Photo by Billy on Unsplash

Many years ago, I resorted to a life of crime to make ends meet. To the surprise of absolutely no one, this resulted in numerous legal issues for me. I ended up incarcerated for several months, and entered a halfway house upon my release. While in jail, I was able to really contemplate how my destination had become a correctional facility and concluded that drugs or alcohol were somehow factored into my issues. The halfway house was a blessing in disguise for me because at the time, I was ashamed of where I had been and where I was. There were mandatory obligations the residents had to fulfill; attending AA meetings daily, maintaining a job, keeping the house clean, etc. All of these things, felt like hurdles to an addict but in reality they were building a foundation for a better life.

One of my housemates had to attend court monthly as part of their alcohol-treatment, and he asked if I wanted to go. I didn’t have to work that day, and could have easily said no, but the fellowship that had been cultivated made me want to see him succeed. I went along with him and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Sitting in a courtroom when I wasn’t forced to be there and hearing the horror stories that people have manifested through action really struck me. For me, the moral of this story was I had no motive to gain anything out of going to support my friend, but the situation garnered so much more than I could’ve ever dreamed of. This day, coupled with making other positive changes has shaped who I am.

I can’t say this will be the end-all-be-all cure for drug and alcohol addiction, because everyone is different. Do not be afraid to ask for help, or for someone to go to a meeting with you! By asking for help, you are giving someone else the opportunity to be useful–and that could be more powerful than you’ll ever know.