Hi I'm Nikki, 26 years old, and clean from snorting opiates for 1 year and 5 months. Growing up I always had issues with trust and confidence, I think bc an unstable home with fighting parents. Such bad fights we spent Christmas eve in the emergency room with my moms broken ribs..then lived in a shelter for battered women and were given charity clothing. Then of course problems with friends in high school...girls can be mean. But I trusted no one. Then at 16 I was in a terrible car accident, but no worries I had the great American doctors. They prescribed a 120 lb.little girl hydrocodone 10s, percocet 5 s, and OXYCOTIN 20s. At the same time. (introduction to pills) then meet my ex. Obviously I hated living at home so shortly after he and I moved in together. He had a previous problem with pain pills I wasn't aware of. He had a friend who supplied oxys everyday for one summer...now I'm hooked. And on the line for 6 years!!! :( but!! After bills not being paid, living in his mother's garage from lack of our own money to have a place to ourselves, dropping out of college, ruining my credit..the cards were for everyday spending and cash for the drugs, and just being unhealthy mentally and physically..

during all of this i am missing the end of my grandpa's days..I lost my grandpa, one of the most important people in my life. Those pills took my life from me and me from the people who love me most. So I meet someone at work who made me feel great ...like I could still live! So after many failed attempts to quit the pills I drop the pain pills (and the nerve pills I snuck in for about 2 years, can't forget about that!) And quit the destructive relationship i was in (8 yearswith this man..) However I was on an anti depressant for a tad which may have helped with quitting cold turkey...but either way I quit 2 chemical addictions and one emotional addiction with one decision made! I stopped a 6 year cycle with some new found hope and determination to live differently. A solid 3 months of withdrawls.

Love yourself enough to have choices in life do not hinder it by making one bad choice. Life can change...as long as you're brave enough to stand up, there is nothing I've faced so far that compares to the challenges of being an addict. We are beautiful individuals...do not let anyone or anything take that from you! LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE (sorry cliche but so true) good luck I hope this inspired someone to stand UP!!!!!!! :) :) :) :)