Chelsey's Story

I’m from Gig Harbor and after a motor vehicle accident in 2006, I became addicted to medication I was prescribed (Xanax, painkillers, Adderall). When they stopped giving them to me I started buying them off the street and when I couldn’t afford that anymore my husband said we should try heroin because it was cheaper. Eventually I was shooting up in my neck and It was all downhill from there.

After I had watched my husband overdose multiple times, and I had overdosed myself, we lost everything we had, including my 4 year old daughter. That was when I decided to begin my recovery journey. I tried multiple times to get sober by myself but failed every single time. The fact that I hadn’t seen my daughter in a year is what made me change... I didn’t want her to have to grow up without a mother, or with a mother who was a drug addict, like I did.

Today I am 4.5 years clean from drugs! I have completed medication-assisted treatment and came off suboxone this past summer 2021. I actually gave treatment a chance, went to a lot of Narcotics Anonymous meetings,  and changed my number and contact information. Having friends and family supporting me has helped a lot! My mom is also 4 years clean after being in addiction for about 20 years!

My advice to someone just beginning their recovery journey is to stay strong and keep going because it gets easier with time. You may hate yourself of what you have become because of the drugs, but I promise you aren’t that person! You can love yourself and forgive yourself for the things you’ve done. Don’t let yourself think it’s an option to go back to addiction because it isn’t! You’re a good person even if you’ve done bad things, and as long as you continue to do the right thing, good things will happen!

Lori's Story

I am a recovering heroin addict with 17 years clean. I am now a Substance Use Disorder Professional Trainee (SUDPT) and love helping others find their path to recovery. I am a member of the Aleut tribe and have fought hard to overcome generational trauma and addiction cycles. I currently work in the field and do outreach programs as well.

Before I began my journey to recovery, I was in and out of jail, lost custody of my kids and lost a whole lot of years to my addiction. I realized that I wanted to live, plain and simple. I was in the needle exchange and read a flyer about the Behavioral Research and Therapy Clinics (BRTC) program at the University of Washington with the new medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program for suboxone.

My advice to someone beginning their recovery journey is don't ever give up and remember you are not alone.

Treatment for mental health problems varies depending on the individual and could include medication, therapy, or both. Many individuals work with a support system during the healing and recovery process.

Susan

Susan retired in 2017 after 30 years with United Parcel Service (UPS). She struggled with depression for years but once retired, stopped taking her medication. Without the stimulation of a full-time job and the daily interaction with co-workers, she became more and more isolated. She started filling her home with things hoping it would make her feel better. The cycle of depression and isolation continued and as her home filled with more and more stuff, so much so that she didn’t even have room to have one friend over.

In June 2019, East Pierce Paramedics responded to a call at her home, but it was so full they had a difficult time reaching her. They asked if they could refer her to a social service program called MCIRT for help with any problems she was facing. She knew for a long time she needed help, and tried to change, but it was too overwhelming and she didn't know where to start. When the paramedics offered MCIRT, she knew she had to say yes. 

Within a day or two, Cindy (from MCIRT) visited Susan. Cindy said they could help her not only get her home in order, but work on getting her stabilized on medication and get her health under control. Cindy asked her if she would accept the help they were offering and Susan said this is what gave her the power to say yes to change. From there on Cindy called and visited multiple times each week, which helped Susan find the motivation to change and stay engaged in recovery.

Almost three years later, Susan’s life looks very different. MCIRT helped her find a company to declutter and even renovate her home. She is stable on a new anti-depressant and she sees a counselor regularly. She made new friends and volunteers making scarves and blankets for charities. 

The vast majority of people with mental health problems are no more likely to be violent than anyone else. Most people with mental illness are not violent and only 3%–5% of violent acts can be attributed to individuals living with a serious mental illness. In fact, people with severe mental illnesses are over 10 times more likely to be victims of violent crime than the general population. You probably know someone with a mental health problem and don't even realize it, because many people with mental health problems are highly active and productive members of our communities.

Tyrone

Tyrone endured tremendous abuse and neglect throughout his childhood. As he got older, he started to hear voices and was later diagnosed with depression and PTSD. When he had suicidal thoughts last year, he was referred to the Mobile Community Intervention Response Team (MCIRT) team, who supported and encouraged him through difficult times.

Tyrone is a shining example of why we should celebrate recovery. His advice for people in recovery, whether it is from substance abuse or mental health - "Be selfish. Take the time you need. Find a hobby you love, be your true self, and know there is always hope. Your life is important and you matter."

Michael

Graduate of the Drug Addiction Reduction Team (DART) program

"Quite a journey. Feels like a life time ago. It was a life time ago that I was living that other life in addiction. I hated every second of it. Living with regret. Living with guilt. I couldn’t do it anymore. I thought I could stop on my own but couldn’t. So, in a way I was blessed that the law intervened. This program has taught me so much. The fact that there is this compassionate side of the law to help people out, good people like me, like all of you who just need a chance.

A line I would to leave you all with that stuck with me was throughout my recovery is “You’re only as sober as your secrets”. And I was tired of just lying, hiding and living my life like that. I had to just come out and be honest with myself and be honest to everybody else and they’re there to help you."

"Lauren"

Pierce County Superior Court, along with community treatment agencies, currently run four Therapeutic Courts that provide treatment to individuals with substance use disorders and mental health issues. Here is what one of their graduates, Lauren, had to say about the Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) program:

"Assisted outpatient therapy was the foundation for my success in home ownership. The staff are very attentive and TACID is a remarkable experience that should be utilized by anyone with a disability."

Hear from more graduates of the Drug Addiction Reduction Team (DART) program:

"If you don’t feel you don’t heal." - David

"I would not have been able to fight for my job if you guys were not all in my corner. I mean that form the bottom of my heart. The accountability, I needed that. I was embarrassed when I came in and felt like I was not an equal anymore because I had lost my job, which was my identity. The respect that you guys gave me made me feel like I wasn’t a low life. It picked me up. Everybody always gave me positive words. Anybody is lucky to be in this program because you don’t just get 2 years, and this is off your record. You get a whole lot more. You get a sense of being you get the sense of I am going to do this, and I have the support. I want to thank each and every one of you because you are the real reason why I was able to fight and get where I am today." - Heather

Hear from more graduates of the Drug Addiction Reduction Team (DART) program:

"Quite a journey. Feels like a life time ago that I was living that other life in addiction. I hated every second of it. Living with regret. Living with guilt. I couldn’t do it anymore. I thought I could stop on my own but couldn’t. So in a way, I was blessed that the law intervened. This program has taught me so much. The fact that there is this compassionate side of the law to help people out, good people like me, like all of you who just need a chance. A line I would to leave you all with that stuck with me was throughout my recovery is “You’re only as sober as your secrets."  And I was tired of just lying, hiding and living my life like that. You know I had to just come out and be honest with myself and be honest to everybody else and they’re there to help you." - Mitchell

Hear from more graduates of the Drug Addiction Reduction Team (DART) program:

"I want to start out with saying thank you. It has been a long journey and it would not have been possible without the help of very special people. When I first started this program, I was so scared and sick. I had wanted help in the past, but was too afraid to ask for it and lucky for me you guys found me and were determined to help me. I remember thinking that the staff really cares and want to help me. And never treated me like a criminal or a second-rate person. I couldn’t have done it without everybody in this courtroom. From the Judges, to the prosecutors, to my counselors." - Terry