El Centro de Libertad | The Freedom Center

RECOVERY STORIES:
LISA | JOSE | MARY | CHRIS

"Those 16 hours I spent in jail were the worst..."

"Nobody in my family had ever been arrested or even done drugs. It was hard having to tell my mother, but she understood and she's praying for me now." Referred to El Centro about 18 months ago after being picked up on a DUI, Jose admits that he had an attitude when he first walked in the door. "I was really rude, I didn't think I had a problem and I knew I didn't need a program." But with Ramon's help, Jose quickly realized that using meant risking everything he had: his new house, partnership in a busy landscaping firm, and his family's respect.

"When I first started drinking and doing drugs, it had been fun. I wasn't doing it so often then, and they made me feel better. But then after I bought my house and realized I didn't have enough money to pay the bills. Instead of trying to save my money, I'd just sit there getting drunk. The house became a real mess. Now I'm spending my money and my time remodeling the place. Electrical, plumbing, carpentry — I'm doing all of it myself. It looks real good."

Jose is also busy at El Centro where he hosts the Monday night Spanish Alumni Group. "We read a chapter from the Blue Book and talk about why we're here. It keeps us from going downhill." Between working on his house, the Alumni Group, and NA meetings, Jose is feeling good about how his life is working out, and he's confident that his mother is too.