Overcoming Heroin Addiction in Middle Georgia

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — The state of Georgia has been facing a deadly rise in the abuse of
prescription drugs. It’s those expensive drugs that can often lead people to switch to heroin, a substance that is cheaper and easier to buy.

26-year-old Jeremy Drummond has been clean for about 18 months now. He says 12 step meetings are a big part of his life and he’s even helping others conquer their own addictions.

“I smoked marijuana for the first time at 13. I became addicted to pain pills at 16,” said Drummond.

At 19, Drummond tried heroin for the first time.

“My primary drug used to be pain pills but because the pharmaceutical companies have made it harder for the pills to be crushed down and snort or shoot up, I switched to heroin,” Drummond said.

The switch was a cheaper way to get the same high.

Coliseum Center for Behavioral Health therapist, Bruce Conn is familiar with that way of thinking, saying the prescriptions pills bought on the street are expensive.

“Heroin is coming in at a price point,” said Conn.

Conn met Drummond at a 12 step meeting and has seen the struggle of heroin addicts. Luckily, Drummond saw the light at the end of the tunnel and got help.

Conn added, “He’s using his tools, his support network, sponsor and other people who are working the program and he’s being honest with himself.”

“I had given away cars, the house that I lived in, good job, hurt my family, friends…I was tired of all the disaster,” explained Drummond.

Although it was painful to experience and hard to walk away from, Drummond trusts that his hard work to overcome his addiction will lead to a bright future.

“If I regret then I’m still holding on to the past, you have to let it go, that’s how we recover,” said Drummond.

Drummond is taking classes at Middle Georgia State College. He wants to major in Psychology or Nursing and continue to help others beat their drug addiction.

If you or someone you know is trying to overcome a drug addiction, call the Coliseum Center for Behavioral Health at (478) 741-1355.