Meta House

Success Stories

Robyn

Robyn grew up an inquisitive, happy, and spirited child. She learned early on, though, that asking questions about her parents' addiction was unacceptable. At a very young age Robyn learned to quickly adapt to her volatile home situation--at times, it was a peaceful, quiet retreat conducive to family bonding and her studies, while at other times, it was unpredictable and chaotic wrought with alcohol-fueled anger.

Robyn and her sisters followed the example her parents set for their four young daughters. At twelve years old, Robyn began to drink alcohol. At fifteen, she started smoking marijuana; and, at sixteen, she began experimenting with cocaine. There was nothing jarring about any of the first-time experiences, because this was the environment in which Robyn was raised. Substance abuse was an everyday occurrence, and she knew of no other lifestyle. Robyn was an average student and graduated high school at seventeen. She entered college that fall.

At eighteen, Robyn learned she was pregnant. The father, Robyn’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, also struggled with substance abuse. Their relationship, while toxic and abusive, made Robyn feel validated and more confident about her place in the world. During the pregnancy, Robyn fought hard to stay clean and gave birth to a healthy daughter. Three weeks later, Robyn’s mother passed away from the effects of addiction. To escape the pain of this harsh reality, Robyn turned to drugs and alcohol to cope. Her substance use turned into an addiction. By that time, her four sisters were also struggling with their own addictions. She found the solace and support she needed in her father, but he too, struggled to stay sober. Less than a year later, Robyn’s dad lost his battle with addiction, reigniting the pain and loss that she felt. This time, though, Robyn felt differently; she sought help. In late 2010, Robyn entered a methadone clinic. She was confident this was the answer, but instead, she met unhealthy people that introduced her to opiates. In the two years that followed, she struggled to stay clean. Her daughter was taken away in January 2013. Robyn knew that she needed to get clean for her daughter. She checked in to a residential treatment program, where she stayed clean for six months. Unfortunately, though, the core issues that caused Robyn’s addiction were never addressed and she relapsed and began to use again.

Robyn’s life changed on July 18, 2013 when her case worker found a place for her in the Meta House residential treatment program. She spent six months in the program, addressing all the facets that perpetuated her addiction. She worked with parenting specialists on how to nurture and communicate with her daughter. She successfully completed the methadone program that she started three years prior. She opened herself up to other clients, many of whom she today calls friends. She began to attend meetings in the community and broaden her support system. Through this network, she found a sponsor that she meets with regularly.

Today, Robyn feels empowered and lives in Meta Housing, inspired by the strong, supportive women around her. It’s been an incredible summer for Robyn – on June 6th, she and her daughter were successfully reunified, on June 17th, she graduated from Family Drug Treatment Court, on July 10th, Robyn celebrated one year of sobriety. Currently, she volunteers at a runaway shelter servicing underprivileged teenagers and is looking forward to working at State Fair this summer. Both she and her daughter are looking forward to attending school in the fall. Her daughter will be entering K5 and Robyn plans to complete her Associate’s degree.

Katie

Katie began using alcohol and smoking pot when she was in high school. When Katie was in her 20’s, she held a position as a legal secretary. She loved her work and did her job well, but always felt that she never had enough energy to do all the things she wanted to do. She thought she worked better using substances because they initially gave her energy. “I was always looking for this super-human drug to help me be a better person. A big problem for me is severe depression. It is something that I probably never knew I was suffering from. I think drugs were always my medicine for that.”

Cocaine then became her drug of choice. This led to using a narcotic to help her sleep at night. “I thought I’d always have it together” she said, “even though I was really sad and messed up on the inside, I painted this picture like everything in my life was great on the outside. I have a son and I always kept him dressed nicely. I got him to school on time. I was at work on time and did good work. I was functioning for a long time. And it was manageable. Until …it just wasn’t. Now I needed the drugs to get through the day without having withdrawals.”

By the time Katie was admitted to Meta House, she was smoking crack and using heroin every day. She had lost her job, had no insurance, and was without friends or family. Not only did she not have money to feed herself, she was being evicted from her third apartment . She hadn’t been to a doctor for years and had lost contact with her son. Without help, she would soon be living on the streets. “It was getting to a point where I had nowhere to go, no one to call anymore, absolutely nothing. I was so beaten down, such a shell of a person.”

“Without Meta House, I wouldn’t be where I am. I can say that all day long. I needed time. And wasn’t like you’re going to be here, 30, 60, 90 days and you’re out. I needed those 6 months. I didn’t know how long it was going to take. I knew I needed TLC for a longer period than I would get at a traditional rehab. I was sick, I was really, really sick.”

During the time she lived at Meta House, Katie rebuilt her relationship with her family and son. She has a support system that she can turn to when needed. She is now working part-time and living in transitional housing. She is currently advancing toward earning her associate degree as a paralegal; work she once loved and did so well. “When I was using” Katie said,” there was nothing to me. I am just figuring out who I am for the first time.”

Arielle

“I wanted to know why my mother couldn’t stop – what made the drugs more important than the family?” Arielle was surrounded by drugs, and even though she struggled with her mother’s addiction to heroin and crack cocaine, when she was 14 she started smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol, and began smoking crack cocaine at 18.

During her first pregnancy, Arielle tried to quit using crack cocaine. She even entered a treatment program, but ended up leaving and smoking crack during the pregnancy. When her daughter, Darielle, was born cocaine-positive, Child Protective Services took her away. It was at this point that Arielle says, “It hit me that I had a problem. I was depressed because I wanted my baby but I couldn’t have her with me because I was using drugs. I wanted to stop but didn’t know how.”

Shortly after arriving at Meta House, she discovered that she was pregnant with a second daughter. Today, Arielle is 7 months along in her pregnancy and says that experiencing this pregnancy, without the numbing effects of the drugs, is entirely different: “I feel so much more, and it’s painful but a blessing and a joy. I’ll never forget when the baby first kicked. I’m already getting to know her – I know when she’s hungry or wants to sleep.” She is proud that her second daughter has never been touched by drugs, not even cigarettes.

Meta House provides many resources to pregnant and postpartum mothers and their babies. Arielle has been thrilled to have help and now feels prepared for motherhood. Parenting classes and parent-child therapy have taught Arielle how to be patient and constructive with discipline, and about observing her child to read her feelings even when she is too young to talk.

Arielle has also made personal advances during her stay at Meta House. She feels better physically – her skin is clearer and she is taking care of her personal hygiene. Arielle also studied for and obtained her GED while living at Meta House, which gave her a great sense of accomplishment. She now plans to go to school to become a nurse and dreams of eventually becoming a doctor.

Arielle did not know why she started using drugs and alcohol until she came to Meta House and began examining her addiction in counseling. “I’ve learned about how using drugs covered up the hurt I was feeling, the abandonment I felt from my family. I felt so lonely while my mom was using.” Now, she is confident in herself and expects a bright future for her own daughters.