I believe I am an excellent example of successfully working the methadone treatment program with outstanding results. Over 10 years ago, I was in a terrible accident with an 18-wheeler and I became miserably hooked on any painkiller I could get. Money was not an issue. Doctors were not the issue. Work was not an issue. My wife and children were. I was controlled by something that they could not and would not understand. I put them outside my mental realm of priorities and I was quite content with this, unless of course, I was temporarily out of my medicine and miserably sick. During those moments, sick as hell, I would drop everything - family, work, all activities, until i scored my medicine again. At this point, six Percocet 10's, 4 to 5 times a day were needed by me just to feel normal. I really could not even get "high" anymore. My wife knew about the pain pills, but did not know how many or my secrets. I was a professional at this, but she could not understand why I wasn't "improving" from the "pain" I was constantly in from the car wreck.

I am 50 years old now and in the early 90's I became severely addicted to pain medication. So much so that I, being a single parent of two, sacrificed financially both myself and my two kids. It was hard to function with work without having drugs, so I maintained a lot of relationships with different people who could get me prescription meds. This illegal activity continued for several years without incident, but I knew that I would eventually get into serious trouble if I continued. I was very lucky! My life had become unmanageable.

I began doing and abusing drugs about 20 yrs ago. I have been through many treatment centers, detox & rehab facilities, even other methadone clinics, BUT nowhere have I had success in staying clean and sober than at Central Florida Treatment Centers. The staff has been caring, friendly and professional. My counselor, Lee, took an active interest in my sobriety. The Director, Earl, and the nursing staff have helped keep me on track with a plan for staying sober and the doctor has shown great concern for my health. I have been reunited with family and church. All in my life is good. Thanks to the clinic, some self-control, and God, I am going to do and be okay.

-Charles V.

Dear Earl,

Living in abandoned buildings -- to escape prying eyes. The scornful looks of the disapproving public. I had slipped down a slope and into an abyss from which there is VERY little chance of return. I was a stone-cold heroin addict and I had lost (or bartered) away my soul bit by bit, year in and year out, to procure that gram of white powder I needed each day to "keep the sick off". I did things which still haunt me to this day. Bad things. Selfish things. --- Terrible things. That abyss I mentioned -- I was at the bottom of it, digging with a shovel to go even lower. 'Rock­ bottom' as it commonly referred, is always one shovel-full deeper. Such is the self-loathing and self-destructive mindset of an actively using opiate addict.

My name is Elizabeth C. I would like to say thank you for everything you all do. My sober date is December 26, 2012. I have managed to hold on to my sobriety through kidney cancer, collapsed lung, hysterectomy, sinus and throat tumors, and now a brain tumor. Last December I was in a lot of pain and began taking meds as prescribed, however my Dr's wanted me to go back to pain management which is how my addiction began. The thought scared me, especially with the knowledge of knowing that I could not manage a prescription properly. I could envision myself picking up a needle again. Dr Autin just happened to be who I was sent to for my sinus and throat tumors. After explaining that I'd been sober and my fears, he suggested that I return. It was the best thing I could have done. I stayed on a lower dose, 55 mg, and my counselor, Shannon, is amazing. Unfortunately, my youngest child turned 18 so DCF took my Medicaid. I explained this and began a voluntary detox, which was great, no withdrawal. I stopped at 3 mg on Nov 4th and praise God, am ok. I do intend on returning asap. I just wanted to take a moment and thank everyone in Ft. Pierce for all of their support. You are saving lives.

-Elizabeth C.

Before I came to CFTC, my life was a revolving door of chronic relapses, treatment, minimal sobriety and a life paved by good yet unfulfilled intentions, always backed by empty promises. I did not know how to live a life clean and successful outside of an institution thus the pattern was forever repeating itself. I finally got off what I called "the treatment merry-go-round lifestyle" when I came here, to CFTC, and learned to break the pattern by incorporating a program of recovery with everyday goals of living and meeting milestones of accomplishments. That person, now, serves only as a reminder of what my life "used" to be like. Finally, I was given the tools I needed to live, not just a normal, productive life but better yet, a successful life. The staff was patient, compassionate, and understanding and helped me to help myself.