Addiction Stories - Shanna - Suffolk County Community College

Summary

Shanna, a 26-year-old recovering heroin addict, recounts her journey from high school drinking and marijuana use to heroin addiction with an ex-boyfriend. Despite coming from a loving family, she experienced denial and relapse, leading to theft and imprisonment. A pivotal moment in jail, detoxing and witnessing a fellow inmate's suicide, led to her surrender to recovery. Shanna's story emphasizes that addiction affects everyone, regardless of background, and highlights the importance of support and treatment in overcoming addiction.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Shanna, at 26, has been clean from heroin for nearly three years, showcasing the possibility of recovery.
• 🍻 Her journey began with excessive drinking and marijuana use in high school, highlighting how substance misuse can escalate.
• 💔 Shanna's introduction to opiates and later heroin by an ex-boyfriend illustrates the influence of relationships on addiction.
• 🏥 Her first experience in rehab was challenging, marked by denial and a sense of not belonging, reflecting common feelings among those in early recovery.
• 🌱 Despite initial denial, attending Narcotics Anonymous meetings was a step towards acknowledging her struggle with addiction.
• 🔁 Relapse with a new partner who was also an addict underscores the complexity of recovery and the triggers that can lead to setbacks.
• 😔 Shanna's feelings of loneliness and isolation, despite a supportive family, reveal the internal battles addicts face.
• 🏡 The impact of her addiction on her family, including theft and causing fear, shows the far-reaching effects of substance abuse.
• 🚓 An arrest and time in jail, including the suicide of her boyfriend, served as a wake-up call and a turning point in her recovery.
• 💪 A pivotal moment was her father's intervention, urging her to commit to long-term treatment, which was crucial for her turnaround.
• 🏫 Post-rehabilitation, Shanna pursued education, demonstrating that rebuilding one's life is an integral part of the recovery process.
• 💌 The letters from her sisters were a source of motivation and a reminder of the importance of her role within her family, providing emotional support.

Q & A

How old is Shanna and how long has she been clean?

Shanna is 26 years old and has been clean for almost three years.

What substances did Shanna use before getting involved with heroin?

Shanna used to drink alcohol and smoke marijuana before she started using heroin.

How did Shanna get introduced to opiates and heroin?

Shanna's ex-boyfriend, who was a heroin addict, introduced her to opiates and later to heroin because it was cheaper and easier to get.

What was Shanna's initial reaction to her first treatment experience?

Shanna had a hard time during her first treatment and felt out of place, as she came from a loving family and didn't see herself as having the same problems as others in rehab.

Why did Shanna relapse after her first treatment?

Shanna relapsed because she wasn't completely ready to accept that she was an addict and couldn't do the things everyone around her was doing.

How did Shanna's addiction affect her family?

Shanna's addiction led her to steal from her family, including her mother's engagement ring, and caused her family to live in fear and constant watchfulness.

What was the turning point for Shanna that led to her second treatment?

The turning point was when Shanna was arrested and put in jail, where she witnessed her boyfriend commit suicide, which made her realize the depth of her situation.

What program did Shanna attend for her second treatment, and how long did she stay?

Shanna attended Daytop, an all-woman's program, for six months.

What support did Shanna receive from her family during her recovery?

Shanna received letters from her sisters during her treatment, which kept her motivated and helped her stay on the path of recovery.

How did Shanna's perception of her family background change after her experiences with addiction?

Shanna realized that addiction doesn't discriminate and can affect anyone, regardless of their family background or history.

What steps did Shanna take after her treatment to regain her life?

After her treatment, Shanna went to a sober house, returned to college, and slowly started to rebuild her life.

Outlines

00:00

🔄 Struggle with Addiction and Recovery

Shanna, a 26-year-old recovering heroin addict, shares her journey from high school drinking and marijuana use to becoming addicted to opiates and eventually heroin. She discusses her denial about her addiction, her first stint in rehab, and her relapse after meeting another addict. Shanna describes the impact of her addiction on her family, including theft and the emotional toll it took on her loved ones. She also recounts her arrest and the tragic suicide of her boyfriend in jail, which led to a pivotal moment of realization about her life and the need for change.

05:00

🌟 Overcoming Obstacles and Rediscovering Purpose

After her father's insistence, Shanna acknowledges the need for long-term help and checks into Nassau Medical Center detox, followed by Daytop, an all-women's program. She stayed there for six months before moving to a sober house and eventually returning to college. Shanna emphasizes the importance of her sisters' letters during her treatment, which served as a lifeline and motivation to change. She concludes by highlighting the universality of addiction, stating that it affects people from all backgrounds and that her seemingly perfect family life did not shield her from its grasp.

Keywords

💡Heroin addiction

Heroin addiction refers to a compulsive physical and psychological dependence on heroin, an opioid drug. In the video, Shanna describes her journey as a recovering heroin addict, highlighting the profound impact of addiction on her life. The narrative illustrates the progression from initial use to full-blown addiction, and the subsequent struggle to overcome it.

💡Recovery

Recovery in the context of addiction refers to the process of regaining control over one's life after being dependent on a substance. Shanna has been clean for almost three years, which signifies her ongoing recovery. The video emphasizes the importance of recovery as a transformative journey, where Shanna learns to live without the crutch of heroin.

💡Denial

Denial is a psychological defense mechanism where an individual refuses to accept reality or the truth about a situation, often related to their own behavior. Shanna initially denied her addiction, thinking she could control her substance use. This keyword is crucial as it highlights the difficulty in acknowledging and addressing addiction.

💡Relapse

Relapse denotes a return to addictive behavior after a period of abstinence. In the script, Shanna's relapse with her boyfriend underscores the challenges of maintaining sobriety and the influence of relationships on addiction. It illustrates the cyclical nature of addiction and the need for ongoing commitment to recovery.

💡Treatment

Treatment refers to the clinical interventions and support systems designed to help individuals overcome addiction. Shanna's experiences in rehab and detoxification centers are pivotal in her journey, representing the structured approach to addressing addiction and the importance of professional help.

💡Support system

A support system comprises the network of individuals who provide emotional, practical, and sometimes financial assistance to someone in need. Shanna's family, particularly her sisters, play a significant role in her recovery, exemplifying the importance of a loving and supportive environment in the healing process.

💡Sobriety

Sobriety is the state of being free from the influence of addictive substances. Shanna's three years of being clean is a testament to her sobriety, which is a central theme in the video. It represents the goal of recovery and the new life she has built without drugs.

💡Narcotics Anonymous

Narcotics Anonymous is a global, community-based organization that offers a 12-step program for recovery from drug addiction. Shanna's introduction to NA meetings signifies her engagement with a community of individuals who share similar struggles, highlighting the value of peer support in overcoming addiction.

💡Arrest

Arrest in the context of the video refers to the legal consequence of Shanna's actions while under the influence of drugs. Her arrest and subsequent time in jail serve as a turning point, forcing her to confront the reality of her addiction and the need for change.

💡Suicide

Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death, often associated with deep emotional distress or despair. The suicide of Shanna's boyfriend in jail is a tragic event that deeply affects her, underscoring the severe emotional toll of addiction on both the individual and their loved ones.

💡Surrender

Surrender in the context of addiction recovery means accepting the reality of one's condition and the need for change. Shanna's realization that she must surrender to her addiction is a critical moment in her journey, illustrating the necessity of self-acceptance as a precursor to healing.

Highlights

Shanna, a 26-year-old, has been clean from heroin addiction for nearly three years.

Her struggles began with excessive drinking in high school.

She progressed to smoking marijuana without recognizing her dependency.

An ex-boyfriend introduced her to opiates and later to heroin.

Shanna's first experience in rehab was challenging, marked by denial.

She attended Narcotics Anonymous meetings but initially didn't see herself as having a problem.

A relationship with another addict led to a relapse.

Shanna realized she needed to accept her addiction to change.

She acknowledges feeling alone and misunderstood despite a loving family.

Addiction led her to steal from her family, including her mother's engagement ring.

Her family lived in fear, monitoring her every move.

Shanna recounts stealing from her grandparents and others to fuel her addiction.

An arrest and jail time prompted a moment of realization about her life's direction.

Tragically, her boyfriend committed suicide while they were both in jail.

Shanna's father insisted on long-term treatment to combat her addiction.

She credits her family's support, particularly letters from her sisters, for her recovery.

Shanna emphasizes that addiction affects everyone, regardless of their background.

Transcripts

My name is Shanna. I'm a recovering heroin addict.

I am 26 years old and I've been clean for almost three years.

In high school, I drank a lot.

I always knew that I was one of the ones that just drank a little too much

and when I was drinking, I didn't have to have an excuse for what I was doing.

Slowly I started smoking marijuana.

I never really thought I had a problem

and I had met an ex-boyfriend who was a heroin addict and

we started selling opiates together

and I happened to try it and I fell in love the first pill I took.

He had been doing heroin all along I just wasn't aware of it

and then once I started doing the opiates,

he introduced me to the heroin because it was cheaper and easier to get.

And the first time I went into treatment I was willing to go and I went

and I just, I had a really hard time while I was there.

You know I didn't know how my life had become the way that it had become

and now I'm sitting in a rehab and you know I don't belong here.

I had such a great family

and I came from you know being so loved

and I would hear stories about people that were abused or that didn't have parents or

you know just stories where I disqualified myself because I did come from this  loving family that cared about me so much

and yet I was still sitting in the same seats as these people were.

I definitely was in denial.

I had gotten introduced to Narcotics Anonymous meetings.

I didn't think that alcohol or marijuana was a problem.

I thought that as long as I stayed away from the pills that I would be okay.

And that's what I did. I got out of treatment,

I drank and I smoked you know occasionally

but I would still go to these meetings and I still for some reason

it was like, "I don't have a problem the way that they do. I could still do these things."

And that lasted for a little while.

I met another guy and he happened to be a heroin addict as well. He was in recovery.

We relapsed together.

For me, I think that relapse happened because I really wasn't completely ready  to surrender to the fact that I was an addict

and I wasn't able to drink

and I wasn't able to do things that everyone around me was able to do.

And I really had to come to the realization that this was how my life has to be now

and I'm not a normal kid at that point.

As much as I was surrounded by people that loved me and cared about me,

I did feel alone. I felt like no one understood me

and I knew I wasn't happy with who I was

and I really didn't know why.

Unfortunately, I did a lot of damage to my family

before I really realized that I can't live like this anymore.

I had stolen everything from my parents

down to my mother's engagement ring.

I was a shell of myself walking around my house.

I have three younger sisters that

I think were more terrified that I was going to die than anything else

and I would just come home and it was like nothing else  mattered besides how I was going to get high.

You know my mom wasn't able to leave her pocketbook around.

You know they had to watch everything that I did.

And you know the last time I had stolen  pills from someone's house that my sister babysits for.

I had stolen things from my grandparents.

You know really went you know as low as I could possibly get for me.

And I was with that boyfriend

and we decided to rob somebody.

And we succeeded but then eventually got arrested.

And that's really when I was sitting in a jail cell

realized you know, "What am I doing?"

You know, now I'm in jail.

You know, I'm not in rehab anymore. I'm in jail.

Unfortunately, while I was in that jail cell my boyfriend who I got gotten arrested with committed suicide in the jail cell.

I was just detoxing from heroin.

I'm sitting in the jail cell wondering how I got there

and they had called me down and told me that now he was dead.

I still can like remember so clearly sitting across from and the plastic being in the way

and just hysterical crying, just wanting my dad to hold me.

Just wanting my dad to hug me.

You know and the pain I felt for doing the things that I did

and the pain that he felt was just like unimaginable.

After all of that pain that I had caused them,

I still couldn't stop because I wasn't willing to surrender.

I just, I was stuck in feeling so miserable for myself and I continued to use.

And my dad had approached me once again and he said to me, "Shanna, you have to go away and you got to go away for a long time."

I had to like look inside myself and know that I was better than this.

I was better than this disease.

I didn't deserve to be letting this disease control my life.

And if I didn't go through the pain I probably wouldn't  have, I probably wouldn't have ever gotten to that point.

I got dropped off at Nassau Medical Center detox

and I ended up transferring to Daytop which is an all-woman's program

and I stayed there for six months.

And decided that when I got out that I was gonna go to a sober house.

And I did that and from there I went back to college

and I just slowly started to regain my life back.

I'll never forget being in treatment and this was when I was in long-term

and I got a letter from my sister saying that she wanted her sister back.

An older sister to three girls that should be looking up to me

and all I'm doing is you know, disappointing them.

That's all I was doing.

The amount of letters that I got from my sisters while I was in treatment was you know constant, constant. Which is what really kept me going.

Every day I would wake up I'd say, "I want to get the hell out of here. You know, I don't want to stay here. I gotta go."

But those letters really saved my life.

I come from that all-American family where if you guys came to my house you would say, "Oh, they're a picture-perfect little happy family."

I want people to know that it doesn't matter that I came from that because I was sitting in a jail cell with people that had murdered people, you know.

No matter if you come from a good family, a bad family, abuse you know

whatever, whatever your history is

it doesn't matter because addiction doesn't discriminate.