April R. knows firsthand how drugs can lead to devastation—stealing your health, your family and your freedom. From marijuana, pain pills, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and K2, April’s struggle with substance use disorder started when she was only fifteen years old and continued over the next 24 years.
Today, this mother of five lives in Philadelphia and is nearly three-years into her recovery journey after going through Gaudenzia’s complete continuum of care programming. From detox services to residential treatment, followed by intensive outpatient and outpatient programs to today where she lives in Gaudenzia permanent housing program with her three-year old twins, April is committed to sharing her story of hope to help others.
As a child, April suffered with scoliosis which required braces and painful surgeries. Bullied by her peers, she suffered with low self-confidence and started to rebel as a teenager in hopes to fit in. She started smoking cigarettes and pot, dropped out of high school and moved in with her then boyfriend in Philadelphia.
After having her first child, April suffered with back pain and was prescribed pain pills. She quickly spiraled, misusing her pain medication, which then escalated to using crack cocaine after suffering the devastating loss of a close family member.
Over the next few years, April was arrested multiple times while continuing to misuse a variety of drugs including methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and K2. After having her second son and daughter, she had the desire to change and attended rehabilitation services in 2019. After being sober for a few months, she fell back into the world of addiction until she found out that she was expecting twins in 2020.
April continued to fight her battle with addiction and lost custody to her newborns after giving birth. Desperate to get her children back, April knew that she had to change and sought evidence-based treatment. She entered Gaudenzia’s detox program followed by residential treatment through Gaudenzia’s Women and Children’s program, where she utilized therapy, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), life skills, parenting classes and more to regain her life. While at the program, April worked alongside Gaudenzia to regain custody of her twins. Following her completion of the residential program, April continued with outpatient services demonstrating her commitment to long-term recovery. This past June, April celebrated her journey by attending Gaudenzia’s graduation ceremony signifying reaching milestones in her recovery.
Today, April is almost three years sober and still attends meetings regularly. She has worked on repairing relationships with her family and has developed a strong support network who continues to encourage her in her recovery journey. She lives with her three-year old twins and is passionate about sharing her story in order to help inspire others.
“You have to want recovery for yourself,” continues April. “You can’t do it for anyone else—your recovery is just that, YOUR recovery. It will be hard, but you can do it with help and support.”
If you or someone you love needs help with addiction treatment, please contact our Treatment and Referral HelpLine at 833.976.HELP (4357) or email helpline@gaudenzia.org today.
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