Ex-Addict to New Jersey Task Force: “I Was Killing Myself”

A keynote speaker at Gov. Christie’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Task Force on Heroin and Other Opiate Use Amongst New Jersey’s Youth and Young Adults told the panel that heroin was literally causing her to kill herself. “I was digging my own grave, basically. You always try to chase that first high, and you keep moving up and up,” said a young woman named Emily. “I started sniffing heroin. One bag, then two bags, then three bags.” She had begun taking drugs at age 14.

Emily’s story was just one of many in an evening that powerfully portrayed the massive harm that drug abuse does to the state of New Jersey and its residents. The Task Force heard testimony from former addicts, parents, law enforcement officers, health workers and doctors, and many other people affected in some way by the drug problems in New Jersey. Emily went on to talk about how treatment allowed her to kick her habit and turn her life around. “Treatment works, if you want it, it works,” she said. Emily’s story is a powerful testament to how life-saving drug treatment can be.

New Jersey is facing a crisis of drug addiction, a nightmare for so many young people. In the depths of addiction, it can seem like there’s no hope. Thankfully, there is good help out there. Medications and cognitive-behavioral therapy have proven to be effective in treating drug addictions. It can be difficult or impossible for an addict to treat themselves on their own or with family members, so it’s very important to find the right treatment center. At Seabrook, we customize our treatment plans to individual patient’s needs, so you know the help you’re getting is right for you or a loved one. Seabrook has rehabilitation centers in New Jersey (NJ), Pennsylvania (PA), and an outpatient center in New York (NY). Contact Seabrook today for any questions about drugs, addiction, and treatment.