Chris
I started smoking marijuana during my freshman year of high school in East Baltimore. I was 13, and it seemed cool and the pretty girls were doing it, so I did. The bright future people were expecting me to have gradually got clouded by drugs. I maintained A's and B's in my classes for awhile, but gradually, I stopped doing my homework and my grades dropped. My parents knew something was wrong. Both my Mom and Dad are born-again Christians who love the Lord; they tried their best to figure me out. I was someone who would never be a drug addict. But sure enough, I was. A year after starting marijuana, I was taking LSD weekly, getting drunk on weekends, and occasionally smoking PCP. A thin disguise of order and purpose kept my addiction hidden until the summer before my senior year last year. That was when everything unraveled.

I started using heroin. The pay from my summer job, plus money I stole, supported my habit. Everything I had was spent on drugs and bad experiences. One of those bad times was a fight with my best friend. He was drunk and I was high at the time. He attacked me with a razor blade and I needed 44 stitches to sew up the damage to my back and face. I kept getting high and drunk until last February, three month from what would have been my graduation date. I finally realized that drug were getting me nowhere but down. I was in bed, withdrawing from heroin, when I recommitted my life to Jesus on February 29, 1996.

I told my parents and my church, Catonsville Assembly of God in Catonsville, Maryland. My pastor suggested Teen Challenge. "Year, right, there's no way I'm spending a year," I figured. But I am glad I came here.

God has blessed me so much through Teen Challenge. This ministry has taught me discipline, helped me grow in the faith, and encouraged me.

I had been a heavy drinker throughout the '70s, but when the '80s began, I started using the kinds of drugs I was selling. I was nearly 30 years old at the time. My heavy drug use resulted in a drug addiction. And that meant, between getting arrested, convicted and sent to prison, several attempts at rehabilitation in drug programs. I had become involved in various religions, but all of them left me empty. In 1994, however, I recommitted my life to Jesus. Seven months of drug-free living followed my decision, but I again yielded to the temptation to use drugs and got hooked again.

I entered another drug program and almost made it to graduation. I left a few days early because instead of putting my heart into it, I had just used that program as a place to stay. I returned home and for a time, did well. I regularly attended church, worked two jobs, and did my best to be a good father to my two sons, ages 16 and 13. But, I started spending time where I should not have, and I began losing my hard-earned gains. An friend at church told me about Teen Challenge.

My experience with "programs" gave me second thoughts, but I was hungry for the Word of God and know I had to get close to God to stay away from drugs.

I am glad I came to Teen Challenge. It has really helped me as far as giving me an understanding of the Holy Spirit and renewing my desire to reach goals, like loving God with all of my heart and doing His will.