I’ve been sober for 11 years and six months. I would never have imagined I could experience even one day from alcohol/drugs back then. For eight-long years I had never been able to get longer than 30 days sober; being in and out of AA, therapy, and having tried to kill myself. Then I met a psychiatrist who saw past that homeless unemployable, degenerate hope-to-die alcoholic – to a person gripped by a terrible disease, with a medical solution.
At that time in 1999, naltrexone was new. I had tried all the other clearly non-effective recovery methods, what harm could a trial be? MAT moved me for the first time to stop dissociating when triggered. I found myself being completely present, able to stop the addictive process. I got 60 days, after which, like an alcoholic/addict, my self-will tested this MAT by drinking/using. The medication worked. I stayed present and have been able to be recovery-committed since, knowing it was possible.
I continued taking naltrexone for two years. I went off when I had built enough behavioral tools and support to ensure my ongoing recovery. I continue to live each day only 24 hours at a time, knowing that I can return to drinking and using tomorrow. If it wasn’t for MAT, I would not be here to tell my story. I am grateful that there are medical options to help people struggling when all else has failed them.
