I quit heroin and other heavy opioids just before fentanyl really hit the streets. Quit cold turkey after losing a few friends and realizing that I could get a bag cut with fent and die, and I couldn’t do that to my siblings; they’re a lot younger than me and really idolized me at the time.

When I was well enough to get to a store without shitting myself or throwing up bile everywhere, I went and bought a handle(1.75l) of the cheapest vodka I could. I continued that every day until 4 years ago.

I have cirrhosis, and my liver could shit the bed at any time, but I’m alive and I’m clean (for the most part) and sober. I work in recovery and am working to become a Drug and Alcohol Counselor now.

I quit smoking about 6 months ago. I went to the store, didn’t have quite enough for a pack, and just haven’t bought another. Tobacco has been the hardest for me by far. Alcohol withdrawal almost killed me - I had to be hospitalized for near a month - but I was on high doses of benzodiazepines so I don’t remember much of it. The cravings for a cigarette are intense. They’ve gotten better zand they will continue to do so, but damn, it’s rough.

I’m an office manager at a methadone clinic. I’m working toward becoming a Drug and Alcohol Counselor. It’s a wonderfully rewarding job and I can’t wait to continue in the field.

Food. I’m making just enough to get my bills paid, but I’ve been eating ramen and Mac and cheese for around a year. I just want to be able to have food in the fridge/cupboard. It’s getting so fucking tiring to never have basic necessities to work so fucking hard to keep my bank account in the negative. I’m so fucking depressed.

Now that I’m done venting, I would absolutely love to be able to get some gifts for my brothers and sisters but it just doesn’t look like it’ll be feasible this year.

My dad had The Blues Brothers on VHS. I used to watch it ALL the time. I’ve seen it upwards of 100 times. It is still one of my favorite movies of all time. When I was a kid 95% of it went over my head, but as an adult, it’s just so good.