‘There is life after addiction’
Woman in recovery after addiction prompted by Percocet
When Natalie Smith broke her shoulder in 2015, the Newfoundland woman had no idea her life was about to go into a spiral.
She is a trained personal care attendant and behaviour analysis therapist. She comes from a good family, she says, and was just starting her career.
Then she was prescribed Percocet by her doctor.
The drug was prescribed to help manage the pain of the new pins, screws, and plate in her shoulder following the break.
Smith didn’t think taking prescribed medication would be an issue.
“Up to that point, I never took a pill in my life,” Smith said.
“I thought because I was taking it as prescribed, I wouldn’t get addicted, and one thing just led into another.”
‘THERE WAS NO ESCAPE FROM IT’
Percocet turned into using cocaine. Smith eventually ended up in a shelter in Carbonear. She split up with her then-husband and ended up in St. John’s after meeting the brother of one of her friends from the shelter.
Her life changed quickly. She started dancing at Sirens Cabaret and lost her apartment, which landed her back in the shelter system.
And throughout it all, she was chasing her next fix.
“Drugs were around me all the time. There was no escape from it. I felt like I was never going to know my life without drugs,” Smith said.
EASY ACCESS
Life wasn’t pretty. Smith said everything just kept getting worse.
“I was in such an abusive relationship. Financially, I had lots of money coming in from the club, and there was just so much easy access. Everything was on Sebastian Court and Livingstone Street. Everything was at my fingertips,” she said.
At one point, Smith overdosed on fentanyl.
“I only overdosed once. I accidentally smoked fentanyl and I was on my deathbed. I was on life support for three days,” she said.
SUCCESS STORY
After the overdose, she found herself back at The Gathering Place, and she decided it was time to turn her life around.
Today, Smith is eight months into her recovery. She sees addiction as a mentalhealth disease.
“Nobody wakes up and says, ‘Today I am going to be an addict.’ No one wakes up and says, ‘I’m going to smoke this crack or take this pill and keep doing it and doing it until I get rid of everything I’ve got,’” she said.
“People think it’s a choice. Yes, we make the choice to take the drug, but we never make the choice to become addicted.
“It can happen to anyone. I’m well educated, and it can happen to anyone.”
MORE TO LIFE THAN ADDICTION
Since entering recovery, Smith has worked at a landscaping company.
“I’ve got it in my bones. I’m not lazy. Nobody gave me a chance, and finally, someone did. That’s when I decided there’s more to life than this (addiction),” she said.
Smith also has a place to live.
“I can go in and shut my door and go to sleep and put a meal in my belly and go to sleep in peace,” she said.
She also volunteers at The Gathering Place and goes to church.
“I am giving back to the ones who gave to me,” Smith said.
LIFE AFTER ADDICTION
While recovery isn’t always easy, Smith takes comfort because her parents don’t have to worry about her anymore.
“I was the girl (that) her parents were worried to death for the phone to ring because they thought it would be me dead,” she said.
Smith’s father recently celebrated his birthday.
“His birthday was made knowing I’m safe,” she said.
Smith knows what it’s like to lose loved ones to addiction, and she knows what it’s like to deal with addiction.
Her message to those in similar situations is simple.
“There is life after addiction,” Smith said.
“If I can do it and have the strength, I believe anyone can do it.”