Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Help Header

Ron's Remorse and Addiction Recovery Story

by Ronald E. Houseweart
(Monroe,Wisconsin)

My story begins just like many others born in the 50's. I got caught up in the madness of the late 60's with all the drugs available on the streets. Marijuana,speed and acid were most prevalent in my town and there were plenty of people using back then ...

Being that I have an addictive nature, it did not take me long to fall into a routine of constant abuse of these drugs. Marijuana was my drug of choice through all the years of my addiction, but speed was relied upon when I worked long hours as a taxi driver. I would break down and inject a pharmaceutical speed called Perludin and be able to drive 10-18 hours per day and still function well enough to never get in an accident or come under the scrutiny of the police.

Years passed and I continued to work as a functioning drug abuser until the early years of the 80's. I believe it was 1982 or so that I was injured severely in a fight I started when I stopped a guy from stabbing his girlfriend in my brother's home. During the fight which eventually involved over ten guys and myself, I was injured by three guys wrapped up in each other grappling with each other,and then they fell on my right leg as I was facing the other way fighting with another guy. When they landed on my leg they tore out my anterior crucial ligament and destroyed my ring cartilage in my knee, all at once. Sudden unbelievable pain rocketed to my brain and I was out of the fight.

After 4 surgeries and many hours in rehab, I came out of it with a pain killer addiction that would last till 2009. I had quit drinking when I was 50 by taking a machette and almost chopping my left hand off at the wrist. I was desperate and knew I needed a shock to help me kick the worst addiction I ever fought in my life.

While in the alcoholic rehab in the hospital, I was asked by the surgeons why I took such a drastic measure to end my drinking, I replied,"in the Bible it says, "If thine right eye offends thee, pluck it out. Better to enter the Kingdom of Heaven with one eye, than never enter at all". I may be a little off on the verse, but they knew what I meant. To show they did and to help me with my quest, they performed the operation to sew all the tendons of my left hand back to my wrist and offered to do it all for free. I never received a bill for it.

As time went on my addiction to the pain killers got bigger and so did my search for other drugs as well. I then got into crack cocaine for two years with the help of an acquaintance of mine that always bought an 1/8 ounce - or two each time and wanted to share it with me for free. He was a good friend of mine and did not feel comfortable sharing with anyone else. Thus I got high for free. All in all I got to the point that my life - my marriage - and my self respect were at an all time low. My wife was ready to leave me and I was no good to anyone as a reliable person.

It suddenly came down to me realizing that just because I had quit drinking I was still an addict. So, I told my doctor I was done with all the pain meds and that I would work on training my brain to ignore the chronic pain and to do something if and when severe, abnormal pain arose to plague me. As I write this, I am pain killer free and use only a muscle relaxer to ease leg cramps I get from work and because of a liver enzyme problem my doc and I are working on to end. I use the drug maybe once in three or four days when the cramps become unbearable. I still do not drink after 7 years.

I guess my point in writing this is to say that you have to develop a "mind set" or a stubborn streak against an addiction and really want to end it. A person hitting their low is the start of this. I was so low - everything looked up to me.

Comments for Ron's Remorse and Addiction Recovery Story

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Wonderful Story(God bless U)
by: Trish

Omg all i can say is what an awsome story and wonderful way you came about it!I've never had the addiction of anything other than smoking regular cigs and drinking cokes and LORD help me to kick those 2 over night,but it took me getting sick and laying flat on my back looking up crying asking GOD to PLEASE take the taste of those 2 away from me forever and it took ME having the FAITH-n-TRUST in the Lord to be able to beat it and i've been free of both going on 6yrs.And i'm blessed to be able to say it and i'm happy to be able to tell it.So i'm sure your very proud of yourself and YOU should be..God Bless U and keep the FAITH in him cause he NEVER ever gives up on US.

Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Amazing Story
by: C-P

What a story Ron! Thanks for sharing. You've certainly had quite the journey. I couldn't agree with you more about wanting it. Without that desire for sobriety, you have nothing, and it is I believe the crucial ingredient in finding a life free from addiction. I think chopping off your hand was a bit extreme and not sure the Bible was intended to be interpreted that literally, but you've obviously come a long way. Stick around and maybe share your experiences in guiding others in the Q&A section of the site. Your wisdom could be invaluable to others.
Take Care

Click here to add your own comments

Return to Archive of Your Drug Addiction and Alcoholism Stories.





+1 Alcoholism-and-Drug-Addiction-Help.com  

FREE E-Course

"10 Essential Steps to Ending a Life of Alcoholism or Drug Addiction ... Permanently!"

This Course is packed full of valuable information and advice for overcoming addiction that you're unlikely to find anywhere else.

And if you subscribe now - we'll throw in a Special eBook that will help immensely in your struggle against addiction.
E-mail
Name
Then

Don't worry - your e-mail
address is totally secure.
Your details will NEVER be sold and you will NOT be spammed.



XML RSS
What is this?
Add to My Yahoo!
My MSN RSS button
Add to Google


Copyright © 2013 - Alcoholism-and-Drug-Addiction-Help.com - All Rights Reserved.