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Former addicts help others recover at Quapaw House

Different people with very different experiences. No two stories are the same. What brings these former addicts together: they all now work in recovery, helping others get through the darkness.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - This week we've brought you stories from across the state of people working to save a generation. THV11's Winnie Wright visited the Quapaw House on Tuesday, May 15th, reporting on the lack of rehab facilities available in Arkansas.

While there, she met a number of former addicts now working in recovery, dedicating their lives to saving others from addiction. These are their stories, from darkness into light.

"What was your vice,” Winnie asked.

"My vice has actually changed over the years. I've done drugs for 24 years. It started out with prescriptions. It's ranged from prescriptions, alcohol, and it ended with meth,” said Wade Carter.

"Opioids,” said Jordan Vaughn.” I was an IV opioid-user."

"You know, I tried all kinds of things,” said Dylan Dixon of his addiction. “The one thing that got its hooks into me was the pain pills."

"Methamphetamine,” answered Jeanette Carpenter.

Carpenter was 25 years-old before she tried any drugs. That’s when she was introduced to meth by a boyfriend.

"I didn't even know what it was,” she said. “But we were at a party. They said, 'you don't say no.' So I tried it. After that it became an every weekend thing. Within a matter of months, it was a daily thing."

She was using an 8-ball of meth, around $300 worth a day.

"Both of our habits together got so big we couldn't afford it. Even by stealing, manipulating the system, trying to get money however we could. We couldn't afford our habit so we actually learned to manufacture."

Jordan Vaughn's addiction began with a slipped disk in his back.

"It started with football when I was in 10th grade,” he said. “I was always playing football, and after the games, I'd be really sore and started taking hydro's, 5's and 10's. Then I developed a taste for them. I really liked them, and I ended up going to a doctor."

"At that point in time they started prescribing me pain pills. Then I started doctor shopping. When I got up to 19, 20, 21 years old. At that age, there was a doctor I would see every 30 days they would prescribe me oxycodones and a lot of them at that point in time," said Vaughn.

Jordan's family pushed him to treatment. The others found themselves there after being arrested.

"Sitting in jail, you hit rock bottom. The decision was made that for the sake of my relationship and my life, that I needed help,” Carter said.

Different people with very different experiences. No two stories are the same. What brings these former addicts together: they all now work in recovery, helping others get through the darkness.

"It's heartbreaking,” Carpenter said. She works in screening and scheduling at Quapaw House. She's typically the first person addicts speak to on their road to recovery.

"When they call, they're at their bottom. So when they call us, they are grasping at straws usually. And I know what that feels like,” she said with tears in her eyes.

The hardest thing they have to do: tell those people there are no beds available, and they'll have to be put on a waiting list, knowing what will likely happen in the meantime.

"I can tell you what happened. We were told it was going to be about 30 days before we could get into treatment. Of course we did what any addicts do. We went and re-upped,” Carter told me of his experience.

"There's no telling when that next use, that next drink, or whatever could be the last one,” echoed Dixon.

All four of these survivors are now fearless advocates for those living in a nightmare they know all too well.

"Yea that makes me better at what I do," said Carpenter. "It helps me, not necessarily know what to say, but sometimes all you have to do is say ,'Hey, I've been there. I know what you're going through, and you can get better."

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