On November 2016, the U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, released his report "Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs and Health." He stressed his concern for the growing epidemic plaguing the country. He not only highlighted the negative financial impact this puts in the economy but also how as a society we need to shift our views towards addiction.
"We have to recognize (addiction) isn't evidence of a character flaw or a moral failing," the surgeon general said. "It’s a chronic disease of the brain that deserves the same compassion that any other chronic illness does, like diabetes or heart disease." In a 2012 report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that one American dies every 19 minutes from opioid or heroin overdose.
"I’ve just understood that addiction really touches everyone’s life," Murthy explained. "It’s a disease that doesn’t discriminate, and it’s one that’s taking an extraordinary toll on our communities across the country."
However, it was when she saw her 91-year-old grandfather on his birthday that she knew her life was out of control. "My grandfather told me I was hurting him and that broke my heart. I loved him very much. He was like a father to me," she explains. "After he said those words, I went into the bathroom. I looked in the mirror and really saw who I had become."
Photo: Dejah Hall / Facebook
Shortly after leaving his house that night, she was arrested for drug possession and sentenced to two years in prison. Hall quit drugs cold turkey. She says "everyday I thank God that I am not where I once was! Sobriety is Possible."
The 26-year-old is now the mother to a beautiful 18-month-old baby, she is going to school to complete her bachelor's degree to become a prison minister, and she is clean. "I was a terrible IV user and like most, progressively got worse," wrote on Facebook. "I was arrested 12-6-12, and coincidentally the day I finally surrendered to God!"
Photo: Dejah Hall / Facebook
A man shared a photo of his sister who has been meth free for 90 days.
In just three months, her body and face look healthy. He wrote "Just know there IS a light at the end of the tunnel."
Photo: Wormguy666 / Reddit
This woman was 19 years old when the photo was snapped. She was also addicted to meth.
"I thought I was the most amazing person. I weighed about 100 pounds. I was a d**k. I stole from my friends for drugs. I stole from my family for drugs. I lied. Cheated. Hurt very good people. I had no one left besides my step dad when I quit," she shared.
Photo: LostWingnut / Imgur
Now 32 years old, she has been clean for 10 years she wrote on Imgur.
She is healthy and happy.
Photo: LostWingnut / Imgur
She now spends quality time with her mom.
She admits to "losing her" when she was an addict.
Photo: LostWingnut / Imgur
Brooke's first dealer was actually a doctor. The woman has tried to quit 12 times.
Today she can proudly say she has been sober for over eight months "without being forced. Because I want it this time."
Photo: bilderbackbrooke_ / Instagram
Jeanette Fidler used heroin for years before quitting. The 44-year-old hopes that sharing her story will help others.
"Recovery has been an uphill battle, but now I am at a point where it all just feels like a bad dream. There are people in my life who don't know about this side of me and will probably see this. I knew that when I posted it," she admits.
Photo: Cavendish
She hopes that if her previous mug shot helps someone, than it was worth sharing.
"I felt the need to share it so openly because when I found my mugshot I felt so bad for that girl," she explains. "I wanted to hug her and tell her it will get better. I then realized that girl is still out there somewhere."
Photo: Jeanette Fidler / Facebook
Sarah says this photo was taken the night she felt like she was dying. Her skin was sunken, bruised, and yellow.
She says on that night she hit rock bottom. "I remember falling to the floor and curling my body into the fetal position. I recall screaming and howling from the darkest deepest pit of my soul 'If there is a God then why are you doing this to me?'" she recalls. Sarah has been clean for ten months after a 16-year addiction to ice and GHB.
Photo: Never Give up. Giving up ice , Drugs / Facebook
This woman started using drugs when it was offered to her at a barbecue.
"I was just so young and naive about it. Pipes, light bulbs, foil and syringes soon became a part of my life," she says.
"For two years, which felt like at least three to four years to me, if I wanted it I got it. Within minutes or the same day even if it meant traveling to another city or town to get it," she explains.
Finally, she called her sister and asked for help. "'I slept for weeks - only waking to eat. My kids are what I live for, they are my reason for getting clean," she admits.
This woman credits her dog with helping her stay clean. She said she told her canine Rockdog in the first days of being sober that she would live for him.
Part of hear healing included hitch hiking across the United States with Rockdog. She has been clean for 826 days and has a four-year-old daughter.
Photo: DisregardThisOrDont / Reddit
Alyssa Gaudinier was only 14 years old when she started using heroin.
"Today is the last time I will celebrate my anniversary. It's been ten years and I am ready to leave the past, in the past. I am not an ex-addict. I am not in recovery," she says. She is also about to receive her Bachelor of Science in accounting.
Photo: vlyssa Gaudnier / Facebook
Source: Life Buzz
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