I got hurt and doctorated pills and then next thing you know I was like addicted to them. After my prescription was over, I would try to go find pills to buy. I had this whole idea about people that used opiates and then it happened to me. I got sick and I was dependent. My whole life was consumed. I lost my brother and that's when I started doing heroin and meth and anything that came across me you know I would do because I just wanted to cover my pain. Things that were important to me stopped being important like take care of my daughter and showing up on time to pick up my kid from school or going to work. So my life really got consumed by using drugs and it became really noticeable to my family and friends and I pretend like I was a good parent and that I had my kid came first but really she didn't. That's horrible to say and it's hard to say but it's true that everybody's on the back burner my drugs came first. It ruined my marriage and it took me away from my kids. I was missing out on a lot and not realizing it you know. I decided that I needed to get help when my daughter was taken away. I was just done. I just done living the homeless life you know trying to find out what you had to do for it. Notice that it wasn't just affecting me. That it was affecting my family members who loved me and cared for me and my friends. I was also hurting them. That's when I realized you know this isn't good for myself or anybody around me you know. I didn't even know that this place existed to Gwolich until one of my friends told me that they're going to their appointment at Gwolich and I was like what's that you know. And so I tagged along with them here and he told me that this place helps you know better your life and get you on the medications that you need to be to better your life you know like suboxone and methadone if you need it. So I had known about the MAT program in SLETS and I had always had this idea in my head and if I could just get 10 days of clean time I could get on this shot called Vivitrol. So I got out of jail and I did exactly that. I went to the SLETS clinic and they gave me the shot that day and I've been cleaning sober ever since. Well now that I'm on methadone I have my own job I have my own car and I take care of my children. The medications that I'm taking is suboxone and it's helping me live a better life and be a better person. I have a relationship with my mom that I used to never have. I have a relationship with my daughter that was estranged. I have I feel like I have respect in my community. I can walk around town with my head held high. Those are the gifts that I have today. If I can do it you can do it you know anybody can do it. But they're willing to do the work and is really ready to change their life with a better. To learn more text opioids to 977-799 to receive videos, quizzes and more to grow your knowledge about opioids and learn how you can be an effective advocate for your community. Also visit the Northwest Portland area Indian Health Boards website at www.npaihb.org forward slash opioid for information, fact sheets and videos about opioids.