I drank heavily in college and pretty much quit when I turned 21. A couple years later I was introduced to heroin, crack cocaine, and marijuana. Heroin was my DOC and I used everyday for four years. I went to expensive rehabs in that time but none helped. What did work for me was changing my people, places, and things - I moved back home to Tennessee and went to AA and NA religiously for almost a year.

I think I stayed clean and sober because I was properly diagnosed as having depression and treated accordingly. When I was using, it was to feel anything but normal. Now, I like feeling normal and try to avoid medications with major side effects.

I no longer have the urge to use because the consequences now outweigh the benefits. No drug is worth losing control of my faculties!!!