My name is Regina, I am 31 years old. I have been clean from alcohol and drugs for 7 years now. I have 2 children and a husband. I live in my own home and have 2 vehicles and I have a dog.

When I first started using alcohol I was 11 years old. I found out I was adopted and I started looking for acceptance in whoever and what ever. I started sneaking out of the house late at night to hang out with the people who were drinking.

I started smoking weed at the age of 13. Again, I hung with the people who were accepting me because I could drink alot and smoke alot.

During those few years, I experienced rape twice, foster homes, pregnacy and abortion.

At the age of 17 I got pregnant again and married the man who got me pregnant. Together we had 2 beautiful children-Holly and Marcus. I stayed clean throughout my pregnacy, however after if was all over I went back to drinking more than before. My husband and I divorced when my son was 5 months old. By this time I was 21 and did not need anyone to buy my alcohol.

I started hanging in Columbus, which is a bigger city, and started hanging with people who were selling crack cocaine and smoking crack. You guessed it I started that too.

Within a year and a half I had done things that are unspeakable. Plus I had remarried to a crack junkie and I was hooked on him just as hard as the crack. My children were with me every step of the way. I had been to jail, went through a 5 day program, but everytime I went back to the crack and the man.

Finally, God did for me what I could not do for myself. God used my husband to put me into treatment where I got a clear head and away from people who were using. I started going to AA, NA, and CA meetings and started meeting people who were clean and enjoying life. I wanted that. I had already had a sponser so I started calling her on a regular basis and taking suggestions. I became willing to do WHATEVER it took to stay clean. I went into another treatment where I had my own apartment and after that I went back to the town I was raised in.

To make a long story short. I did drink after 2 years, but again, God put a man in my life to call me on my stuff. I am now married to him.

Though God, treatment, recovery and willingness, I have gained a happy, joyous and free life. I am truley grateful. Today, I work with others and go to school to become an addictions counselor. I share openly my experiences. I have boundraries and a life. I hope to one day have my own faith based center. I have devoted my life to helping others like me and be a mom to my children and a wife. God/recovery has given me what I have always looked for-ACCEPTANC