I Finally Have the Family and Life I Always Wanted

I was born in Lowell MA where I was raised until 4th grade. Then we moved to Hudson NH. I was outgoing, happy and had a lot of good friends. I had a great childhood with a strong family foundation. I literally didn’t even smoke cigarettes until age 18, and I casually drank at parties, but not an excessive amount. My happiest moments growing up were spent with family traveling to NY. My mom would take me and my brother and sister to visit aunts, uncles and cousins. My dad worked a lot and came when he could.

I graduated high school at age 17 and then went to college. I started casually using marijuana and alcohol at college parties. Eventually I tried cocaine at one of these parties. It gave me a lot of energy to stay up late and kept me going while playing football. When I was around 19 years old a friend at a party asked me to try heroin. I resisted at first but then gave in and tried it. I sniffed the first bag, and nothing happened. I sniffed another bag and still nothing happened. My friend told me that if the third bag didn’t do anything then he wasn’t going to give me anymore. The third bag made me just about comatose, and I felt like I was floating. I did it every day for two weeks straight and then stopped. I felt like I had the flu. I was sick, I had chills, I was shaking, I was throwing up and I had bad muscle cramps. I didn’t know what withdrawal symptoms were at the time. No one warned me. My friend eventually told me that I was withdrawing and I should go to his house and take a bump to feel better. I got some and immediately got well again. After that, I continued doing it because I never wanted to feel that ill again.

Because I started nodding off at family functions, my family became concerned. My mother always stuck by me but everyone else in my close circle wanted nothing to do with me. My brother would not let me be alone with his kids because of the way I nodded off and looked while I was an active drug user. He didn’t want his children to have to witness me overdose. My sister was in school in NYC, so she wasn’t around me as much. My father had given up and stated he couldn’t do anything else to help me. My Godmother knew a family with 2 sons at Narconon. My mother arranged for me to go to Narconon to get help.

I had never been to rehab; I was nervous and didn’t know what to expect. I was far from anywhere and had nowhere to run to. When I arrived, the staff brought me in and took me to the withdrawal area. They gave me assists which I thought were strange but felt good. I was wondering where I was and what are they doing to me. Withdrawal was no fun but somehow, I got through it. The sauna was next to get the drugs and toxins out of my body, and it was a very good experience. Detoxing in the sauna was a huge win. It helped me to start feeling better, find myself and start working out again. I was able to start making friends and got to know people. I ran a mile every day and got my body back in shape. I started seeing obvious things that I couldn’t see when my mind was clouded by drugs. I realized I could decide not to use drugs.

I’ll never forget, one day the executive director called me into his office, he gave me a rubber band. He told me to put it down and when I did, he told me it’s just that easy. You put it down and decide not to pick it up again. Do the same with drugs. I thought that was a great lesson and one that stuck with me.

At my graduation there was a celebrity’s son there under an assumed name. The celebrity came to graduation. Seeing a celebrity there made me understand that addiction can happen to anybody. I felt accomplished at graduation, but more excited to come back to the facility to work. Narconon offered me a chance to work there, and I felt that it was a safe place to be.

“Narconon helped me fully understand the underlying reasons why I wanted to use drugs and gave me the tools to successfully stay clean.”

I have been clean for 22 years. The Narconon program opened my eyes to seeing how rehabilitation can successfully help and have a lasting impact on addicts. Narconon helped me fully understand the underlying reasons why I wanted to use drugs and gave me the tools to successfully stay clean. I learned that if it’s not good for you, it’s ok to put it down and walk away. You are the only one in control of your mind and body.

I have a beautiful wife who I believe helped save me. I met her shortly after rehab and she was the first person outside of rehab that I could not manipulate. She encouraged me to get a new job as a manager, go back to college and get off my parent’s car insurance. With her by my side I was able to make healthy choices. She also randomly drug tested me for years. She helped me become an even better person by making me a husband and a father of 2 beautiful girls. I have owned 3 homes and a successful restaurant since leaving rehab.

I remember watching my brother and his family and wanting a life like he had, but I believed that wasn’t possible. My brother would often tell me I could have all of that, but I would have quit to drugs in order to make it happen. He was right. I am currently looking forward to retirement and watching my children grow and make their own families. Good family values are important.

We recently moved to Florida to be mortgage-free after selling our home and business. I would have not believed this to be possible 23 years ago. My relationship with my family is unbelievable. We are all so close although we are miles apart now. I talk to my mom every day and I thank her for never giving up on me even when the rest of the world did.

I know how hard it must have been on her, and I can’t imagine going through what I did to her with my own children. My dad and I Facetime everyday as well, and we are like best friends. We often visit back and forth between NH and FL. I think they are just so happy to have me back.

The best thing about being drug free is not having that monkey on my back anymore. I love being awake and aware of everything going on in our lives. I don’t nod off at family gatherings, I’m able to have intellectual conversations with the people around me. My wife appreciates all the help I can give her. We are a team now and I love every minute.

If you are in active addiction I would tell you, “Anybody can do it!” But you must keep your mind open because the journey to becoming clean can be uncomfortable at times.

Most rehabs usually tell you that you will fail the first few go arounds, but you don’t have to. Let the therapy work, give it a chance and be open to understanding the root cause of why you are choosing addiction over a healthy lifestyle. If you cannot understand the reason why you have turned to addiction, you will be miserable and still want to use. If you’re in early recovery it is so important to surround yourself with good hearted people.

If you’re a faithful person surround yourself with God. I found that keeping busy and discovering healthy outlets can keep you on the right path. You must be ready to quit for yourself and not anybody else. Believe you can do it. If I can stop using drugs after twelve straight years, then anyone can do it. Find the will power within.

Basil T., Narconon (Chilocco) Arrowhead Graduate