A Lifetime of Sobriety
I’ve been drug-free for 50 years - this is how I got here:
I started drinking when I was 14. I had made it to 17 in my junior year of high school by just drinking and not using drugs. But I tried marijuana for the first time on December 31, 1971. After that, I was high every weekend and then smoked daily that summer. I was smoking so much that I had to take anti-congestants daily because my sinuses were constantly irritated. I barely made it through one year in college and dropped out before figuring out what I wanted to do in life. The one thing I did know was that I cared about others and wanted to help people.
I didn’t think there was anything wrong with smoking pot. After all, I was still doing better than my other friends who were using LSD, cocaine and other drugs. I hated seeing my friends use “harder” drugs.
I walked into Narconon in 1973 after a friend told me it was a place where you could learn more about drugs. I thought it would be good to learn more about harder drugs so I could help my friends.
“When I walked into Narconon I thought I was going to learn about drugs – but instead, I learned about me.”
So, when I walked into Narconon I thought I was going to learn about drugs – but instead, I learned about me.
When I spoke to the counselor at Narconon, I saw for the first time how unhappy I really was with myself and how the drugs were just making things worse.
That saved my life. I enrolled in the program. I learned how to confront, how to communicate, and how to be comfortable with myself. I learned about me. I learned tools about how to handle the problems I had before using drugs, as well as the problems I created using drugs, and I learned tools on how to handle life without drugs.
After about a year, I had a relapse. I knew what I was doing was wrong, but I made the relationship I was in more important than me. I finally realized what I was doing, and I called Narconon. I was welcomed back, went through the program and never used drugs again. I really took the steps needed to change my life and became part of the group of people who do not use drugs and who had the purpose of helping others lead drug-free lives.
This was 50 years ago. Since then I have served on staff for 21 years including helping Narconon programs in the US and Europe. Since 1996 I have been a very active volunteer for Narconon and I am currently the Executive Director of Friends of Narconon International which, among other things, has provided Narconon Video Drug Education programs and materials to tens of thousands of individuals across the country.
“Narconon saved my life by giving me the tools I needed to take responsibility for myself, my life and help others become drug free for good.”
Narconon saved my life by giving me the tools I needed to take responsibility for myself and my life and help others become drug-free for good.
P.S., Narconon Graduate Since 1973
