Meet Doug

"I was heavily addicted to meth and extremely depressed. I attempted suicide on the grass right there in front of the Kitchen. When I found out that this was a faith-based program I was wary at first because I’ve never been to church, my family was never spiritual at all. Then I saw the guys around here and everyone’s walking around with a smile on their face. I mentioned this in my graduation video, but I wanted what they had because I couldn’t remember the last time I had that. I came in with the intent of faking it to make it, but that didn’t work out - it only lasted maybe a day. But I did find the Lord and little by little good things started happening in my life. I had my ups and downs, what should have been an 8-month program turned out to be a year. 

But since I’ve completed the program, I’ll have 14 months sobriety. There’s no temptation at all. I have no desire to use, to drink or anything. 

I’ve gotten a job, reestablished contact with my daughter from over a year and a half ago. She’s 12 years old. She’s back in my life. I mean, all of this is happening within 2 months and it just keeps getting better and better. I’m happy."

Q: How did it feel to tell her [your daughter] you have a job?
A: It feels good to tell any body I have a job. But I told her the reason why I didn't keep in contact with her was that I didn’t want her to see what I was going through. She understands. And I’ll hopefully get to see her soon.

"It was hard to find a job. I put in at least 25-30 applications before I got this job."

Q: What do you think employers judged or assumed about an application like yours?
A: My biggest thing is that that’s my past. It doesn’t look good on paper, but you can’t judge me for my past 'cause I don’t live there anymore.

"I feel blessed with this job and things are going well but life can throw you a curveball at any time, anything can happen, but I know with the tools I’ve learned here that I can better deal with it then I have in the past."