Non-stop Smile

William's Road To Freedom

Talking to William is often like talking to a non-stop smile. It is hard to believe that until 2005 he had "an entire life spent in destitution." Like many enrolled in MDC treatment programs, early onset of drug use coincided with serious struggles in school.

School was always very hard for William and he was held back in one grade because he just could not keep up. He dropped out of school in 7th grade. He now understands that he probably had a learning disability that was undiagnosed. He spent his adolescent years searching for a place to belong. Moving around the streets of Tacoma, he hung out with older kids and used his parents' home for a roof and food while he used drugs of all kinds.

Later, he worked as a painter but found that work was not enough to get him established. He often became homeless and slept in garages, abandoned houses, under trees and in tents. After over 25 years of addiction, William decided to enter inpatient treatment in 2003. He reports that the process included several rounds of relapse at several treatment programs. The last of these treatment progreams was the MDC Center for Substance Abuse Recovery. Staff helped him to get income from DSHS and to qualify for access to a transitional clean and sober house.

Then in 2006, he became a full time student at Tacoma Community College (TCC). This fall he was named the TCC Student of the Year. He has completed classroom requirements to become a licensed Chemical Dependency Professional, has a 3.57 GPA and began his internship at MDC in October. Clearly, William is on his own two feet. He knows that he holds a promising future in the palm of his hand, and this is the real reason for his smile.

More Information

To start the road to recovery for you or someone you know, visit The Center for Substance Abuse and Recovery. The Center's staff will expertly guide you through a free assessment and help you understand your options for treatment.