How ya doin? My name is Jonathan Gritzner. On November 4th, 2003, I checked into a place called Acton Rehab. I went there because I was scared of living the life I was living, and I didn’t know how to stop it. The reason I was scared? Drugs and alcohol had taken control of my life, and I didn’t know how to make it stop. It all started because I was scared of life itself. At a young age, I didn’t know how to fit in, and alcohol took away that fear. With just a few drinks, I could be the life of the party. Trouble is, I could never stop at “just a few”.
I quickly went from being the life of the party to being the one kicked out of the party. Then not soon after, I was the one who just drank alone. Black outs became a common thing. Waking up at places I didn’t know and having people tell me about the things I did the night before kept happening. After crashing a couple cars and a couple trips to jail, I moved to the Antelope Valley. I had nowhere else to go. It was there I found the solution to my blackout drinking. Yes, methamphetamines became my new best friend. With it, I didn’t pass out! Problem solved right? Wrong! I went from snorting it to shooting it in about a year’s time. Y’all can imagine the rest. I tried to control it on my own but never could. IT took over my life.
In November of 2003, I finally gave up and sought help from others. Every night at Acton, people would come up and share their stories of experience, strength, and hope. In those people, I could see myself and realize I was not that different. They gave me hope, and I followed their suggestions. Since then, my life has changed. I’ve learned that I don’t need drugs and alcohol to fit in. I’m just fine with myself and the world around me. I owe it all to those people that came up to that rehab and shared their stories free of any personal motives. They just did it because someone else had done it for them.
I’m here, volunteering for this peer program, for just the same reason. Because it was done for me. Help me help you. By doing so, I can help pay back those that did it for me.
Thank you.
