hi my name is gary im 45 years old living in whitesboro ny. i am telling my story of my addiction and heartaches due to using drugs which almost destroyed my life in hopes to save some people from this.

well i started using drugs at 18 which was marijuana. then came drinking. everything was good until i got introduced to cocaine i used for many years was able to keep a job until age 30 in which i started using crack and my life became a living hell- i used to live and lived to use. one day i was using and i ran out and had no money. me being under influence , I made a bad choice and robbed 3 stores: price chopper, eckerds and rite aid to get more drugs. eventually i turned myself in to police. i did 10 years in prison- my whole 30s locked up. while in prison i seen people get stabbed, people get sliced by razors, and also seen an officer get beat by an inmate. i worked as a inmate cook which kept me busy all day and kept me out of trouble. i did have one fight tho. while in prison my kids' mom became sick with cancer. my 13 year old, selena, was the one who wrote me and told me her mom died. i thought a lot if i want to be there for my kids or do i want to use drugs. thank god i chose my kids. i was released in april 2009 made a 180 degree turn around took parenting classes, completed drug treatment , and got sole custody of my daughter selena from a county judge i have a beautiful place now, nice things and am a single parent dad loving life. never thought it was possible but it is- i'm living proof.

i hope my story saves someones life