Aretha N.

As a child I remember being alone with no adult supervision most days. I learned at an early age to care for myself along with other children of the family. I was introduced to weed, alcohol, and crack cocaine at the age of 13 by my older sister. Shortly after that, I was then taught how to prostitute to supply my crack addiction. I now know that I used drugs and alcohol to numb my pain from self-hate, rejection, depression, and loneliness. Two years ago, I relapsed after having five and a half years of sobriety. With no desire to live paired with homelessness and a heavy meth addiction I knew that I needed to get help. Fearing that my daughter would be removed from my care by DCS I chose to enter Teen Challenge immediately. I’m here to finally allow God to heal my wounded soul and to return back to my first love so I can live for God.