I Found the Desire to Live Again

My name is Irene. I was born and raised in Emilia Romagna, in the province of Modena.

I honestly don’t remember much of my life before drugs because I was very young. Some of my best memories that I remember were when my parents were still together. It was a beautiful and carefree time when we all lived together. We spent every Sunday morning together. My mother cleaned and sang, although she couldn’t carry a tune, and my father danced with us.

Then things started to change at home, and at the age of 11, I started using drugs. Next to my school, there was a park with older boys. I noticed them every day. I felt attracted to them, and I remember one day, when I was passing by on foot, they called out to me. They were smoking marijuana. One of the boys said to me, “Take this and smoke it. You’ll be fine.” I didn’t want to, but I wanted to be like them. I wanted to be a rebel. And from there, my downward spiral began.

I started skipping school and lying to my family. I had no idea where this would land me years later. After fighting with my family for years, I lost everything: dignity, trust and the essence of life.

Four years later, I returned home. I was sent to a government rehab, and from there, a new type of torture began! After two years of medication and hospitalization, I asked for help.

My aunt did what she could to help me, and after some research, she found Narconon. I was desperate for help, and without giving it a second thought, I went to see the place.

I arrived at the centre in the evening. The staff was all nice, but by the time evening came, I was very sick. I wanted to escape, but that didn’t happen—the staff assisted me 24 hours a day.

The methadone withdrawal was hard to overcome, but the staff did a great job, and thanks to their help and care, I got over the withdrawal quickly.

I weighed 38 kg, I could not stand up easily after withdrawal. But after two days in the sauna [New Life Detox], I began to feel more alive, and that will to live grew. When I finished the sauna, I was 56 kg.

I had a dazzling smile, and I felt inside me the desire to live again. I no longer thought about the bad things in the past. I could only think about the present and the future.

“I finished the Narconon program five years ago, and I can say that I have been able to rebuild my life, and now I am happy.”

I finished the Narconon program five years ago, and I can say that I have been able to rebuild my life, and now I am happy.

I have a job, I have excellent relationships with my family, and above all, I am the one who makes the decisions for my life.

I want to build a family, rebuild my house, and I want to meet and help other people who are most in need.

I have achieved many goals, and for that, I am grateful to the Narconon program because it has given me the will and the strength to succeed.

I can finally look my family in the eyes. Now I am a person worthy of trust.

I am finally acting for the best, and it is me who is doing it. Drugs no longer dictate my actions, and this makes me feel like I am in control of my life.

Irene, Narconon Graduate