ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – It’s a problem lots of New Mexicans face, and now one woman is using her voice to inspire others who have faced domestic violence and substance use disorder to turn their pain into healing. After experiencing years of domestic violence, Candace Prendergast says she was 37 years old when she started abusing drugs, but the temporary relief came at a price.
“The start of my addiction was my kids getting taken from me. And that, that hurt me because my kids were everything to me, my identity, my purpose, my, my livelihood,” she explained. “Ultimately, all that did was just cause more pain.”
Prendergast says her addiction took control of her life when all five of her kids were taken from her. And now finding herself pregnant once again, she told herself she needed to break the cycle.
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That’s where ACS stepped in, as Candace stood with a newborn on a cold November night in front of the hospital. “First thing that came out of her mouth is she said, ‘I prayed to God for him to send somebody to help me.’ And I said, ‘Well, then your prayers just got answered because we’re going to help you,’” explained Denise Thomas, ACS Peer Support Specialist…