Peter never really thought about his parents’ divorce until years later. He doesn’t like to blame others for his problems anymore… but he knows now that he never really processed through that hurt and pain.
“As a kid, you don’t really understand. I blamed myself and I blamed God,” he says. “And from there I started to lead a rebellious life, hanging out with the ‘outcast’ kids… the weed smokers, the skaters, the troublemakers.” It wasn’t until he broke his wrist at the age of 16 that he truly tumbled down a dark hole… His doctor prescribed him painkillers and one day he took too many. That was the beginning of his road of Addiction.
“It was love at first sight,” Peter says. “It was a way for me to numb myself… numb all the emotions I had never dealt with.”
What followed for Peter was 8 long years of being a functioning addict.
“I had jobs – I made money and provided well for myself. I would get clean for a short amount of time – because, really, I knew you shouldn’t be using drugs like that. But eventually, without fail, I’d relapse.”
One day Peter was getting high in the bathroom at his job and cried out to God… Enough was enough! He just couldn’t take it anymore. Either God had to come through, or he was going to end it all. He knew he needed Life Recovery.
Two days later, his aunt told him about the Addiction Recovery Program at the Phoenix Dream Center. Willing to try anything at this point, his aunt drove him to our front door.
“Since coming to the Phoenix Dream Center, I’ve been able to stay sober longer than I ever have before – and I owe that all to God. I’ve been able to deal with some of the issues behind my addiction and, for the first time, I feel actual peace.”
Peter is now on staff here, helping to mentor youth who have been through similar paths. Peter is on track to further his education.
He is but ONE of the many success stories we experience here… and there are hundreds more.
- What if you knew that you could leave a legacy to help others like Peter?
We need your help. Without your support, there wouldn’t be a Phoenix Dream Center to be able to help change these lives.