Amber is putting a face on the heroin epidemic ravaging our region. 


Since part 1 of my story I have officially celebrated 3 wonderful years of sobriety! The happiness and gratitude I have would not be possible without all of yesterdays. Thank you, everyone, for all of the amazing support.     



   

Part 2: After I graduated from high school I was on cloud nine. I was promoted to assistant manager at my job, I put a down payment on a new car and I received a modeling contract. My dream of becoming a print model was looking hopeful. Shortly after that I enrolled at NKU. During this time I was still drinking heavily and smoking pot non-stop.        

After school started I met a guy that sold pot and cocaine. We started dating, and I fell in love with his life style. I partied every night, either at his apartment, frat parties or clubs. I started using cocaine daily. Within months I quit my job, dropped out of school and dropped my modeling contract.  All of those things were taking to much time away from my partying. I convinced myself that wasn’t the reason why though.

    

About that time my mom got diagnosed with breast cancer and was undergoing treatment. I started spending less time at home so that I didn’t have to see her sick. And selfishly because i wanted to party.

    

One night while I was high on coke, I became so full of rage I thought I was really going to hurt someone or myself. I decided to never touch cocaine again, and I didn’t. I did start taking pills though, and I got a job at a bar as a manager. I was able to drink at work every night, so I was happy.

    

Some time had passed and I found out one of my friends was using heroin. I was floored. I thought heroin was only in big cities and on T.V. A couple of weeks later I got news that he had died of an overdose. I went to his funeral, and as I was leaving I was asked if I wanted to go get high. Not on weed but on heroin. I then made a decision that would change my life forever. For some reason, I still cannot fathom, I said yes. I had just seen my friend in a casket and I went and “shot up” for the first time. I fell in love with heroin that day. Two weeks later I woke up in an ambulance, the paramedics telling me if they had gotten to me any later I would have been dead of an overdose. I was taken to the hospital, worring about two things. My family finding out and getting high again. After I was released I went right back to Cincinnati for more.

    

So quickly this drug was taking over, it had it’s hold on me. All reason and control went out the window. The sweet, outgoing, girl next door was becoming a dope fiend. A monster was taking over.

      

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