The struggles and triumphs of an addict

I wrote this when I began down this road. "First, I thank you for taking the time to look at my page. Thank you very much for your recent like or share of Prodigal Sons free teen Counsel. This is the beginning of this adventure that God has called upon me. I have an inspiring and powerful testimony that can be a warning to our children about the real cost of drug and alcohol use and how easily and quickly it can have you in it's grip. I can be of much assistance to those of our youth that are already experimenting or addicted. I've come to learn they are more willing to open up to someone that has been there and really gets it. It can also be a warning to Christians about going against the plan God has for us. Right now, as a start-up, I'm trying to find places like churches or schools where I can share my life story and possibly save some lives. Again, I thank you for the like or share and would just like to let you know where assistance is needed. One is places wher...

My name is Rev JE Allen. As a young man I was in two very serious  car accidents. I lost a friend in one of these accidents. I suffered a broken neck and spinal injury which led to doctors putting me on heavy narcotic pain killers. I was told I would need the drugs the rest of my life to function. I developed a dependency and then ultimately an addiction to opiates. The drug I was on was no different than heroin when it came to being without. The withdrawals were the same. My life was destroyed and my goals and dreams were dashed. My life centered around drugs for almost 20 years. Then in late 2014 I decided to take my life back. It took a solid year to get over the drug but I did it and never looked back. Since this time I became an ordained Minister and I focus on mainly teen addiction and prevention. I lived this life for 20 years. I have insight as to what addiction truly does to someone and my mission is to save lives. Teens and young adults that I talk to easily open up to ...

                                  America: Addiction by the numbers 1. 21.5 million: The amount of people aged 12 or older in 2014 had a substance use disorder in the past year. 2. 1 in 5: The amount of young adults in 2014 who were users of illicit drugs. 3. 7,800:The daily number of people 12 and over who tried an illicit drug for the first time. 4. Marijuana: The drug most new illicit drug users begin with. Followed by prescription pain relievers and then inhalants. 5. 700 Billion: The amount the abuse of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs costs to our Nation annually in costs related to crime, lost work productivity and health care. 6. 3x: The amount the business of recovery has increased in the last 25 years. 7. 14,000: The amount of addiction treatment facilities. 8. 35 billion: The an...

There were two choices I made during this part of my life that were the major catalysts that led to every other bad choice. 1) The Methadone clinic I could go on and on about the negatives of methadone clinics, but I'm just going to focus on what's the most important. If you or someone you know develops a chemical dependency to opiates DO NOT GO TO A METHADONE CLINIC. Methadone clinics take people in every single day that are addicted to much weaker opiates like Hydrocodone (Lorcet, Lortab), Oxycodone, Morphine and most other painkillers that can be overcome (physical withdrawal) in 2-4 weeks and put them on a medication that they will probably on for the rest of their lives. The  Methadone clinics that are privately owned make millions of dollars a year. The clinics here charge about $16 a day to dose someone. When I was buying methadone from Walgreens without insurance it cost me around $35 for an entire months supply. That was 360 tablets. That is dirt cheap for a na...