As her addiction worsened, Kathy became both physically and mentally dependent and sought out more pills. Soon, every spare dollar she made, including her money for rent, was going to her dealer. By the end of the year, her entire profit-sharing paycheck was spent on pills. Kathy ultimately lost her home, forcing her and her children to move into her grandmother's finished basement. Soon, as pills became more expensive and harder to find, Kathy began using other drugs.

After a three-day blackout, she was arrested and her family staged an intervention. Kathy entered treatment and felt transformed, certain such an episode would never happen again.

Several years later, Kathy would relapse. She lost her job of 18 years and found herself estranged from her oldest daughter. Eventually, she emptied 401Ks and pensions, using that money to purchase pills locally and from overseas sellers, and she still owes the IRS more than $150,000. But Kathy says the most significant loss was felt by her daughters who did not have their mom there to nurture, support and guide them.

Finally, one of Kathy’s daughters informed her she would never see her future grandchildren unless she entered recovery. Kathy tried treatment multiple times but, after several relapses, felt hopeless.. She contemplated ending her life often but did not follow through because she knew the additional pain this would cause her children.

Finally, after an arrest forced her off all substances, Kathy had a moment of clarity and desperate prayer. She then relentlessly sought help again, going through two levels of detox at the local ER and then at an inpatient treatment center. For three months, she went through partial hospitalization and intense outpatient care, attended peer meetings and bible studies, and she volunteered at Recovery Zone of Logan County, which offers 24/7 peer-to-peer recovery support and many other support services.

Kathy has been in recovery since January 2016. After taking a one-year volunteer assignment as an AmeriCorps Volunteer in Service to America at Recovery Zone, she was hired as Recovery Zone’s director. Today, she is a certified peer recovery supporter, runs peer support services and is a chemical dependency counseling assistant in the process of becoming licensed. After seven years of schooling, Kathy will be graduating with a degree in social work this May.

Kathy knows recovery is possible and works every day to provide hope and support to those struggling with substance use disorders and their families. She wants people to know that having individuals with lived experience at the table, especially at the local and regional levels, is crucial.