Michigan, United States 5/24/2009 10:06:56 PM
Should Addicts Get Jail or Drug Rehab?
For one ex-addict, rehab, not jail changed his life.
At the age of 15 Bobby Newman felt like he was missing out on life. Both of his sisters had
married and moved out, and he was home alone with his mother as both parents were divorced. To curb this boredom and loneliness he started drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana. Despite his drug usage, at 17, Bobby received a full scholarship to a small college to play football. What started out as a great opportunity soon went downhill after he was introduced to cocaine and speed.
As a result of his addiction, Bobby dropped out of school and became a journeyman sheet-metal worker. During this time his drug use increased and Bobby’s life went to pieces. “I was arrested more times than I care to remember,” says Bobby. “I wrecked every car I had ever owned, broke a lot of bones in those wrecks and got into a lot of gun and knife fights. When all was said and done, I was looking at 7 years in federal prison and $300,000.00 in fines.” It was after Bobby had violated probation 3 times and was wanted by United States Marshals that he ended up overdosing on methamphetamine and was finally taken to prison.
Thankfully his sister had been looking for another solution for him and found the Narconon drug rehab program. Bobby was released from prison to go into treatment and as a result, he just celebrated 10 years off drugs. Today Bobby Newman feels that treatment, not jail, is the only thing that can rehabilitate an addict. “Jail only makes you worse.” says Newman. “Being locked up with other criminals simply made me feel as though I wanted to go out and commit more crimes each time I was released. The only way I was able to restore my self respect was through rehabilitation.”
Newman has not only handled his own addiction but has spent the last 10 years of his life giving back to the community by becoming and trained prevention specialist and professional addiction counselor. Through his work in prevention and rehabilitation fields, he has helped save thousands of peoples lives. “I knew that after my years of dealing drugs, manufacturing of meth and basically being a menace to society, I had a lot of damage to make up for, but that it is possible for anyone,” says Newman.
With his long-term, stable sobriety Bobby Newman now knows he can do anything in life. “The saying goes: ‘what you can confront you can handle,”’ says Newman. “Narconon gives you a strong foundation and tools to work with to handle life and causes you to not only to be able to handle and confront life, but actually enthusiastically tackle anything you’ve ever wanted to.”
If you or someone you know is in need of an effective drug treatment program or a court-ordered drug rehab program contact Narconon Freedom Center today at 877-362-9682 or log onto www.freedomdrugrehab.com.
