It's always a thrill to meet new people in the program of NA. My web site has allowed me to communicate with people from all over the world seeking recovery and it is, for me, very comforting to know that wherever I go, I am not alone.

I started using drugs when I was about eight years old. At different times, when one type of drug would get me in trouble,I would switch to another. I guess you could say that I was a Garbage Can Junkie as I would do anything as long as it would help me to escape from my feeling of emptiness and lonliness. Only by the Grace of a Loving God have I managed to survive my near thirty years of active addiction.

Like many others, I tried to quit using at various times during my life, but,  I just couldn't.  The obsession and compulsion to use, something, anything,  kept me using despite the knowledge that it was destroying me.

As our literature states "Most of us realized that in our addiction we were slowly committing suicide but we had lost the power to do anything about it."

All my life everything I touched seemed to turn to dust.  Goals,  dreams, ambitions, family,  jobs,  self respect,  everything fell apart as a result of my addiction.  Along the way I paid  numerous visits to jails, institutions,  and only God knows how many  times I knocked on death's door.

Over the years I went to several treatment centers, psychologists, and churches hoping to to get "cured."  Then one day I came to the realization that although I was aware of Narcotics Anonymous, and had even been to a couple of meetings by the invitation of the judicial system,   I had never given the program of Narcotics Anonymous an honest effort.  I decided to do that.  I was certain that it would not work. I reserved the right to use again,  but by the grace of God and the fellowship of  Narcotics Anonymous,  I have been clean ever since.

It hasn't always been easy.  I had to follow the suggestions I received at the meetings and the "Musts" found in our Basic Text. I had to be willing to do what ever it takes to stay clean just like the Basic Text says.  I had to incorporate regular meeting attendance,  sponsorship, stepwork,  and service work into my life.

In the beginning I went to meetings daily,  sometimes two or three a day.
I   found a sponsor  that appeared to have something to offer that I wanted, recovery not just clean time.  I began to work a program by applying the  Spiritual Principles of the program to all my affairs. I also became very involved in service to the fellowship,  I've heard it said that "Service is the greatest form of gratitude."

I am currently serving the fellowship as my Home Group Treasurer and our Area Webservant.  In times past I have served as the Area Treasurer, two years as the Area  Literature Chair, and,  prior to that,  a term as a GSR. Additionally,  I served on a Juvenile Detention Panel for 13 months and continue to participate in H & I panels and various activities planning committees.  I have even spoken at a few NA functions. In return I have received a new life.

Somewhere around 6 months clean I realized I couldn't remember the last time I had a real compulsion to use and realized that I had received the promise of our program that "Any addict can stop using, loose the desire to use, and find a better way to live."

Today I have a wonderful wife and a loving family that includes  four grand kids. On the date of my 5th year clean I was able to move into my first  home that I was able to purchase. Today I have reliable transportation, my bills are all in my name, I am not hiding from the judicial system, bill collectors, or anyone else for that matter. I was able to go back to school and got a college degree in Human Services where I graduated at the top of my class. Not bad for someone that dropped out of school in the 10th grade. As a result, I am now a State Qualified Chemical Dependency Professional.  I am currently employed as a  Counselor at an adult treatment facility called AllVest House North in Edmonds, Washington, a position that I absolutely love as I get to share the promise of this program with newcomers everyday.