You Deserve a Happy, Healthy Life

I started using drugs at like 17 years old, in high school. My friends were doing it, and I wanted to be like them, I guess. It went from weed to pills and by the time I was 21 I was using heroin. I didn’t have that bad of an upbringing. My parents were divorced, and we were pretty broke, but it wasn’t that terrible. My mom worked a lot, so she didn’t notice how bad my drug use was getting. I started shooting up at like 21 or 22 years old. I definitely was less aware of what I was doing and didn’t care as much when I was high. I was usually only seeing 1 person at a time, so I wasn’t using protection. I wasn’t getting tested at all. I didn’t even realize I should be getting tested in between partners. I just figured since I went to my OBGYN once a year and didn’t have any symptoms I was fine.

I started sharing needles at like 22 years old. I had a boyfriend then, and we would get high together. I honestly didn’t care about what could happen or even fully know. I just wanted to get as high as possible. I was too lazy to make sure I had clean needles. I didn’t know about needle exchange programs until after I got clean from drugs. I was basically a corpse, so I knew I needed to get clean. I ended up finding out I had Hepatitis C when I went to a substance abuse treatment center and got tested. They referred me to treatment right away, and it was all free for me. I’m just glad that I got clean and learned my status before I had any serious health problems.

I’ve been clean for a year and a half now. I have better relationships with my friends and family. I’m able to keep a job. I think I’m just a better, happier person being clean. I probably would have died if I didn’t stop. If you don’t think you’re ready to stop yet, at least make sure you’re as safe as possible. Use condoms, get tested regularly, and don’t share needles. You deserve to live a happy, healthy life.