My name is Nicho. ?I started off like most other users, I smoked marijuana for the first time when I was 13. ?I didn't think anything of it, I just thought it was fun. ?Before I knew it, and in retrospect I didn't even realize it was happening, drugs quickly consumed my life. ?I would lie and steal to get my high. I was doing all of this even before I was introduced to pills. ?In my sophomore year of high school I started using vikadin, zanex, and OxyContin. ?I was put on probation for a felony at 16. ?I continued to do whatever I wanted. I was running away for weeks at a time only to be arrested, and held at a JDC for a week and go out and do it again. ?At one point in one of my runs I was drugged and taken advantage of... ?I haven't told anyone about this. ?Afterbeing on the run for a 2 months I was arrested and sent to a juvenile treatment center in Minnesota. ?I hated every minute of it. ?They could see I needed help so I was sent to an extended stay. ?I can honestly say at this point in my life that that was the best thing to happen to me by far. ?My family which before would have nothing to do with me took me in. ?I am currently living in Florida for 6 months. ?I am on probation and I work everyday to stay clean and sober. ?I can't say it's easy, but life without drugs is amazing. ?I don't depend on others and I don't depend on anything.