RICHMOND —
When Tosha H. first arrived at Liberty Place Recovery Center for Women in 2008, she thought it was a cult.
“They all held hands and prayed,” she said.
Now, the 34-year-old recovered addict pays it forward by being an Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor to nine other women going through the program. She has been sober since 2008, but has no problem with referring to herself as an alcoholic.
“It’s a constant reminder to me of where I could go back to,” she said.
The attractive, radiant brunette now is a full-time student at Eastern Kentucky University, but her first experience with college life was not so promising.
“I went to college in 1997 and drinking was a big, open thing,” she said. “It was all bars downtown. Around 1998, I got a job at the Manhattan Club as a stripper. I tried Extacy (MDMA). I got in a horrible car wreck Christmas Eve of 1998, and that’s when the pain pills started. But, the longer I worked in the (stripping) industry, the more drugs I tried. I worked in it for seven years.”
Upon entering Liberty Place Recovery Center, Tosha was facing jail time. She failed two drug tests while out on probation.
“It was Oxycontin, Lortabs and Valiums,” she said. “I did various drugs. That’s just what they caught me with.”
At the age of 30, Tosha faced up to 20 years in prison for possession of cocaine, trafficking in a controlled substance, having a concealed deadly weapon and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Aside from being in legal trouble, her body was giving her troubling signs.
“I could throw down a pitcher of beer with no problem,” she said. “I bought a 24-pack of beer the night before I went to jail and after two beers, I could barely stand up. I knew that something was wrong, but I just thought that I couldn’t handle my alcohol anymore. But, when I came here (to Liberty Place Recovery Center) I learned that it was signs of liver damage.”
After coming to Liberty Place Recovery Center and getting in the SOS (Safe off the Streets) program, her feeling that it was a cult began to diminish.
“You start getting comfortable in there,” she said. “I started hearing stories from women from other (recovery) facilities who were serving as mentors, and I wanted so bad what they had. I thought that if they can do it, I can do it. I learned to have faith in myself and trust myself and that’s one thing that I never did. I’m very self-critical. A lot of us women are and we have this empty spot.”
Going through the 12 steps of recovery was scary for her at first.
“You have to keep it simple and you have to trust in God,” she said. “Some of the hardest steps for me was making amends with the people I had wronged. I had to lay all my dirty laundry out. That was the scariest part for me but it was refreshing when it was done.”
Eventually, Liberty Place Recovery Center began to feel like home.
“When I go into (AA) meetings, that’s my family,” she said.
Because of her success in recovery, Tosha now is much more involved in her children’s lives, regaining custody of her 11-year-old son and seeing her daughter on a regular basis. Her divorce was finalized in 2011.
“I hadn’t seen my daughter for seven years,” she said.
Tosha is studying psychology at EKU for a variety of reasons, one being to help change the misconceptions mainstream society has about addicts.
“They don’t believe that addiction is a disease,” she said. “They think you can stop at any given moment. My dad said it was just a phase. A 16-year phase? I’m like, ‘Daddy, it’s not just a phase.’”
Her advice to those who may find themselves tangled in addiction is to know “they’re not alone,” she said. “I thought I was alone, and I didn’t think anybody understood me. There’s people out there who are just like them who understand what they’re going through and can help them through anything.”
Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 624-6608.
Religion
Related Photos
-
Tosha H., 34, first arrived at Liberty Place Recovery Center for Women in 2008 and has been sober ever since. At the age of 30, Tosha faced up to 20 years in prison for possession of cocaine, trafficking in a controlled substance, having a concealed deadly weapon and possession of drug paraphernalia. Kaitlin Keane
-
After coming to Liberty Place Recovery Center and being in the SOS (Safe off the Streets) program, Liberty Place Recovery Center began to feel like home to Tosha H., 34. Because of her success in recovery, Tosha now is much more involved in her children�s lives, regaining custody of her 11-year-old son and seeing her daughter on a regular basis. Her divorce was finalized in 2011. �I hadn�t seen my daughter for seven years,� she said. Kaitlin Keane
-
Tosha's advice to those who may find themselves tangled in addiction is to know that "they're not alone," she said. "I thought I was alone and I didn't think anybody understood me. There's people out there who are just like them who understand what they're going through and can help them through anything." Kaitlin Keane
-
Tosha H., 34, first arrived at Liberty Place Recovery Center for Women in 2008 and has been sober ever since. Now, the 34 year-old recovered addict pays it forward by being an Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor to nine other women going through the program. She has been sober since 2008, but has no problem with referring to herself as an alcoholic. Kaitlin Keane
Liberty Place graduate tells story of tragedy and triumph
- Religion
-
-
Jesus is our companion
I am a companion of all them that fear Thee, and of them that keep Thy precepts.
— Psalms 119:63 -
National Day of Prayer
“There is hope for America,” the Rev. Kenny Davis, pastor of the Bethel Baptist Church in Berea, said as he addressed a crowd of more than 200 at noon Thursday in front of the Madison County Courthouse.
-
National Day of Prayer observance, noon Thursday at courthouse
Madison County residents will be joining people across the nation Thursday when they gather at noon in front of the courthouse, 101 W. Main St., Richmond, to observe the 62nd National Day of Prayer.
-
McTeggart Irish Dancers of Lexington present Ceili at Church of Our Saviour
The Kentucky McTeggart Irish Dancers of Lexington will host a ceili at the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Friday, May 3
The event is interactive, participatory and geared for all ages and experience levels. -
He is full of grace and mercy
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, for by grace ye are saved.
He hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus so that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
— Ephesians 2:4-7 -
We are complete in Him, Who is one with the Father
If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
—John 14:7-10 -
‘Entangled Lives’ to be presented Saturday at Berea College
The African-American Genealogy Group of Kentucky and the Carter G. Woodson Center for Interracial Education will present “Entangled Lives: A Conversation between Descendants of ‘Master’ and ‘Enslaved’” at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Carter G. Woodson Center in the Berea College Alumni Building.
-
Lexington Band, All the Little Pieces, to perform at Church of Our Saviour
The Second Sunday concert on Sunday, April 14, at 2 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour will features the Lexington band All the Little Pieces.
-
A prepared place filled with mansions for prepared people
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
— John 14:2-4 -
He Rose With Saving Power
The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain and be raised the third day.
– Luke 9:22 - More Religion Headlines
-
Sheriff: No Sign Killing of 2 Kids Was Planned
Obama Defends Drone Strikes, With Limits
Raw: Jurors Deadlock on Jodi Arias Penalty
Boy Scouts Decision "First Step" Say Activists
Raw: Utah Teen Arrested in Death of His Brothers
Closer Look at Okla. School Where Children Died
Two Suspects in Murder Known to London Police
Boy Scouts Mom Supports Gay Inclusiveness
"Be Ready": NOAA Warns of Busy Hurricane Season
SeaWorld: Penguins Are Coolest Thing in Florida
Obama Renews Call to Close Gitmo
Obama Offers Drone Strike Defense
Raw: Heckler Interrupts Obama on Guantanamo
A Slice of Apple History Up for Grabs
