The following was written by Nicholas, a Riverside Recovery alumnus, and has been lightly edited for web format.
I used to think that my life was pretty normal. That everyone dealt with hangovers every other day, and that everyone used drugs and just didn’t speak about it because it was taboo. The consequences of my actions soon caught up with me in my late 20s. After my second DUI, I thought that I might have had a drinking problem. While it was easy to stop drinking, with my job being in the service industry, other substances were commonplace. I didn’t realize what I was doing was transferring my addiction from one to another. Things worked out for a while, until—just like with alcohol—my life slowly started to deteriorate. I was using at work and multiple times a day. My disease had progressed from occasionally recreational to full-blown IV usage multiple times a day.
Not only was I a bad IV drug user, but I was bad at it. I had no knowledge of what I was doing, and, along with unsafe practices, I was doing extensive damage to my body. The more my life spiraled out of control, the more I used to escape instead of facing my issues and problems head-on. It wasn’t until I was on the verge of losing my job and home that I came to the realization that I needed to get help for my issues. My outlook on life was terrible, my self-esteem and my circulatory system were shot, and I looked absolutely terrible. Luckily, with the help of my family and brother, we found Riverside Recovery.
The Journey Wasn’t Easy, But It Changed Everything
The journey was not easy, and I was resistant to leave my old life behind, but I knew that something had to change because I could not physically or mentally carry on. Riverside Recovery gave me the tools and knowledge to face life on life’s terms, and after I graduated from the program, I slowly started piecing my life together.
I wish I could say that it was a walk in the park, but it wasn’t. When I returned home, I ended up losing my job due to my drug problem, and I had to leave the city I called home for 20 years. At the time, I wasn’t sure how things were going to pan out, since it seemed pretty dire, but I had faith in what my incredible sponsor told me and believed that my Higher Power would provide for me what I needed. And it did.
Roughly ten months after being clean, I was attending the AA meeting that Riverside Recovery holds on Tuesday. It was there that I ran into the lead tech supervisor, Kyle, who offered me a position in his department at Riverside. I was a little hesitant to take the job since it was the complete opposite of what I had done in past positions, but I am honestly glad that I took him up on his offer. I was welcomed into the Riverside family and have thrived in my job. It is so rewarding to work with other addicts, and it is also beneficial to my sobriety.
Two Years Sober and Living My Best Life
As of August 1, 2025, I achieved a milestone and picked up a black and gold key tag at my home group, the key tag that signifies multiple years of sobriety, two years to be exact. I am a student in nursing school, following my new passion of helping those in need. I am also physically and mentally in the best shape I have ever been in my life. I run a few miles a day, attend NA meetings with friends that have become family, and crush it at work. My self-esteem has returned, and even though I have large scars on my arms and legs due to my usage, I don’t mind. I feel they are a reminder of where I once was and what I have overcome to be where I am today.
I can recognize that I have a great support system, a family that I enjoy being a part of and contribute to, and I work for a company that not only helps people, but saves lives. I know this, because it saved mine not once, but twice.
Your Recovery Story Can Start Today
Nicholas’s story is proof that no matter how far you’ve fallen, recovery is possible. Even when it feels like you’ve lost everything—your job, your home, your health—there is hope. If you’re struggling with addiction, whether it’s your first time reaching out or you’re coming back after a relapse, Riverside Recovery is here to help you write your own recovery story.
Contact Riverside Recovery today to find out how our programs can give you the tools, support, and family you need to rebuild your life and discover a purpose worth living for.