I'm 20 years old. I was born in NJ to a family where alcoholism and mental illness runs deep. My alcoholic father left me, my step father was a heroin addict who beat me and abused me mentally and emotionally. My grandfather was like my dad really.

When I was 13, I started smoking cigarettes, smoking weed, and drinking alcohol. I met my father when I was 14 and have only seen him twice since then. He still actively drinks. My grandfather died when I was 15. My addiction progressed when I was 18 and discovered xanex and cocaine.

Over time I discovered opiates, hallucinogens, and everything else. Opiates turned into heroin. My ex girlfriend had a kid with someone else. It was supposed to be my kid. That fueled my addiction for awhile. I was extremely depressed, anxious, and suicidal. I've been to an IOP, two crisis centers, a psych ward, a detox, and two inpatient rehabs.

After I got out of my first rehab, I relapsed 16 days later because I tried doing it my way. I got out of my second rehab on September 25th of 2012 and I've been clean since. I live in south Florida and I live in a halfway house. I've been clean for 144 days only because I gave my life to the care of my higher power and I'm working the 12 steps of AA.