Foundation note: This is the first in our series of testimonies from people who have beat addiction or suffered the loss of a loved one. Thank you, Elizabeth, for coming out with your beautiful, inspirational story!
My name is Elizabeth. I am 27 years old and have been clean since September 2022. I was addicted to fentanyl and crack cocaine for six years. Addiction really consumed my life, and I lost so much and believed I would never have a normal life again.
After a car accident, arrest, and years of trauma, I finally gave up and put my energy into getting clean. For the first time, I went through detox cold turkey, found a counseling facility and started on the vivitrol shot. For me, this worked better than using suboxone or methadone to stop using fentanyl. I got involved in my church and changed my people, places, and things. I stopped talking to people who were using and got a new job.
Today I have so much to be thankful for! I owe everything to God. I got the relationships with my family back, and I started a family of my own. Three years ago I didn’t have much, but today I have a fiancé, a newborn son, and a stable life, but more importantly, I have a sound mind and future ahead of me.
My advice to others would be no one can make sobriety happen for you except yourself. But there are so many people and facilities that know you’re capable of a better life. No one deserves to live like that. Lastly, no matter what you’ve done or the way you might feel about yourself, God loves you and forgives. Honestly, it’s hard to put it all in words because some days I still can’t believe I got out. I never thought I’d function without opiates whether it was prescribed to me or I was using. I know many people who have died or are still out there using. I can’t believe the way I lived, and I am really proud for where I am today.
