“I wanted to die; I just couldn’t figure out how to stop the cycle. I’ve had four near fatal overdoses and three near fatal suicide attempts.”
That’s how Lona Currie, a resident of Brunswick County for nearly 14 years, described his battle with addiction.
Suffering trauma and abuse in his early childhood, Currie said he began drinking alcohol at age 11. From there, his substance abuse escalated with the use of marijuana and other substances.
After a tonsil surgery at age 19, Currie was prescribed opioid medications by a doctor, marking the onset of his battle with opioid addiction — which lasted about 22 years.
He’s now in year 10 of recovery and works as an advisory board member with Coastal Horizons Center, as a podcast host, as a writer and as a recovery mentor.
“If I can, I promise anybody can,” Currie said about recovering.
Currie acknowledges he is not alone in his experiences, and though Currie’s personal journey is distinct, he is one of millions of Americans who have struggled with substance abuse.