Endorsements

J-- (Drug of choice: Heroin)
“I have my faith in God back now and I know the Launch Pad saved my life. I have been to five or six others (recovery houses) over the years.

If you’re serious, I have all the faith in the world it will work for you.

After my last relapse my brother said he never wanted to see me again. Now I have been down to the beach with him and we’ve gone bass fishing. My brother is back in my life. I stole from my mom thirteen months and sixteen days ago, but she’s called me and ask me to come back, at Christmas, to the same house I robbed."
(J--- has his own apartment with other recovering people and his own trucking business.)

A-- (Drug of choice: ‘Crack’ cocaine)
“I knew everybody up home between ______and _____(in an area four hundred miles from his Launch Pad). I know in the Big Book it says it takes more than a geographical change, but for me it seems to be helping. I had never tried to move away. I had never worked the program.

I did move away, and I don’t know the whole answer, but I have 94 days clean. I have never had 94 days clean before. I always started drinking first, shooting pool. Then it was finding some crack, then an eight-day binge. I am a husband and father. They had to wonder why I would disappear for a couple of weeks at a time.
“They’re moving down here soon. She wants to be with me now. As much joy as I have about it, there’s the equivalent of fear. Right now there’s two clean drug addicts behind that door right there. I can talk to them. They know how I feel…”

C-- (Drug of choice: Ice)
“I’ve got nothing but gratitude for the Launch Pads. I’ve never stayed clean this long (18 months). My life is filled with joy and happiness.

The way I used to live it was a daily struggle to get high. I was doing anything to get high, not caring about the consequences. It was scary coming up here, not knowing anyone, but now it makes me proud. Something good is going on.

I used to steal and do hateful stuff. Now I have a beautiful relationship with my family. I can help my mother.”

S-- (Drug of choice- ‘Crack’ cocaine.) Now two years clean, married, a recent new father, and sponsors five men, he said,
“I do endorse it! (Launch Pad) The structure was the biggest benefit to me. I knew I had to learn how to take care of my responsibilities. I had to learn to live with others. My family was discouraged with me.

It all started with doing my chores, working and paying my rent. Now I am a good father and I own my own company.”

M-- (Drug of Choice: Alcohol)
“I’ll have 90 days tomorrow. I’ve never made it 90 days before, and I would never have done it without the Launch Pad. I want to regain my life outside and re-build life with my two children. We talk on the phone all the time, now.

I de-toxed in a Launch Pad house. Everyone from top to bottom helped and supported me. There’s been nothing but positive things from then til now. Being here was very much the reason, the change of people and places made all the difference in the world. I had a few temptations but my network kept me from going back out. I’m grateful."

D-- (Drug of Choice: Heroin)
" I have a job and I have a year clean. One of the things (that helped) was having guys around that were there before you. You know that if you do those things, it can work. Seeing things happen for the other guys….the recovery atmosphere, the structure, empathy…”

A-- (Drugs of choice: Crack cocaine/’Ice’ Methamphetamine)
“I thank God for the Launch Pad and the people in the Launch Pads that have worked to help me. It’s pulled me through. I had tried before back in _______ (home area) but it didn’t work. Last week I celebrated a year clean.

I did a lot of crack. Toward the end I got where I mostly liked Ice. When I was “out there’ I couldn’t sleep, rest or eat. I thought I was crazy. I thought I had lost my mind.

Now I have no problem sleeping or eating, I work out, and I’m not depressed like I was. I can handle things now. I have passed the test to be re-instated in school to be a C.N.A.

I am working a Seventh Step, I’ve went back to church. I have just begun to live and I’m enjoying life. I am a happy person today.”

M-- (Opiates)
“I’ve been here (in a Launch Pad) for nine months. I enjoy it here, it’s a safe place. I can come home from work and not worry. It’s better than being on my own. When temptations comes the other guys are right here. The first thing I think about is the other guys.

Wilmington’s a good place. I knew I wouldn’t last long if I didn’t get away from Raleigh. It’s definitely been a blessing. The first meeting I went to here there were over 100 people. I was amazed at the amount of recovery here. It’s a blessing and I am grateful for it.”

P-- (Drug of choice: “Anything IV”)
“I just picked up a nine-month key tag. It definitely helped me having a place to stay that was not ‘at risk.’ Always having some one there you can talk to, regardless of the time, day or night, got me through the harder times when I had something hanging over my head.

I could have stayed with my parents but I didn’t feel, then, like I would stay clean if I stayed around home. I needed more structure. But I’m with them tonight. We’re cooking dinner."

E-- (Drug of choice: “Mainly crack but, I could make anything my ‘drug of choice.’ ’’) “I’ve got five months clean. One of the most important things is learning that giving back helps me as much it does the new people. There are lots of other benefits. The recovery atmosphere, living with others trying to do the same thing. It’s a chance to look at my own issues and to learn more about the 12-step process.

They (different towns, neighborhoods) are all ‘playgrounds’ for me. Living here I get to learn how to deal with areas I could use in, but I get to come home to people who can relate to my struggles. They don’t look at me like I just spoke Yiddish or Czechoslovakian.”