I spent 17 years of my life in Active Addiction. I was raised by alcoholic parents who were drug addicts. My childhood was lonely, abusive and confused. Because of my past experiences with addiction in my family, I had a good understanding of addiction, and I thought that my knowledge would keep me away from drug. After I was married, my husband and I partied a lot, went from drinking and smoking pot to cocaine in a very short period of time. Once the drug abuse started I couldn’t stop, because I loved it. We started out partying with his friends on the weekend, and it ended up that I was using every day. Bills weren’t getting paid, I was unable to work, and I was constantly lying to my husband. The person I was working for at the time knew something was wrong they reached out to help, but I didn’t want it, I lost my job. My husband finally had enough, he told me he had all he could take, it had to stop. I didn’t want to lose him, so I was able to quit for a while, but I did it on my own, I was clean but not recovering. They say you are only as sick as your secrets and you better believe it’s true.

During this time my mother was rushed to the hospital, because my stepfather had poisoned her. She was in the hospital, in neurological rehab, and a nursing home for a little over a year, but had become blind and partially paralyzed and unable to take care of herself. I tried to stay clean after all of that, but I was so conflicted about how I felt, and so angry at her, and had no coping skills, so I did what I knew best – numb the pain and start using again.

A while after I stopped using cocaine, we ran into a friend who had crank. Meth was like a truth serum for me or so I thought, I wasn’t afraid to express my true emotions about anything. I would stay up anywhere from 10-14 days at a time, eating nothing but sweets and drinking beer. Eventually I was in a state of constant hallucinations and paranoia. Always thinking someone was watching me or coming to get me. I would sit looking at my face and arms, seeing bugs crawling on my skin, and I would start to pick at them with tweezers, needles, pins, whatever I could get my hands on. At that time, my husband and I started growing and selling pot, and the downward spiral continued. Finally I ended up on my front porch with a gun in my hand, shooting at people who weren’t there. I had been up for over a week and I was hallucinating. After that episode, I went to rehab for the first time, but I relapsed over and over again.

In no time I had traded everything I could get my hands on, stolen my husband’s money out of his wallet, traded in my wedding ring and all my jewelry for money. When all of that ran out I started trading my body. At this point, my crack habit was running to over a thousand dollars a day, and then I was introduced crystal meth.
To make matters worse, I fell into a very abusive and co-dependent relationship, and that made my life spin out of control even more. At this point I was in a constant state or paranoia and hallucinations. I couldn’t carry a conversation without asking if anyone else hear what I was hearing. We ate enough food and got enough sleep to keep us alive and that was it, and the drug binges continued. Over the years, the abuse worsened, the arrests kept piling up, the addiction got worse, and I lost everything I had built in my life. After being arrested for the last time, my boyfriend kept writing me in jail, wanting us to get married and to start over without any drugs. The abused woman in me wanted to believe that, but the woman I wanted to become knew it would never work.

After I got out of jail, for the first time in my life I could get up, breath, look in the mirror and function without hurting everyone around me. It took some time to learn how to give it all to God, but I did. Throughout all the pain in my life, little by little, God showed me the way, he freed me in every possible way - a freedom I never thought was possible. I would not be the person I am today if it weren’t for all of it. God has blessed my life in so many ways. My family loves and trusts me. Most people in the community have accepted m. I met the most wonderful man in the world, and we have started a life together built on love, trust and honesty, no matter what happened in my past.

I am a program director for a coalition that was formed when meth ravished our community, and I facilitate a 12-step groups two times a week. We do drug prevention and education along with the Sheriff’s Department throughout the community, in schools, churches, and anyone who will let us in the door. My story has been in newspapers, on the news, and I made training videos with local law enforcement , and worked with a Meth Task Force - all with the hope that lives will be impacted, and that people will see what devastation meth abuse has brought to families. Most importantly, I want people to realize that there is hope, and that people can recover.

Since I have been drug free, I have experienced loss and made it through. I have been lied to and hurt and made it through it. I have disappointed myself and made it through and been disappointed and made it through it. My husband and I just bought a home, and I work daily to pay bills and pay them on time, something I never did before. Today, when I say things, think things or feel things that hurt others or myself, I am conscious of it, and I know what to do about it. It’s all a learning process for me now, and with God in my life, I do it one day at a time.

I celebrated being clean for five years on April 17, 2008, and I am a stronger person today than I have ever been.

December 17, 2009 Thank you very much!! Yes I do talk w/ people, I have been the Director of our local SA coalition started by the Sheriff until recently when I went to work with the Sheriff's Office as Executive Assistant to the Sheriff. Who would have ever thought that! I also have received my Certification for Recovery Support. I will be glad to talk with you, please just email me at prescottj@holmescosheriff.org with a way that I can contact you. You can do this, I did with 7 years in March. YOU CAN! -Jeana Prescott

December 10, 2009 I was impressed when I read your story even in jail. You have the spirit of faith that will change your life and make it a good one. Keep the faith, because there are better things coming your way. Thanks and God bless. -enoch anderson obeng

October 09, 2009 Congradulations, can you give me some advice? I'm also trying to leave this adiction behind even though it's barely beginning. You know that it gets worse day after day if you're alone or have no one to confide in. God bless. -minerva ledesma

September 16, 2009 Do you ever talk to people who are trying to recover to give them support? -donna tate

September 10, 2009 Your story is an inspiration. I fell fourty feet out of a tree high on meth. Suffering from TBI (tramatic brain damage) is a life sentence with no parole. I am the reality of drug abuse. -Frank Smith

February 18, 2009 My name is Scott Spann and I'm also in recovery. My clean date is September 2, 2008. I did have almost 10 years of sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous. I quit praying, going to meetings, applying tenth step in my life and let a justifed resentment turn into me being miserable. I also started doing things that I shouldn't have been doing. I started running the show again. It took almost a year before I actually picked up. I almost died due to shooting cocaine in my arms and my spirit leaving me. -Scott Spann

January 22, 2009 wow i think you should be very proud of yourself for using self control and stoping i bet it was really hard to stop and it took lots of rehab but you did it and thats the important thing !! you should be very proud!! -miraya lopezlee

January 04, 2009 Just wanted to thank you all for your kind words and words of encouragement!! Getting close to 6 years now and all is still going wonderful..I am blessed beyond measure and working hard everyday!! If anyone would like to contact me my email address is jeana@casecoalition.com. -Jeana Prescott

November 24, 2008 Jeana, your story is almost the mirror image of mine. I appreciate your honesty very much. There are so many that need to hear our stories and know that a better life is possible. I think your story is great! -C.J. Doss

November 10, 2008 Jeana, your story is such an inspiration! I am a social work student doing my internship at drug court. We have participants who will really benefit for reading your story. Thanks for sharing and keep on keeping on one day at a time... -Diane Dattilo

October 18, 2008 Your story makes me hopeful for the future. Thank you for being so honest and brave. -Ruth R.

September 30, 2008 I have two family members who both use meth, and it is awful to see how something like that can ruin people's lives. But reading your story has given me hope! It is amazing, and I just wanted to leave a comment to encourage you, and to thank you. It's wonderful what God can do and the things He can repair. I am so happy for you and I will keep you in my prayers! -Melanie Greene

September 29, 2008 Hi, I really enjoyed your story. I was on meth for 12 years and I have been clean now for almost 17 months. God has truly blessed me through this recovery process. It really encourages me to hear that others have gone through the same thing and how God has worked a miracle in your life. Again thanks for sharing your story. -Mandy Sipsy

September 29, 2008 Jeana's the kind of person that makes this job worth doing. I've been a cop now for over 28 years... so many times you want to give up on people. Every time I want to throw my hands up and not attempt to help another person... I remember Jeana and how she's doing. -Eddie Ingram

September 10, 2008 My husband and I both owe a great thanks to Jeana, she inspired both of us on our road to soberity. We love you, keep up the good work and keep the faith. -Candice Kirkland

June 11, 2008 Congratulations on overcoming your addiction. You truly are an inspiration to others. Remain beautiful in all that you do. -Racheal Welch

May 19, 2008 I appreciate your honesty and commitment, and I totally relate to living in a small town! But, together we can do what we can not do alone:) -Robert K

May 18, 2008 Your story is awesome! Your hard earned life is a gift to your community and to all of us. Thank you for sharing. -Stephanie Ratzell

May 17, 2008 Jeana, I am so thankful for who you are and your willingness to share this with others. I am glad I know you, your faith is a strengthening force. God bless you every day. -Teresa Godwin

May 16, 2008 Jeana is such an inspiration to all who know her. She is using her experience to touch the lives of many. Thank you Jeana. -Donna Gunter

May 15, 2008 Jeana, I am very proud of you and your accomplishments. I didn't know you back then but the Jeana Prescott I know today is someone that everyone can look up to and be proud of. Keep up the good work. Love you. -Bernadine Stanaland

May 14, 2008 We did survive the "Pits of Hell" and today I am so grateful you shared your journey with me. -Sterling Cannon

May 14, 2008 Thank you for sharing your story. It is very inspirational. Keep up the work within your community! :) -Heather Vazquez