Just thought I might be able to help someone out by sharing my story.

I'm turning 31 in a week. I was a drug addict most of my young adult life. Heroin was my kryptonite. It destroyed many relationships in my life and crushed goals I made for myself when I was in school.

Let me start by saying everybody's road to recovery is different, some do meetings and some simply don't. I went to over 10 treatments centers and worked solid programs and believed they would work for me. After I would get back home it would be the same old story -- old friends and old habits and behaviors. I never made it more than month.

The best advice I can give addicts in early recovery is to find something you truly love doing whether its hiking, sports, fishing -- something that makes you happy and is healthy.

The worst mistake you can make is to think you can hangout with old friends or just see them once in awhile. I did not get clean until I was honest with myself and others and I made new friends and started to find new hobbies.

I also want to add that I did get clean on a friend's couch way far away from home. I survived the dreaded withdrawal symptoms with Gatorade, Advil and ice cream. It was hell but made me never wanna do it again.

Opiate addiction is killing people everyday and if this story helps someone even a little bit then I feel like I have accomplished something. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please reach out to them and tell them that it is possible to make the change and live a happy life again.