My story begins with growing up in a decent household in the 1970’s. I came from a rough part of town, Watts, California. As a youngster I managed to stay out of trouble and drug free. I always said that drugs were something I wouldn’t  do and where I came from, if you didn’t commit  a violent  crime, graduated from High School, and stayed out of trouble, basically you were doing pretty  good. During my Middle School years, I smoked Marijuana and dabbled with alcohol. That combined with an addictive behavior was a recipe for disaster and from then on I was headed toward impending turmoil. In High School I became an athlete and managed to graduate and go on to college, but the drinking and using continued. In college I played football and could have gotten a better education but the concentration just wasn’t there. While not altogether prepared, I somehow managed to get through 4 years of college. After college, I joined the Marines where the alcoholism increased, yet I maintained a good work ethic. After my military career ended, I was back at home. As a young black man approaching manhood in the inner city in the mid 80’s, I’m sure you can imagine what that was like.

Our community became inundated with drugs, violence, and guns. But that was no excuse because I would have found my way to drugs and dysfunction anywhere.I started a career in heavy construction, building freeways throughout the city of Los Angeles. Drugs were widely used in the industry and I dove in head first and that’s when my life took a drastic change. Life for me continued on a steady decline that included loss of jobs, incarcerations, loss of family, and all the negativity that accompany addiction. I have been to rehabilitation centers on two occasions and the first time was a lie. I just went to keep my job and while there I just went through the motions. I didn’t take directions or learn anything about myself and eventually I ended up with the same results once I returned home. I continued using until I hit rock bottom. Ten years later, I had a spiritual awakening and I voluntarily went to a program that lasted 2 years and I ended up staying 18 months. It was a very intense program that included attack therapy with a military structure. It was just what I needed and the best thing that ever happened to me. Prior to that I lost a sister to the disease of addiction but that still did not stop me from using. I had to make this decision for myself.  Since drugs and alcohol are usually only 10 % of our problems, and the other 90% is us, I had to do some serious introspective work on myself. Once I followed directions, worked the 12 steps, secured a sponsor and became honest with myself I started to learn about what was really going on with me and life got better.