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It's Never Too Late

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It's Never Too Late

I was 53 years old when I became a Meth Head, Tweaker, Addict or whatever else you want to call it. So you see my title "It's Never Too Late" has a double meaning. I started and stopped using Crystal Meth pretty late in life. Up until then I was a very successful (salary > $250,000/year) engineering manager at a large aerospace company. I can't say which one because it's part of the non disclosure clause in my termination papers. But I'm getting ahead of myself. I had a $500,000 home with a pool out back, a?devoted wife, three grown kids out of the house, two dogs, two cars, a Harley Davidson, a vacation condo, a large life savings, and a lurking addiction problem.?I'm not bragging but I wanted you to know the depth of my fall.?I had been part of a team that brought a failing product line from a $50M/year business to one that now brings in $800M. I thought nothing could touch me. Boy, was I wrong! I'd drink beer just about every night but kept it to about a six pack a night. As I reached my 40s I started to feel tired at work so I convinced my doc to prescribe me Dexadrine (Speed). I found I could drink more while I did speed. I started to frequent strip clubs on my way home from work. I asked one of the girls if she'd meet me at a hotel after work and she agreed. We made it a regular thing. One night she broke out a pipe and took a few hits. She told me it was Meth. I asked for a hit and she reluctantly agreed. She said she'd never forgive herself if I got hooked. How prophetic was that. I didn't sleep that night and felt great. It took me only till the next time we met and I was done. Over the next 4 years I went from all that I described above to entering a Veterans Admin (VA) Rehab as a destitute because I didn't have enough money to buy my next meal. I was divorced, fired from my job for testing positve for Meth, no house, belongings, cars, motorcycles, or savings. My body was racked with Rhuematoid Arthritis, Conjestive heart failure, rotting teeth (I lost all my uppers). I think you can safely say I had hit rock bottom. Today, I've been clean for 1.5 years, have retirement income, live in my own 2 BR apartment, a 2010 Toyota, and I'm goin to Florida on Vacation. I am recovering because my family didn't give up on me (Thank God I didn't screw them over too bad), the VA Rehab, and a plan for after Rehab care which includes volunteering at the local VA hospital & Rehab and going to 12 step meetings 3 times a week. Don't go rolling your eyes! LOL I don't know why it works but I've been clean and a lot of others aren't. I stay focused on the present and don't kick myself too hard?about the past?but I'm still here standing.



Partners for Hope raise critical funds on behalf Partnership to End Addiction – the nation’s leading organization dedicated to addiction prevention, treatment and recovery. Every dollar raised on behalf of the Partnership* will help ensure free, personalized family support resources, including our national helpline, peer-to-peer parent coaching, customized online tools and community education programs, can reach those who need them most. Please consider donating to this fundraiser and sharing this page.

*Donations made to Partnership to End Addiction are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. All contributions are fully tax-deductible, as no goods or services are provided in consideration in whole, or in part, of any contribution to this nonprofit organization.  EIN: 52-1736502

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Comments

1. Kerri
Are buyers of this drink required to show ID at point of sale? The slick packaging is similar to iced teas and such - on purpose I suppose. It is really important to keep a dialog open between parents and children about these products.
2. Greg Chant
This is a very great post! Alcohol companies are aiming to expose young kids to alcoholism. This will make their claim at a new generation of regular customers. It is really disheartening to see another generation seeking for alcoholism and addiction cure.
3. Vanessa Reynolds
Hank I am so proud of you. It was brave to share that with the world. You are an inspiration.