 months.
Congratulations on all your achievements You have done something that is very very hard to do, turning your life along, it takes a lot of strength to do what you did It was nice to read your post
The number of women--and men--who are self-medicating because they're survivors of rape would blow people's minds. Millions. Millions & millions & millions. Trauma without healing leads to self-medication. Our culture isn't prepared to acknowledge just how rampant incest, sexual abuse & sexual assault are, & so the victims pay the price. Any survivor & self-medicating person who reads this: you deserve justice & peace. I'm sorry we live in a culture where so few survivors get either. Keep loving yourself, keep putting one foot in front of the other. You can create the life you deserve. Much love from someone who knows.
After 20 plus years and A LOT of LOSS I said enough is enough. The next stop would have been death. I’m 3 years clean and sober and everyday I’m grateful and don’t ever allow myself to get complacent. God is good! We do recover!
I'm in Melbourne Australia and even here drug addiction is found. I've been addicted since 16 and I'm 42 now... just starting my recovery but God damn do I thank Him for putting the good people in my life to have begun this transition cos it ain't easy. Even almost impossible alone... there is always hope though!! These stories do inspire so keep them coming pls.
I’ll have 6 years on August 31st next Tuesday I have an infant and no family near me so I haven’t been able to get to meetings the way I’d like to so glad I found these I’ve listened to many but Laura gives one hell of a lead it was one of those “That’s just like my story” things so many similarities in active addiction and in recovery I was hanging on every word thanks for sharing your experience strength and hope♥️
Love the interviews...I wouldn’t wish addiction on my worst enemy. Shout out to the people who take that first step to get help, it’s harder than people imagine.
I can't quite place my finger on it but this chick rules. It's something about her straight forward, unblinking, honesty. The (to paraphrase) "so that's how I started shooting up... " type statements. Love it.
There is many of us, thank god I went to prison and when I got out I moved by myself to a town that I didn’t know anyone and I didn’t tell any of my friends from the past. Now I have been clean for 8 years. Thank god! When I was in prison my father was diagnosed with cancer and they gave him 18 months maximum to live and I had 4 years left of a five year sentence. About 16 months after diagnosis I was called to the Captains office at Dayton correctional and was told my father passed away. I went back to my cell and cried into my pillow so nobody could hear me that was before they turned it into a woman’s prison and being a male you can’t show emotions in prison. I looked out my window often and I could see the Monday program building. This story matches mine in so many ways.
This is my third time watching this interview. Gives so much motivation and perspective, I just love her story and pure transparency! She is so beautiful inside and out - crazy how it got worse before it got better, but love how she found the light at the end of the tunnel. I get something out of it each time I watch it. Edit: this is the 4th time I watched it and I still get goose bumps. Praise God on her turn around! We do recover! ❤️
I wish my big sis had recovered I stopped drinking at the first warning of fatty liver nearly two years ago unfortunately my poor sister was a lot further on and addicted she passed away six weeks ago I’m devastated especially as I know if she wanted it enough she could have done it with my support.
@@jacquelinehunt7794I'm so terribly sorry to hear this!! Praying for peace for you and your family! I am thankful that you did make the right choices and now can live life to the fullest knowing not everyone overcomes their battles! Hearing this about your sister was a serious wake up call for me. I unfortunately relapsed and your comment truly touched my heart! I hope your sister can rest easy knowing she changed even just one life, mine! ❤
Sad that this young woman thinks her alcoholic father was ok and that her home life was ok.Something was wrong. Alcoholics are not “ present” for their families, so I will guess she was neglected, but that was her “ normal” .It was very brave of her for sharing her story. I am grateful and better for hearing it. Thank you. I pray for her continuing recovery.
There's no such thing as a "functioning alcoholic." That's what people tell themselves to excuse their own or someone else's addiction and minimize it. There is nothing "functioning" about your internal organs shutting down. I should know, I was what some people call a "functioning" alcoholic for many years. No legal issues, didn't hurt or abuse other people, and have had a steady career for a long time, but I was killing myself all the same. You're nothing without your health.
Lauren, if you’re still reading, I want to tell u how amazing a woman you are. Articulate, smart, beautiful. And an addict. I give you SO much credit for telling the TRUTH about yourself, it is something I just could not do. I KNEW the truth, but would not articulate. The shame was too much. I admire you SO much, I hope the rest of your life is sober. Anything after that is just gravy. God bless you.
I'm a recovering addict and an AOD Youth Counsellor, these videos help remind me where I come from, and help me connect with what my clients are experiencing ❤Thankyou Laura
Laura, you are a champ! thank you for sharing. I'm trying to learn what people's experiences are to help me understand why my daughter is using meth on a daily basis.
AMAZING. I really do believe we can all do it. All of us. Thank you for sharing your story that I really needed to hear. Finally someone who understands us.
My name is Christie and I'm a recovering addict. My sobriety birthday is May 19, 2021 so I have 72 days clean today. When I happened upon this video this morning I had been thinking that a lot of stories were very hopeful but I had a hard time relating, and I really wanted to relate to a speaker. When Laura started off by saying she had a good childhood, that gave me pause. Then when she said she was raped at 15 wow...how odd because so was I. It was an act of God that I listened to this speaker of all the thousands I could have chosen because I would say that about 75% of her story and emotions and interactions with family and law enforcement were exactly what I went through. It was as if someone else was telling my story. I grew up in Franklin County, Ohio and, had I not moved to Colorado in 1998, if we weren't best friends it could have been me...it would have been me. And lately, I've been struggling with wanting to give back but not knowing how or if working with other addicts would just throw me back into a relapse like it had before. Well, when she mentioned that it was the counselor who could relate on that deep and personal level that saved her life, the truth is that I have had the same experience as the "benefit of one addict helping another is without parallel."(or something along those lines-don't have my big book on me) What I love so much about my current treatment facility is that everyone on the staff is recovering from addiction so why would I not want to be able to help someone the way I've been helped?! The clarity I've gotten just from listening to Laura speak is bananas 🍌!! Thank you so much Laura and Shane for posting this video. The depth to which your words touched my heart is immeasurable and I am so grateful today for you.
Well obviously? Was she supposed to lie? And a lot of the things she said I'm sure she knows it was wrong now that she looks back on it. Drugs do a lot to people and their mind
This story is truly amazing 💖 I myself am in recovery now thank god but was wondering how I could maybe tell my story my story is like most but also very different I have been through quite a bit in my life as we all have would love to tell my story and help someone else
What an incredible story. She is living proof that no matter how hard you hit rock bottom, there is always hope. In fact you usually have to hit absolute rock bottom before you realize that you do in fact have choices.
Thank you for telling your story. Identify with what you for saying. It helped me a great deal. Congratulations for the 4 years you have. Keep up the good work!!!
Amazing story. Although I do have to say, it must be nice to have so many that care so much about you. I don't have these mindsets because I know if I were to make these choices, I'd be 100% on my own from the onset. Nobody would help me, bail me out, give me money, give me a place to stay, etc. Heck, I'm a college graduate, own a house, have a career, and still no one really cares other than my kids.
I agree with you.She was very lucky to be surrounded by so much love .I hope you'll soon be surrounded by more people who love you in the future even if the love of your kids is already priceless.
same here. for instance when I was pospitalised bc my ex found me when I try to commit suicide with my Mather's morphine tabletts and loots of benzos. NOBODY visited me at the hospital for 2 weeks or so. I had a horrible period of my life ( my mom died in cancer, my ex was cheating me and took my 💸 from my bank a/c, I was fed up at the Ministry I worked from double faced ppl and I was in a deep depression period). I had no my own PJ's, no money or cigarette 🚬. I was all alone and I was not able to anything, my heart was broken into million pieces.
@@ClareSwit’s very painfull to see a loved one in hospital like that my mum and I always messaged her phoned her she slagged the staff and the food of all the time it gets too much went she went home to her lovely flat we saw her all the time as we loved her so much she still carried on after some time just kept going back to the vodka she passed away recently all alone despite us offering to visit her she refused to let us in I’m heartbroken at her loss.
I never thought I could do it. I'm 4yrs clean & in the past I had a hard time staying 4mins clean. I can't believe it I use today to die cuz I thought I was gonna be like that for the rest of my life. I know how U feel my parents are the same way
It amazes me how distorted the brain becomes on drugs and alcohol. I am starting to understand that addiction is an illness. I'm still surprised how many people say "peer" pressure makes them start using. Glad she made it out of addiction and is in recovery.
Ahh Bless her little cotton socks, I can listen to her talk all day, It's like meeting up with your little sister and listening to her problems.. I see a role for her on TV somewhere in the future..
Your story is 90% mine. But Methadone saved my whole entire life. At first I was still gripped by addiction..but some time went on I just stopped getting cravings when we finally got my dose right. I have nothing bad to say about methadone. It helped me get my family and life back. Thank you GOD. ALSO...why on Gods beautiful Earth would the store clerk stand infront of a car she knows is going to drive off. That was stupid on her part...trying to be the hero.
From a deep impenetrable sinking sadness to true hopefulness. Great story. So her father lived waay longer than 6-12 months to see her turn around? Idk about higher powers but sounds about right. One day at a time.
A small detail of this testimony that I noticed is that Laura says her "world crashed" multiple times; each situation she feels this way in is more serious than the last. That strikes me as so authentic to many people's stories with addiction.
The unbelievable level of selfishness and destruction is just beyond words here. Those parents, call them enablers or not, were nothing short of angels, hanging faithfully in the trenches for all those years ❤. So very happy to know it all worked out in the end.
I kinda feel like her parents should have sat in jail for her mistakes since they would continue to bail her out knowing she was out of control. This coming from an addict, Not someone who has no idea what an addiction is like!
I Have been taking Oxycodone prescribed for 15 yrs and I am over it , so hard to quit. Down to 80---90-Mg's per Day, Never did the "H" I am 67 yrs old so its hard asa I Own a Pest Control Co. , of which requires some labor from me, its not hard core I am Not Roofing a house by any means. It is labor , but not hard core.
This lady is quite well spoken an intelligent. Imagine if all that determination, creativity, and intelligence had been used for the good of humanity? Now she has the chance. I really like her. I hope she finds Jesus.
Stunningly beautiful young woman. to think she went through all that alcoholism, abuse and addiction -even to heroin and came out of it still drop-dead gorgeous! Good luck to you honey and may God bless.
It's so sad the worth of women in our society is still determined by their beauty. I mean yeah you have good intentions but this is fucked. Nice username though
It takes what it takes. Some people might seem hopeless, and when their reputation precedes them, a prejudice based on mean-spirited nothingness might lock them down and take away any reasonable opportunity for their necessary spiritual surrender to take root and grow. Fairness in this immense world is not really a thing in regards to the hands people are dealt, from birth to death. That kind of fair is unreal. Fair is the weather. Fair is a state event where there are rides and con men; winners and losers. Fair is a pretty face. But if one expects it in life, then one should think again. This was a story!
The amount of car accidents??!! 🚙 I'm in NZ CAR accidents are like YOUR F**FED. We give real time to bad drivers down here. This woman would of done 6 years for that first one whel she hit the security guard, let a lone the next how ever many. Pleased she is OK now. Best of luck. I'm an addict in recovery too so I DO KNOW WGAT YOU ARE SAYING OK. Much love. Q
Store clerks are so stupid when they try to be heros for stuff that's not even there's I don't feel sorry for the clerk that got hit.i wouldn't have told on myself or my friends smh get a lawyer never let guilt run threw your mouth but she's a girl I knew she was gone talk her way into jail.
Always stunned to see how quickly some people go from full blown addicts to being drug counselors. I would be curious to see if this is a good or a bad thing. I have difficulties understanding how it's not triggering to be around addicts after such a short amount of time being clean/sober.
Because people who are drug counselors have a good amount of clean time and are working with addicts to help them get clean and sober and be the one to tell them they aren’t a piece of shit, they can overcome this and how they are worth it.. it would be different if they were around addicts using all these drugs. I have a year clean &would love to help other addicts one day. I’m in AZ &you have to have 2+ years (I believe) to work in a rehab, detox, ect..
I'm a recovering addict and a drug counsellor, it was a requirement of my job that I have lived experience. It can be triggering but I have a very solid amount of clean time and practise good self care.
I try every week to stop drinking. I go a couple of days and convince myself that since I didn’t drink for a couple of days I don’t have a problem. I drink 20+ drinks in a sitting. I need to stop and I can’t
John Sanders You can’t break a bad cycle by just repeating the same behavior. Reach out. Get some help. You’ll be relieved how much easier it can be to change your life when you have the support you need. Don’t give up. 🙂
Seek help before it gets to a stage where you can't. I went through addiction problems during my younger years, and I had to just swallow my pride and admit it and seek some help. It's hard, and I still struggle with it now (my issues were almost 20 years ago, an addiction to cocaine), but it does get easier. Reach out to people, your friends especially. If they are true friends, they'll help you, regardless of what it takes. I hope you can do it...
Listening to Laura's story more closely, it's almost like some addicts behaviour and decision-making will change to not only support the habit/addiction cycle, but also to prevent the consequences of it i.e. jail or running out of drugs and withdrawals. Take Laura's example, she drove under the influence of heroin not once, but twice, and had two serious accidents which broke her back, twice, landing her in months of hospital treatment and recovery. These incidents both occurred while she was on trial for theft and running someone over in a vehicle. It's like she deliberately did that to avoid going to jail and to continue using/getting access to pain meds. I don't think it's mere coincidence this happened twice while she was on trial and knowing she was almost certainly facing a lengthy prison sentence in a federal prison without access to drugs most likely. She may not have made a conscious decision to get behind the wheel under the influence and deliberately crash her vehicle, but subconsciously I think that's what was going on, and she took a 80/20 risk basically. It was very likely she would have an accident and most people would realise that (even drug addicts) but when you have other pressures and threats to your addiction cycle, it's like the subconscious part of the brain takes over and rational thinking is suspended. When you're caught in addiction cycle or a serious addict under the influence, all rational thinking and judgement goes out of the window. You will do the most dangerous things and it will seem fine, there's no self-preservation mechanism or any moral thought for others anymore.
Paul I'm an addict in recovery, part of her shearing, like the driving part, is common ground for a lots of us who's been thru that path; and as much as I agree about the subconscious part of our brains been always at work, I don't agree with what you saying about doing and action with the hope that something bad wiil happen to us,or at least not while driving. When you decide to drive high, you think you'll make it to where you're supposed to go. Lost of consciousness hits you in a second. It happened to me and to lots of friends, to realise that you need to pull over, and while you attempt to doing it safely by finding a safe spot..then Bang you fall asleep or OD (the worse scenario) without realising it. This is my personal experience.
My daughter’s father was rapping her at the age of 11 and giving her drugs and alcohol. She is a drug addicted and alcoholic I hired an intervention to have her go to treatment..I had to kick her out of the house hoping she will go to therapy. She has been in therapy for 10 years but hasn’t gone for 5 years. If anyone has gone through this and did something that worked to help my adult child would be much appreciated. She reminds me so much of my daughter. My daughter also does meth
I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter. Unfortunately, parents can go to the ends of the Earth for their kids, but if they don't want to stop using and put in the work, it doesn't matter what you do. Continue loving but not enabling. Set boundaries like you have and continue to offer help. I pray one day she clings to that. Now days you can look into getting court ordered treatment for her depending on the state. That might be something to look into. ❤️🩹
My story is scary similar to this… I just celebrated a year sober. I’m 25 &have been a heroin addict since I was 13. Thank you for sharing, it gives me the courage to tell my story. Congratulations girl! We do recover❤️
Encounter ministry helped me replacing addiction with Jesus words and getting to know about how to feel love forgiveness recognize ur weaknesses and strength ! I'm just talking to myself. I still have days of doubts and struggles I started my journey Nov 2nd 2021 .... I pray Father God give each and everyone of us the strength and wisdom to get through this day and nourish us with ur word as u do with the food and water I invite you to please be with us guide us and that we can use me to help , inspire , bring love , joy and hope . And for the life u let me live with happy days and for all the sad and rough times angry emotions so that I can submit my life to you O Lord and that u can use me to ur will I pray this all in Jesus name Amen!
Great story. Not a lot of people have loving, supporting parents (not to mention your own house waiting for you when you are released to real life). What a wonderful opportunity. It should be that way for everyone.
