AC's Story

AC had given up hope and figured it would just be a matter of time before he perished from drugs and alcohol. He was often found in the streets or at police stations, barefoot with foot infections and barely able to walk. He would disappear for days at a time, delusional and on drug binges.

As a Latino man, the Friends Connection program connected him with a Latino peer support counselor. For the first year, it was "catch as catch can" with AC. Sometimes the peer support counselor would connect with him by happenstance on the street or just by checking out the police stations which is were he would go to sleep. AC had treatment services but did not connect with them for very long at any given time. Sometimes he would come in off the streets and be okay for a few days but then the cycle would start again. There were times when his physical condition was so poor he would need to be hospitalized.

Slowly he began to connect with a Friends Connection peer support counselor and started going to 12 step meetings. Still struggling with his mental health and addiction issues, and periodically lost to the streets, AC met with his peer counselor who persisted in taking AC in like family, taking him to Latino cultural events and just doing simple things, like working on the engine of a car. One day the peer counselor felt that if he could get AC to a National AA convention, it might make a difference.

Sure enough, AC went to the convention and was astounded by all of the other people struggling for recovery. He could not believe that there were over a thousand people in the 12-step meeting that was being held in the convention room. He was very nervous and really wanted to get up and tell his "story." When he did tell his story, he received a standing ovation and was transformed by the caring warmth and support he felt from so many people. From that day forward he began to grow. He attended regular meetings and continued to go to AA conventions.

AC has been in recovery for six years (with the exception of one set back), and has been working the same job for four years. He lives independently, has a son that he supports, is an officer in the Friends Connection alumni program, and facilitates the Spanish Speaking Double Trouble meeting for the Friends Connection (Double Trouble is a self-help, 12-step program adapted from the AA 12-step format for people with co-occurring disorders).