I grew up in Greenville, North Carolina. When I was 12, my mother had knee surgery and was prescribed pain killers.

She put the extras in her medicine cabinet. I experimented with them and got hooked.

By 15, I was on heroin.

By 18, I was homeless, living in a Walmart parking lot.

I checked myself into detox and then participated in treatment.

Today, at 21 years of age, I am in recovery, working on getting an education so I can become a social worker to help other young people avoid my experience.