Tucson Center Students

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.”

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 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 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.”