My names is Derek Langdon I am 41 years old.
I took my first drink at the age of 8….at 13 I tried marijuana for the first time. I used crack for the first time at age 15 and as you can see, my disease at the time is in a progression and it continued to get worse. By 18, I had been arrested 3 times to support my habit. I became a 3 time felon by the age of 25.
The next 15 years is literally a revolving door in the Department of Corrections (3 times) and I would be introduced to heroin. That’s when I begin to experience homelessness and I contracted Hep C. And this is when I got help for the 9th time.
Ive been institutionalized 5 times and I’ve tried many different pathways….. medications and many self help groups… I was referred to a treatment facility specializing in medication assisted treatment in Bloomington, Indiana and have been clean for 6 months.
Suboxone has saved my life and today I’m a working and productive member of society. I’m responsible for the first time in my life. Thank God for sobriety and it’s truly a gift and a blessing.