Joanne Takes Back Her Life
“The more I got away with, the more I wanted to get away with.” That’s how Joanne sums up her earlier life. By the age of 14 she was abusing drugs and alcohol. Through the years, numerous attempts to get clean failed. Even with a small daughter to care for, hard drugs and crime continued to dominate her life.
After being arrested for possession and going through detox (where she continued to use drugs) Joanne heard about Volunteers of America’s Hello House, a comprehensive substance abuse program in Boston, Massachusetts. The six-month program was designed to return individuals to the community sober, employed and committed to an ongoing recovery process. Nothing had ever worked for Joanne before, but she hoped with all her heart that this would be the chance she so desperately needed to rebuild her life.
It wasn’t easy to change a lifetime of abusive behavior, but with the care and support of dedicated and skilled staff at Hello House, Joanne’s life made a complete turnaround. “They enabled me to take my life back. They showed me how to stay sober,” said Joanne. Today, as a certified drug and alcohol counselor, she is devoted to helping other people recover their lives. Because Volunteers of America was there when Joanne needed help, she now has the strength to be there for others in need.
