11/02/09 Bend
Looking at 30 year old Amber Martin now, you would never guess she spent well over ten years addicted to meth. Growing up in a broken home, saying she was abused by men she trusted, she tried marijuana first at 13 years old. By 15, she was addicted to meth. An eight ball a day habit cost her well over a hundred bucks daily. "I stole, I robbed houses, I didn't ever sell myself or my body for drugs but I did just about everything else to make sure that I could get my high," Amber remembers.
"Amber got arrested quite a bit on and off mainly little stuff, she got arrested on a lot of theft things, got arrested for possession of drugs we were dealing with her mainly on the streets when she was walking during the times she was really high," said Bend Police Officer Mike Maunder.
Amber lived in motels, a van, a tent in the middle of winter. She lost custody of her children twice. Three years ago her younger brother Carl died at 25 of a heroin overdose. "It's one drug that I never did try was heroine, but it doesn't mean that anything I was doing was anything better, I was just dying slower," said Martin.
August 30th 2007, sitting in a tent, surrounded by stolen merchandise, she hit rock bottom. "I remember praying that night that my life would end as it was," said Martin.
She was arrested the next day and spent the next two years in prison on burglary, theft and possession charges. "One of the best things I think happened to her was when she got arrested, at least get her off the streets, I think she would have probably died," said Officer Maunder.
Behind bars she went through recovery. by then meth had taken its effect. "I'm 30 years old, and I'm missing 80 percent of my teeth, gone, I feel that it wore down not only my teeth but the bones in my body, my muscles," said Martin as she pulled out her false teeth.
Amber is now in college, working toward a career in drug and alcohol counseling and has regained custody of her precious daughters. She said (referreing to your daughter), "I lift my hands and I praise the lord because I have my mommy back. This little girl prayed for me every single night and every day that I would learn to make the right choices and I would change my life."
Comments
Life Interrupted:Part 1
Congratulations to Amber, on her recovery from addiction. I, too am in recovery from addiction, only heroin addiction. Addiction, for me, began at age twelve. My first rehab was at thirteen, and 'rehab' meant locking one away for a month, or so, in hopes of teaching me a lesson and that alcohol and drugs were bad. Drug treatment had not been perfected back in the early 1970's. I spent years in the penitentiary, finally deciding to do something else. I returned to school, where I studied addictions. I am a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, in Illinois. In just a few months, I will graduate from Governors State University, with a Masters degree in Addiction Studies, at age fifty.
I completely understand where the addicted mind can take us, down a unscrupulous path, one leads nowhere. We lacked judgment, compassion, and respect, for self and others. The addiction equation has many variables, the most important being personal choice. I believe that, although we may have a genetic disposition for addiction, it is ultimately our choices that activates it, maintains it, and ends it. Here's to a long recovery, and a long life.
Teri Hop
Changing Lanes
Amber,
Somewhere along the lifes lines we have met. I recognize you on the good and bad side but don't ask me where. Who Knows, maybe it was a moment of seeing my own past. I commend you for where you are going. I too started at 13 and went into my early adult years. I lost my kids, did my share of stupid things and in the end I saw who I didn't like. Now I watch the carnage around me to include some of my own family.
I got my kids back, we are great and they are now (2 of 3) on their own. I also went back to school but in the form of law as I want to be a Juvenile Probation Officer with a real understanding. 1 of the 3 children of mine is adopted, my daughter loved bringing home "lost" kids. I have gained respect and commendation from the same Judge who has sentenced me as well as having become a pre trial release home for federal inmates of my choosing. Lastly, that same Judge who sentenced me years ago, alos gave me guardianship of my 2nd cousin and life is good. Not always easy but I wouldn't trade it.
The one thing that I remember clearly is a friend of mine telling me that for however many years you used, double that and that's how long it takes to catch up to your real emotional health/age. I thought he was crazy...It's taken alot of time and many emotions to get to today and he was right. I'm active in work, community and my family and these animals and I have the best group of friends and support that I ever thought possible.
I own my own home and am fortunate enough to have a job. Looking back, if I were to look forward, I never saw the life I live now and would have never believed it.
Please, for the sake of you, the kids and those you affect continue on the great job. A day or two at a time. A long road, well traveled.
Cara Tapken