I grew up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

I always excelled in school and presented well. However, unbeknownst to me and everyone else, I was living with undiagnosed and untreated mental illness. High school became more and more challenging until someone offered me a prescription medication. This medication relieved me of all the suffering that I was experiencing from major depression and anxiety. At age 18, I was assaulted with a baseball bat and was prescribed a large amount of opiates. Things progressed until I found heroin that was cheaper and more accessible and despite many attempts with the best intentions, I could not stop on my own.

By age 20, I had overdosed from heroin on three separate occasions, and each time, my overdose was reversed with naloxone.

I needed several second chances, but eventually I was afforded access to quality treatment. I have since sustained recovery, which for me means that I have not had to use alcohol or other drugs since May, 2013.

Recovery allowed me to finish my education and I now have a Master’s in Social Work and am a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor.

Now, I’m working as the Naloxone Program Coordinator for Caring Services of High Point so that I can help give other people the same opportunities I was given to change their life.