Natalie Anderson shares her inspiring story with us, describing how for thirty years she thrived as a leading corporate recruiter, balancing a successful career with a loving family. However, during a vacation in St. John, her life was changed when she discovered her son using heroin. Natalie knew she needed to help her son, so she set out to educate and empower herself. Natalie shares:
"The journey back from that night was tumultuous and felt like forever. Initially, I grappled with a torrent of emotions: guilt, anger, despair, and confusion. How had I missed the signs?"
Through her search for help, Natalie found Partnership to End Addiction and trained in Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT). This program enabled her to support her son and go on help other mothers facing similar struggles. Natalie learned:
"[Addiction] was a profound, ongoing challenge that required patience, understanding, and an entirely new skill set. Also, a conclusion that I soon drew was that addiction wasn’t just someone’s problem. It was everyone’s problem."
Natalie's son is currently receiving medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction, which, along with therapy and community support, is helping him on the road to recovery. Her story shows that while substance use can present challenges, it’s possible to find hope and empowerment through effective support and treatment methods.
