Crystal never expected to deal with a substance use disorder (SUD). She says her life was pretty much happy and normal until about 2008 when she hurt her back at work and was prescribed a strong painkiller. Crystal was almost immediately hooked. At first, she was able to get extra pills from friends and family members who had extra bottles, but eventually she started going to different emergency rooms with fake injuries to obtain them.

As Crystal took more painkillers, she found the euphoric feeling was harder and harder to achieve. At that point, she concluded that she could either suffer the pain of withdrawal or take more drugs. Not wanting to be in agony from withdrawal, the drugs always won. When Crystal’s mother passed away unexpectedly in 2019, Crystal “kicked it up a notch” and turned to heroin.

“I was so ashamed of who I had become, I felt like I was slowly committing suicide because I just didn’t care anymore,” says Crystal. “I would sometimes pray to not wake up after using because I didn’t want to face the reality of my mom not being here anymore.”

There were a handful of people that knew about Crystal’s substance use, but most of them turned a blind eye to it. However, Crystal’s husband refused to give up on her. He had tried for many years to get her into recovery with ultimatums: threats of leaving and taking the kids. That alone should have been enough for Crystal to stop, but her substance use disorder had her in its firm grip. Still Crystal says was tired of sneaking around. She was tired of being sick and tired of being ashamed.

“I remember 3 days before everything came to a head, I was once again praying for God to help take me out of this situation, either by dying or by an intervention,” Crystal says. “I was desperate and hanging on by a thread and whichever resolution came first would have been fine with me.”

When Crystal’s husband came across her stash and confronted her about it, Crystal says was almost like her prayers had been answered. A weight had been lifted off of her shoulders and this time she was ready to start her recovery journey. It was early in the Covid pandemic, and many recovery centers didn’t have an open bed. Thankfully, Nexus did have room for her, and she entered detox on April 20, 2020.

“The first night was a little rough, but the staff there made me as comfortable as they could and got me through it,” says Crystal. “I’m here to tell you that even if you don’t have family, the minute you walk through those doors you WILL have a family. The staff, the counselors and even the clients will love you and you will not be judged or condemned for the things you’ve done in the past.”

After completing residential treatment at Nexus, Crystal moved on Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). Crystal says that her life is 100% better, and that she appreciates feeling trusted again. She no longer has to worry about scoring a fix or suffering from withdrawal. Despite currently dealing with radiation treatment for cancer, Crystal has been able to stay in recovery.

“It’s the best feeling in the world and I owe it all to Nexus,” Crystal says. “Thank you, Nexus, from the bottom of my heart for everything you all have done and continue to do. We do recover!”