What I Learned From Drug Rehabilitation
Author: Triston Huntsmin

One of the hardest but most redemptive seasons of my life
happened when I spent fourteen months in a drug rehabilitation
center. In all my years of writing, I have never written about
this experience that has so distinctly shaped my life.

Of course, I never would have dreamed that over a year of my
life during my mid-twenties would be spent in drug
rehabilitation, but it happened. I began doing drugs in junior
high school, mostly I guess do to the typical amount of peer
pressure that most teens get from their friends. I started
using drugs with great hesitation, but party after party I got
a little less afraid of using drugs and that became my biggest
problem. Losing my fear of doing drugs was the single worst
thing that happened to me in my struggle with drug use.

My drug use became a more serious problem throughout high
school and into my years at university. I thought that I was
doing a great job of hiding my problem until Christmas break
happened one year and my parents saw all the signs. I had great
parents, by the way, and I believe that they were in no way
responsible for my drug use or for my eventual need for drug
rehabilitation.

My drug problem got so bad shortly after that Christmas break
that I ended up agreeing to go to drug rehabilitation without
any fight. Most drug users, I am told, put up a fight for a
while when someone first suggests that they enter drug
rehabilitation. But not me. I knew how badly I needed help and
I knew that if left alone I would probably allow drugs to kill
me.

My fourteen months in the drug rehabilitation center taught me
more about myself and about life than I ever expected them to.
I learned about my value as a human being and as a man for the
first time in that center. I learned in drug rehabilitation
that drugs are a substitute for a hole that is empty in my
life, just as food or exercise or alcohol or any other thing
can be for people. I learned that I had a huge responsibility
in taking care of my life and my health.

It has been healing for me as I have begun talking about my
experience with drug rehabilitation with honesty. I have never
felt more free than when I am looking back on the mistakes of
my past with honestly and then when I am looking forward to my
future with hope.


About The Author: Triston Huntsmin is now a drug and alcohol
counselor for those in need of drug rehabilitation or alcohol
rehabilitation. See http://www.drugrehabilitationtimes.info for
more information.