http://aarc.ab.ca/danielle-p-aarc-graduate-412/
I started using drugs when I was sixteen. I always felt different then everyone else and found it hard making friends. I discovered alcohol and drugs and my life fell apart. My sister entered AARC about 7 months before me. While she was getting better I was getting worse. I didn’t attend school, I had no hopes or dreams for the future, and my family life was a mess. The only thing that mattered was how I was going to get my next high. I had no hope for life and wanted to die, after two overdoses, I joined my sister in treatment when I was 17 years old. I went back to using after I graduated. I wanted to try it my way, but the disease controlled me. I was lonelier then ever but I knew there was a solution, and checked back into AARC after only 5 months of being graduated. The twelve steps gave me a way of living, guidelines to follow, and now I don’t have to do drugs to be happy. My family is back together and I’m happy. Life isn’t perfect now and I still have my struggles, but now I have the tools to deal with my problems. If it wasn’t for the twelve steps I wouldn’t have gotten a second chance. I’m grateful for everything in my life today and look forward to the future and having a life.