My name is Yolanda Mitchell and I am 53 years old. I wanted to share my journey of positive change with you. I was raised in what you call a traditional family. I was the only child and had loving parents.
One thing about me is I was a bully. I was always getting in trouble at school and had friends that would allow me to control them. At the age of 14, my mother’s boyfriend attempted to sexually abuse me. I made my mother aware of the situation, and on the second attempt, we beat him up and were arrested.
When I was 18, I decided to leave home to go work at Amserv Home Service as a home health aide where I lived in a rooming house. Not long after that, I met someone and got married. He happened to be a drug dealer even though I never messed with drugs. One day while I was cleaning, I discovered a package and was curious— that is when my addiction started.
My addiction lasted for 14 years. During the time I was using, I was arrested several times which landed me in drug treatment programs and a methadone clinic. After, I knew I wanted and needed a change and that is when I found Alliance in 2014.
Alliance continues to help me with my recovery and getting my life back in order. In 2018 I became a Peer and couldn’t be happier.