Personal Narrative: My Personal Journey To Drug Addiction Recovery

On what started as a normal day for a three-year-old, I had pulled out all of my Barbie dolls from the toy chest. Just as I was about to send Barbie on her next adventure, my dad ran into the house, shouting loudly, “Girls! We have to go now!” I don’t remember a lot about that day, but I do remember the pure panic on his face. My mom had fallen off of the ladder while hanging Christmas lights. She had several contusions and a completely shattered kneecap. She underwent emergency surgery to repair her kneecap and confirm that no bone fragments entered her bloodstream. Since I was so young at the time, I don’t remember her surgeons or the medical staff that took care of her. I did not decide to be a doctor at this time. However, I vividly recall that her injury changed our lives in the weeks and months that followed. My mom could not walk …show more content…
Before these classes, I had very few interactions with those who suffered from addictions. While attending a community event for addiction recovery, I heard a speaker describe his personal journey from drug addiction to prison to becoming director of a local residential rehabilitation facility. His story was just one of many, each with their own painful description of how addiction upended their lives. I gained a new perspective on a group which is often quickly judged or dismissed. I learned that a person’s social circumstances, along with biological mechanisms, can lead to a much higher risk of substance abuse and addiction. These circumstances vary from abandonment as a child to a parents’ divorce. I heard firsthand accounts illustrating how addiction can impact a person’s ability to hold a job or maintain relationships. There are also lasting consequences for children who are raised in homes with these issues. Again, I was reminded how a health issue can so thoroughly affect a person’s