Recovering Addict Goes the Distance

Rehab is not just about getting clean or sober. It’s also about bettering yourself. It should make you feel excited for the future and motivate you to achieve your goals. For Louisiana native Kristin David, drug rehab did just that.

Off Track to On Track

In high school, David drank and smoke. At 19, she started to use hard drugs. Meth was her favorite. David spent 15 years battling addiction. She knew she had to get on the right path. For the fourth time, she went to rehab. There, she learned that she was bipolar. She let a higher power into her life and entered a 12-step program. Her dad said that this was when she took another big step forward—admitting to people that she was a recovering drug addict.

Education First

Following drug rehab, David moved into a halfway house. While there, she planned to re-enroll in Louisiana State University. She had taken classes at LSU after high school, but drugs interrupted her studies. David was a convicted felon, so LSU didn’t make re-enrollment easy. The university ended up denying her admission. She reached out to college advisors, desperate to explain her story, but wasn’t being heard. With the help of State Senator Joe McPherson, David was able to speak before the university admission committee. She convinced them to let her in. The committee told her that she would be on probation. David could only sign up for nine credit hours that semester and had to meet with a university counselor. David worked hard and pulled off straight As. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business, 18 years after her first time around in college.

Change Is Good

David is happy with the changes she made in her life, including the decision to re-enroll in college. She is proud of herself. She beat her addiction, didn’t let a mental illness stop her and put up a fight to get back into school. Even if you’re a recovering drug addict, anything is still possible. You, too, can be like David—a better, stronger version of yourself. How do you find strength to pursue your goals? Share on our Facebook page.