Recovery is the best thing that has happened to me.
Instagram: @wesjamieson88
Recovery date: 07/20/24
Drug of choice: Opiates/Alcohol
Story: I grew up in a drug and alcohol fueled home, with drug use and physical abuse being the highlight of my childhood remembrance. It was not uncommon for the police to be at our home a few nights a week. Until the day DCF took me out of the home.
I grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts until I was 16, then moved to the Uphams corner neighborhood of Dorchester. From there my drug use and involvement with the lifestyle (which is an addiction of itself) started to really take off.
I got injured playing baseball and the doctor prescribing me Percocet was really what made EVERYTHING FLIP. From the moment I took them, I had a feeling that this wasn’t going to be good because I LOVED the effect I got from them.
Buying them on the street, and eventually leading me and my “friends” to take road trips down to Florida to hit multiple doctors offices (pill mills) a day. Then only to come back to Massachusetts and cash in on the profit margins. And to dive deeper into my “love” for these pills. Not until one day the pills ran out and stopped being as effective, as they once were, was I introduced to heroine. The cure-all miracle!!
From there, my life became drastically worse. Jails, institutions, and even death—by the grace of god, I was able to survive with the help of Narcan.
Still burning bridges, ruining relationships with family and loved ones, I carried on while losing great job opportunities and throwing away my “dreams”.
However, in 2012, I was introduced to Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, and started the journey to a “better me”—at first, but I was young and wasn’t ready, nor did I TRULY want to stop using.
It was not until—fast forward 15 more years of destruction, pain and suffering that I finally thought to myself “I will die if I don’t make a change.”
Now I try to keep it simple—not taking life for granted, or my family, my friends and moment’s for granted—I enjoy my life. I try to give back and help others. I freely give away what was freely given to me: a relationship with my higher power that I never thought was possible.
Recovery is the best thing that has happened to me. I have goals and dreams that I work towards everyday. I’m currently in truck driving school to get my CDL. My goal is to drive cross-country for a year or 2 save my money and buy my own truck and start a little trucking business.
My boyhood dream is to be on TV or a feature film, I’ve ALWAYS wanted to work in front of the camera. It’s been my DREAM to work in front of the camera and pass along the knowledge and awareness of drug addiction to the youth and younger generation. Hopefully one day my dream will come true. Until then I will stay sober.
I thank god for another day, and try to help a newcomer.
When did you realize your life had become unmanageable?: The moment I put a mind-altering substance into my body.
What did your recovery look like?: HELL!!! My recovery was impossible at first. Only until I surrendered and took suggestions from "old timers" that my recovery came together full circle. The mental freedom is GREAT.
How are you doing these days? Sober and working a 12-step program.
What do you do to maintain your recovery? Meetings, call my sponsor, pray, and help newcomers
What are you grateful for? Another day of continuous sobriety.
My daughter and family 🙏
Any goals or aspirations you’d like to share? To start a trucking company. And one day work in front of the camera on the big screen. 🙏
Any advice you would give to newly sober folks?: Meeting makers make it. More meetings more chances. Less meetings less chances.