Janice's Story
A single mother, she had turned to drugs after the sudden, devastating loss of both of her parents. Janice was able to work with our caring staff in Astoria to address both her depression and drug issues, customizing her treatment plan to include parenting classes, visits with her children, and random drug testing.
Janice stood waiting, arms wide open, watching as her children raced toward her. They had been away for so long, in a foster home in a remote part of Clatsop County, while she worked on overcoming her drug addiction in Astoria. Her recovery journey had been long, and difficult, but she was persevering, and ultimately succeeding. Her reward? Getting her kids back.
A single mother, she had turned to drugs after the sudden, devastating loss of both of her parents. At first, she used alcohol and marijuana to dull the overwhelming emotions she felt. Soon, though, she moved on to methamphetamines and crack cocaine. Before long, her life had spun out of control. She lost her children after she was found high, with additional drugs in her possession, during a traffic stop.
Janice was ordered by the judge to participate in drug court, a county-wide program with the treatment portion provided by LifeWorks NW. Our caring staff were able to address both her depression and drug issues, customizing her treatment plan to her specific needs and her schedule, which included parenting classes, visits with her children, and random drug testing. Because our counselors believed in her, structuring her treatment around her strengths, it was that much easier for her to believe that she could succeed.
Determined to get her children back, she consistently had clean drug tests, had no further run-ins with the law, and faithfully showed up for every court appearance in spite of the difficulties with getting around in such a rural area. And today, she was getting her kids back. She had worked for this moment for so long. They raced toward her, leaping into her arms. As she held them, tighter than ever before, she knew that, though the journey had been long and arduous, she was a success. And she would continue to be successful. She would do it for herself, so that she could do it for them.