How this transformation took place would take more telling than this space allows. For now, accept the fact that this reversal is not unique. What happened is that I ended up telling myself what to do with my life. It was my misery and my powerlessness over drugs and alcohol that convinced me to try to make a change. Some people die from alcohol or drug abuse.
Some people kill others.
Most people I know have hurt others around them and have treated themselves as badly or worse. The decision to do something about the situation can be motivated by fear, desperation, pressure from family or friends, or a cop or a judge. Then, all that is suggested is that you give yourself a chance and listen to what s being said for awhile. In my case, I decided that time was awastin and that I deserved to give myself a break. Compared to the lengths I went to and the time I spent obtaining, using, protecting, paying for, lying about, and suffering from mind-altering substances, the time learning about recovering from addiction has been small indeed.