Korie B.

You have pain, and you try to numb it with drugs and alcohol, but they just compound it. The drug world pulls you deeper and deeper and deeper. The years are gone, the money is gone, and you have nothing. I knew if I could just get this off me – these charges, this addiction, this mindset – I could do well. But I needed something to make me stop. I was on the road to destruction. When my brother died of an overdose, I spiraled. I ended up in prison. After he died, I started seeing feathers in different places. It was a sign. That was my motivation. I lost my brother; I didn’t want to lose myself, too. When I found TEEM, I found a support system. They’ve stuck with me all along. They believed in me. I had zero family here. Now I’m engaged, and we both volunteer with sober living as compliance managers. We’re active in the church. I’m in contact with my kids. One daughter lives with me. I want to be an advocate and help others. I want to help women feel good about themselves. Good self-esteem can change your whole mindset.