Trish

Topics: Substance Abuse

"I started using drugs just before my sixteenth birthday. Some of my friends were using meth and I was just trying to fit in. At the time it felt like using was just “harmless fun,” and that it could never really impact my life. But on May 3rd 1999, I went to an afterschool party, used some meth and then got behind the wheel of a car.  I drove less than a mile, ran a stop sign and crashed into another car. In the other car was a little girl, and she didn’t survive the accident. This single action changed my life forever, along with the lives of a family I had never met before.


I was tortured by the knowledge of killing a young girl. I was sentenced to seven years in a state prison facility. My innocence was lost. My family was very disappointed in me, but they stood by my side. I can’t say the same for some of my friends. I learned very quickly who truly loved me.

I started truly healing when I learned to forgive myself. I asked for forgiveness from all those I had hurt. I relied on God more than I ever had before and I learned to give all I could not handle to him. Now I have a wonderful family that supports me. I have a beautiful new daughter that gives me the strength to do anything. I rely on God, my family and my amazing friends that love me no matter what my past looks like. I am planning on finishing my degree in social work. I want to work with young people, encouraging hope and good choices."