16 Years of Exposure
Dear Drugs,
You came into my life at the time I was starting to develop in my mother’s stomach; you have been in my life for 16 consecutive years. You’ve brought me down many times, and brought me up multiple times. You’ve hurt my family and me all through these years. You have infested in my mother’s life, while also infested my father’s life. When I was first introduced to you I was 9 years old. I thought you were a cigarette, and why I thought you were a cigarette was because I thought I was cool because I was hanging out with the “older kids.” I didn’t feel anything at 9 years old, I didn’t inhale, I only exhaled.
The second time I was introduced to you, I was 13 years old. I was with my older brother and his 3 friends; they thought it would be funny to get me “high.” Well, it wasn’t. I started freaking out and was not feeling like myself, but the sad thing about it was I “fell in love” with the drug. I was an addict from the birth of me until that day. I have been in multiple treatment facilities, rehabs, and detox sessions. I have learned many things about the street life of drugs and the scientific life of drugs. They are both NOT fun. They have hurt my life greatly and my family’s life.
I was 10 years old when I got removed from my mother’s care and placed with my grandmother. My grandmother stepped up and took me in. I was very scared because I didn’t know what I was going to do without my mom. I started acting up about 1 year after I got placed with my grandmother. She took me to a therapist and they diagnosed me with PTSD. I started on medication and it helped for a while until I turned age of 13, and started the drug abuse. I got clean on November 23, 2017. And have 6 months and 3 days sober. I feel amazing and healthy. I am going to start baseball and basketball up again. I’m going to get a job and save money for a car. I plan on starting a life without drugs. I need to be there for my grandmother, she is 68 and I love her so very much. She means everything to me. I cannot wait until my life resumes and can start my junior year in high school the right way.
