Research on addiction recovery offers a hopeful perspective, with studies showing that three out of four people who experience addiction eventually recover, according to the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Additionally, Dr. John Kelly, Head of the Recovery Research Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital, found that 9% of American adults are living in recovery from a substance use disorder. While recovery is possible for many, success often depends on factors such as the substances used, the duration of treatment, and an individual’s mental health.
Kimberly’s Story:
“Recovery is a choice I make daily,” Kimberly emphasized. “I have attended multiple addiction treatment centers, but none of them worked because I had not yet let go of the mentality required to survive in active addiction.”
Kimberly is referring to homelessness, human trafficking, starvation, being held captivity, sexual abuse and incarceration that are part of a woman’s life during active addiction on the street.
“I was jaded by life,” she explained. “I thought prolonged recovery was unobtainable to me. So much had already been stolen from me in life.”
“It wasn’t until I looked out a window and saw my face wet with tears that I began to take back my power that was taken from me in active addiction. Instead of giving up on myself, I signed into Amethyst and became involved in my recovery. I also promised myself to take this lifetime recovery journey, one day at a time.”
Kimberly has shown herself and others the value and determination of her changed mindset. With the help she obtained from the Amethyst staff, she is proud of more than 18 months of sobriety.
“I now have an apartment to call home, participate in a 12-step program, have a sponsor, communicate with my family and have a support system in my life. I have exceeded every goal set forth before me in my treatment plan. I now have a purpose and a hope to empower my peers and the community around me with my pathway to recovery.”