From the Streets of Brooklyn to Finding My Drug-Free Path

 

My addiction was a long time in the making. It began on the streets of Brooklyn, New York, in the early ’90s when freebasing cocaine (crack) was big. Crack was running rampant on the streets, and so were the addicts. I remember we had a building that read ‘crack is whack,’ and as a young girl, every time I passed by it, I would laugh. Little did I know I would become a poster child for crack cocaine.

I came to Narconon Suncoast in October of 2021. As reluctant as I was to come here, I now know it was one of the best and hardest decisions of my life. I was a bit nervous about going into the sauna; however, it turned out to be the beginning of something beautiful. It was a simple concept yet a very deep and fulfilling experience. I felt I was able to remove all the garbage from my body that I had consumed throughout the years, not just the drugs. I was able to replenish my body with vitamins and nutrients that I had become deficient in. I began exercising and hydrating with lots of water. I was able to be still and reflect on my past, present, and, best of all, my future.

“I came to realize that we are all in control of how we are going to get through this thing called life, and I was able to choose
happiness and success!”

Objectives were quite interesting. I learned how to stay in present time, be patient and, as a result, I had many realizations about my life. I was able to understand that I am in control of my life and how I am going to let it play out. I came to realize that we are all in control of how we are going to get through this thing called life, and I was able to choose happiness and success!

Life Skills were a tough one. I thought I would skate through the program without getting down to the nitty-gritty, but boy, was I was wrong. When I looked at my life, I nearly dropped to my knees in tears after I read it on paper. I was able to really come to terms with the things that I went through in life, and putting a timeline down to my experiences was quite eye-opening. It allowed me to see where things started to change in my life and what led me to choose to use drugs. I need to emphasize that word, choosing. It truly was my choice. It was a very emotional yet necessary experience.

I was also able to look at the people in my life and distinguish which of them were either good for me or bad for me. I had never done this before, and it was also very emotional and eye-opening because I realized I had to distance myself from some people for the sake of my sobriety and well-being.

I also took a look at my own behavior, my attitude, and how I reacted to certain situations and people. The ability to be aware of that and change my attitude and how I perceive certain things is once again up to me and how I intend to live my life moving forward!

I thank my Narconon family for teaching me and guiding me on this journey through my program. I am forever humbled and grateful to have been a part of it and look forward to my new drug-free life!

—G.G., Narconon Suncoast Graduate