I was born and raised in Winona, MN.
My growing up years were spent in the throes of substance use with people using drugs and alcohol. The substances around me led to my use for 25 years of my life. This resulted in a vicious cycle of no job, using drugs, jail stints, more poor choices, which ultimately led to 13 years in prison as an inmate.
I have gone through multiple treatments and rehab facilities. Fortunately, for me I landed in a “good” treatment center. It was here that I was directed towards digging in and finding the traumas that caused my choices towards using drugs. I started to understand that I was burying the hurts and pains and by not dealing with those incidents I was now a substance user, and I had become a person I didn’t even recognize.
I eventually completed Treatment Court. I have a job I love, a nice home, my bills are paid. I’ve been substance free for over two years. I am grateful and blessed and I love my life. My serving on the board of RIPple is something I can do to be a part of solutions for people thinking they need substances to “survive”. I want to be able to tell my story and help a struggling person to not pick up that first pill or hit. I feel by saving one person’s life an entire family is saved from suffering the effects of substance use and possible death.
I believe in RIPple 100%!