I truly believe that addiction was inevitable for those of us who always felt like something was missing within us. No matter how much praise I received or how much success I achieved, nothing could satisfy the seemingly unquenchable desire I had to experience more than what life appeared to offer. That was until I started experimenting with drugs and alcohol. 

Substances filled a void in my soul I never even knew existed. My overactive brain suddenly felt still, and the background noise that used to drown out every original thought disappeared. Drugs and alcohol gave me a sense of peace I so desperately craved—and at the time, needed. I thought I’d found the solution to all my problems. Little did I know that this “solution” would become the biggest problem I’d ever face, one that would leave me believing I’d never escape its hell. 

At 18, I experienced an episode of drug-induced psychosis that had devastating effects on my mental health. The trauma robbed me of my personality and sense of identity, leaving me feeling completely empty inside. Doctors and psychologists didn’t know how to help, but I discovered that illicit substances could make me feel like the “old” me again. That marked the beginning of years of self-medicating in the pursuit of feeling “normal”—whatever that even meant. My entire existence became about simply getting through the day. There was no thriving, only surviving. 

When I moved to Scotland for a fresh start, my addiction reached its worst point. I began using harder substances and became convinced I was going to die. I had accepted that death was the only way to end my suffering. I don’t know how, but somewhere deep inside, I heard a small voice whisper, “It doesn’t have to be like this.”

Even though I felt hopeless, that thought gave me the urge to search online for nearby rehab programmes. That’s when I found Sunnybrae. Out of desperation, I gave them a call and spoke to a lovely woman who told me to keep phoning. She said if I showed I was serious about transforming my life, they would give me the place to do it. 

I was so consumed by misery that I couldn’t even imagine a reality where I was free from it all—or what that would even look like. But I did know one thing: dying from addiction is far more painful and slower than most people think. The pain I was in outweighed my skepticism that a programme could work for me. We all think we’re beyond help and that it’ll take a miracle to fix what’s broken inside us. As it turns out, that’s the perfect mindset for a miracle to take place—you just have to put yourself in the position to receive it. 

When we arrive at Sunnybrae, we’re all like fish out of water. Drugs had been our oxygen, and once they’re taken away, we don’t know who we are or how to connect with others. Seeing the transformation in the guys further along in the programme—and hearing their testimonies—was the encouragement I needed to stay. Time seemed to stand still, but slowly and surely, I began to improve in small ways. Each little victory felt like a massive achievement. I became part of the family and started having fun again.

That’s one of the beautiful things about Teen Challenge—while the programme is hard work, we also learn how to enjoy life the right way. Whether it’s hiking up Ben Nevis or flying across Loch Lomond on jet skis, we laugh like kids again. 

Gradually, my identity and sense of self began to return—but even more than that, they were being reshaped into something new. I stopped feeling like the “old me” and started becoming the real me—the person I was created to be. It took being in a safe environment, with the time and space to discover who that person was without substances. 

Freedom, I’ve learned, is the God-given gift of knowing exactly who you are and having the courage to be that person every day—without relying on anything external. Teen Challenge promises to help you find freedom, and I’m here to testify that’s exactly what’s on offer. I didn’t just find freedom from substances; I found freedom from the things that caused me to use them in the first place. Discovering those reasons took time, but the programme gives you plenty of it—and the best team around to guide you through it. 

I can’t begin to explain how powerful and priceless my time at Sunnybrae was. I’ve experienced healing I never thought possible—not just for me, but for my family too. This journey has brought reconciliation and restoration I once could only pray for, and now I’m living that reality. 

The void I spent years trying to fill with drugs has been filled at last. I now have faith that the life in front of me will be far better than the one behind me. Teen Challenge is a global ministry, and I’ve been incredibly blessed to travel the world sharing my story—to inspire and encourage residents in centres from California to the mountains of Swaziland in Africa. 

Most of my addiction was spent avoiding the world, but the transformation I’ve experienced has given me a message of hope for the world. I’m not just free from addiction and doing better than I was—I’m the best I’ve ever been. And that’s all because I made the best decision of my life: walking through the doors of Teen Challenge.

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