Tucson Center Students

I was pretty rebellious growing up. Anything and everything I rebelled against. I was just 8 years old when my addiction began. I believe growing up in the generation that glorified drug use was a big proponent in me falling into an addiction. A recent health crisis is what brought me into Teen Challenge of Arizona. While here I hope to gain a closer relationship with God and maintain sobriety and my health.

Favorite Scripture: Psalms 2:3 "Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away their cords from us."

I grew up in a pretty broken home where there were lots of issues. This eventually led me to making risky choices and looking for a way to escape the pain that I was feeling. Looking back, I was tossed into full-blown addiction by the time that I was twenty years old. I liked the way that drugs temporarily filled the void within my heart, even though it would have huge consequences. Before deciding to come into the program, I experienced the death of my two brothers. I am here at Teen Challenge to receive healing from the Lord and to change my life for the better. I desire long-term sobriety and a rekindled relationship with Jesus Christ.

Favorite Scripture: John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Growing up, I always felt as if I was alone. I bounced around from foster home to group home and that is the main reason that I felt that way. My addiction began when I was in my early teens and knew that I was not going to college. It started with alcohol and marijuana, and then became more severe after my family members passed away. I began doing drugs like cocaine and crystal meth. The drugs made me feel numb and allowed me not to have to deal with the deaths that occurred within my family. Right before coming into Teen Challenge, I almost died and heard about the program while I was in a detox facility. I am here at Teen Challenge to rededicate my life to Christ and become more serious about taking care of my kids.

Favorite Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:17 “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

I would say my childhood was crazy, I was abused by my mother often. I started using drugs at the age of 16 which progressed to Meth at the age of 20. I used drugs to cover up the pain from life at home. I came into Teen Challenge after years of drug abuse and the emotional trauma I was dealing with from my mother. While in the program I hope to restore my relationship with God, learn how to forgive others, and move forward with my life. 

Favorite Scripture: Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

Growing up, I had a hard life. I grew up in a broken home and left my house at the age of 14. I was getting in fights with my father and felt that it was time to leave. I was exposed to drugs at the age of five and was a full-blown addict by the time that I was fifteen years-old. I turned to meth because I felt that it helped me cope with my troubled life. Right before coming into Teen Challenge, I decided that I wanted to get closer to God. He led me here. I finished a sixteen-week intensive outpatient program and came into Teen Challenge right afterwards. I want the Lord to change my life. I want to draw close to him and view myself through his eyes. I also hope to learn to read and write better while being here. I am happy to have this opportunity.

Favorite Scripture: Matthew 7:12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

I would describe my childhood as great. I lived on a ship in the ocean until I was about 3 and then moved to Morocco until I was around 13. I was 17 when I moved to the United States, where I started using drugs to try and fit in with the crowd. I felt different because I was from a foreign country. After years of using and damage to family, friends and relationships, I decided it was time for a change. I know the Holy Spirit brought me into Teen Challenge of Arizona. I aim to complete the program and be renewed. I hope to one day become the Kitchen Coordinator at the Tucson Men’s Induction Center.

Favorite Scripture: Genesis 3:19 “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

Growing up, my mother took care of me, as my dad was pretty much out of the picture. He struggled with alcoholism for the majority of his life and it ended up leading to his death at a rather young age. I began partying when I was younger and drank socially in my mid-to-late twenties. I had a successful career as a general contractor and was married with kids, a house, and a nice income. However, over the years, addiction began to take and take until I reached a place in which I was desperate for help. I felt that the alcohol helped me cope with the separation with my wife. We were married for around twenty years and the divorce destroyed me. I am here at Teen Challenge because my daughter had been praying that I would receive help and I reached a place in which I was desperate. I am here to grow closer in my walk with the Lord and to establish a successful routine that will follow me when I complete the program. 

Favorite Scripture: Proverbs 26:12 “Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.”

I had some trauma in my childhood and I struggled with times of depression early on. I started smoking weed and drinking at the age of 14 and by the age of 20 I started abusing methamphetamine. I believe I started using drugs due to cultural influences and wanting to fit in. A recent scare of homelessness is what brought me to Teen Challenge of Arizona. I hope to build a relationship with God while I am here, as well as fully complete the program.

Favorite Scripture: Hebrews 6:14 “I will certainly bless you, and I will multiply your descendants beyond number.”

Growing up, life was pretty tough. There were family conflicts that I was caught in the middle of and my dad gave me a few bad experiences. My addiction initially began around the age of 17. It started with drugs such as marijuana and cocaine, but progressed to harder drugs down the road. Looking back, I used substances to try to numb the pain that my father caused. Before coming into Teen Challenge, I had a pretty severe stroke. I lost my job and my sense of identity. I am here at Teen Challenge to get back to my roots. I was raised a Christian and walked with God, but ended up doing my own thing. I have faith that the Lord will restore what was taken from me. I hope to one day own my own business again. The Lord will take care of me. I am excited for His plan for my life!

Favorite Scripture: Matthew 8:20 But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

I would describe my childhood as difficult, I had a tough time making friends since I was mainly homeschooled growing up. I started smoking weed at the age of 15 and by 19 I was already in a full blown heroin addiction. I used drugs because I liked the feeling that heroin gave me. I came to Teen Challenge because I had nowhere to turn and I heard the program offers hope. I do enjoy the bed and roof that’s over my head while in the program, but also the opportunities that are offered throughout the program. I hope to continue living a life for Christ long after I complete.

Favorite Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:11 “Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.”

I experienced physical abuse growing up and by a young age, I had already attended 35 different school districts. I was diagnosed with dyslexia early on and was raised in an environment surrounded by drug addicts and alcoholics. My own struggles with addiction began when I was 13 years old. At that time, I became involved with a rough crowd and spent much of my time partying and searching for love and purpose. In seeking a fresh start, I came to Teen Challenge to focus on the direction of my life and the direction God has for me. I now hope to work with men and minister to others who face similar challenges, offering support and guidance based on my own experiences.

Favorite Scripture: Hebrews 2:3 “How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard.”

I was sort of a bad kid growing up. I did my own thing getting in and out of trouble. I began drinking in my senior year of high school. I believe I started to drink due to growing problems at home with my father as well as myself. A recent stay in jail and a plea deal brought me to Teen Challenge of Arizona. Even though I am here by decision of the court, I aim to complete this program and to show the courts that I am a changed man seeking a new life.

Favorite Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:3 “A time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build.”

I had a good childhood growing up. Both of my parents were present and supported me and I had a loving home overall. My addiction began around the age of 12. It started out with prescription painkillers from a football injury and eventually led to heroin and meth use by the age of 15. Ultimately, fentanyl is the drug that really took my life away. I truly believe that one of the main reasons that I used drugs was to escape boredom and because I surrounded myself with the wrong crowd. Most of my friends were much older than me. I came to the point that “I was sick and tired of being sick and tired.” I was overdosing and gambling with my life. While here, I hope to through Christ have my relationships restored with my family and receive custody of my daughter. I am putting my faith in Christ.

Favorite Scripture: Romans 5:3-4 “We can rejoice when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope in salvation.”