Given a Chance

My name is Nick, and today I’m a grateful recovering drug addict. I’ve struggled with addiction all my life, and just over a year ago lost everything and everyone in my life to my crystal meth addiction. I was reduced to living on the streets, and all that goes with it. There were several warrants out for my arrest, and eventually the time came for me to be locked up in jail for several months. As bad as that experience, it’s where I made my first prayer for help.

How could I have known then what God would have in store for me? When I was finally released, there was no one to reach out to, no family or friend left to call upon. So I walked through downtown Phoenix to check myself into The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center. For the next six months I worked the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and while there my sponsor introduced me to a man who had a sober living home. I desperately wanted to move into one of his sober houses, but knew I wouldn’t have the first months rent. I told him my story and what the hope for my future was, and for some crazy reason he gave me a chance!

After graduating rehab I was given the opportunity to move into his Scottsdale house. I was willing to do whatever it would take to stay there. I did my chores, became friends with the other residents and found a job within the first two weeks of living in my new sober environment. I went to at least one AA meeting a day, followed all the rules and was beginning to feel great, knowing I was finally doing the right thing in my life.

After a some time, I was offered the opportunity to become a house manager. What a dream come true — my life had responsibility and purpose. Since then I’ve been able to help in the expansion of more homes for Sober Living AZ.

Recovery is...

Recovery is the most important aspect of my life and I get to work with recovering addicts and alcoholics everyday. In addition to that I now run my own small computer repair business on the side. How can I ever thank the wonderful people in the AA, CA and NA fellowship who have lent me a hand along the way? I’m extremely grateful for each and every individual like that man I met while I was at the Salvation Army who have such compassion for humanity. Without them I would not be here today.