February 25, 2022
Q: Is recovery from meth addiction possible?
A: Absolutely – I’m living proof.
There was a period of time when I truly didn’t think it was possible to recover from meth use. It’s a hard thing to overcome, but it definitely is possible.
I’ve had a long road that led me to Face It TOGETHER. Both of my parents struggled with meth addiction and so that just seemed like the natural next move to me. I finally realized this wasn’t the lifestyle I wanted to live. I wanted to have more than that; I wanted to be better.
After about 10 years of trying to get well on my own, I remember going to a support meeting and just crying and saying, “I need help.” From that moment on, my life started to get better. People stepped in to provide that help and it was through all of those people that I got to a better place. I’m proud to provide that support to others in need today.
To this day, people still say things to me like, “I can’t believe you’ve ever done meth,” or, “You don’t look like somebody who did meth.” But even when I was in the depth of my addiction, I knew that wasn’t who I was or who I wanted to be. There was always that underlying desire for more for myself. It was just a matter of knowing how to get there.
Thankfully, there are options for people looking to get well. They can vary greatly depending on your location, but there are plenty of online resources as well. The level of treatment you need can be determined by a clinical assessment or by reaching out to an organization like Face It TOGETHER that provides referrals. There are a lot of ways to determine the level of care someone needs.
I’ve had people walk in the door who thought there was no way they could stop using meth and they came in two weeks later with 14 days of sobriety. And on the other hand, I’ve had people come in very confident and then realize they needed extra support. It varies so much by each individual. But if you’re in touch with supportive, knowledgeable people, they can help you make that choice for yourself.
You may have heard the only way to get well from meth is to move cities and change everything about your life. For me, it wasn’t so much about the geographical change, it was about changing the people in my life. Most of my addiction was here in Sioux Falls, SD. I stayed in Sioux Falls, but it was hard. I had to be very diligent about the people I didn’t want in my life anymore and finding people that I did want in my life.
I don’t think you always need that geographical relocation, but you do need to be willing to change things in your life that aren’t supportive of wellness. If you continue to go to the same places and do the same things, you could end up in a bad situation again.
If you’re struggling yourself, or you’re worried about someone in your life who’s struggling, I’m here to tell you there is hope. People get well every day.
If you don’t know where to start, please consider reaching out to Face It TOGETHER. Our team does a great job of recognizing people for people. We see you for the potential you have and what you can bring to the table.
Let’s face it better, together.