The Narconon Program Gave Me My Life Back – 20 Years Clean

 

I was born and raised in Fredericksburg, Iowa. Life was good before I started using drugs. I was working, fishing, hunting, and camping.

The happiest moments in my life were when my kids were born. I have three children, all born about three years apart, and for each one, I felt happy and proud.

I first started using drugs through friends, though I wouldn’t really call them that. I was milking cows on my dairy farm, and they helped me out, then they got me started on meth. It all went downhill from there.

Drugs caused my marriage to fall apart, my kids were taken away from me, and my dad had to take over the farm so I wouldn’t lose it. I was facing jail time and had stopped associating with my family. My dad and I got into several feuds.

I was arrested for manufacturing meth after the police came to my apartment with a search warrant. That’s when my mom and dad started researching rehab centers. My parents found Narconon, contacted them, and they came to pick me up from jail and took me to Narconon Arrowhead on December 10, 2004.

I was really nervous when I first arrived. I didn’t know what to expect. I had been in jail for two months, so withdrawal was simple. After a little while, I started talking to people and made a few friends.

There was a guy who worked there who took us on hikes through the hills. I liked it because I could get out in the fresh air. One day, it was snowing and I went out for a walk anyway. When I came back, I was covered in snow with my beard frosted up. Everyone thought that was funny.

Going through the sauna program was the biggest thing for me. I felt more energetic. I don’t know how to explain it—I just felt a lot better physically, and my mind was clear.

While in the program, I learned that I need to take care of myself first, then my family and the other parts of life. If I stay focused on those, everything else will be what it is, but all I can control is what I do.

When I graduated, I gave a speech and was nervous as heck—I’m not a public speaker, and the audience was packed. But it was a big win to graduate. I knew at that point that I had to stay clean, or I’d end up in the same situation I was in before. I would have either been in jail or dead. I wanted to be there for my kids and now my parents, who are getting older. I’m glad I’m here and able to help them out.

Getting off meth and staying off is my proudest accomplishment. I’ve known a lot of people who quit but went back to it. But from the time I graduated in March 2005 until now, I’ve been clean.

My relationship with my family is excellent—better than it’s ever been. I talk to my mom and dad every day and see them often. I got my farm back to take care of and now I grow corn and soybean crops on it. I look forward to living my life the best I can.

Now that I’m drug-free, I’m more relaxed. I don’t know how to explain it. I don’t have to look over my shoulder all the time or always be looking for meth. I just do what I’ve got to do and live life.

“The Narconon program gave me my life back—and a better life than what I had before.”

If you are actively caught in addiction, get help and get out. That’s the main thing, because it’s a dead-end road. It’s blunt, but it’s better than sugar-coating it.

But if you’re on the road to recovery, stay strong. It’s worth it if you get clean and stay clean.

The Narconon program gave me my life back—and a better life than what I had before.

Thank you for giving me my life back!

T.J.S., Narconon Arrowhead Graduate