NPORTC Magazine

He adds that the house he is staying in is really nice. “It's beautiful. I mean, I've got a chore to do; everybody's got chores, and I don't mind doing it—there's nothing back-breaking—so I do the best I can to keep my bed made and keep my room picked up, vacuum the carpet once a week or so; just trying to live life on life’s terms, that’s all.” And how about recovery—is it difficult to stay drug-free? “It's beautiful. For me, it's easy.” He’s been clean since February—"Coming up on nine months, Friday. And that’s huge because I smoked crack every day and chased it with Jim Beam. But I don't no more; I just drink sodas, water, and coffee.” And he has another reason to stay on the straight and narrow. “I've got congestive heart failure, COPD, and bronchitis. And smoking crack was slowly killing me. I'm not doing it no more, thank the Lord.” He adds, “My wife says I used to be on the dark side. You know, if you're using drugs, you’re on the dark side. If you're not, you're in the light. So, I'm in the light now. I feel good now. I thank the man upstairs for meeting Ms. Nnenna and New Place of Recovery. If it hadn’t been for her, I’d probably be dead by now.”

“I TOOK MY DUFFEL BAG AND WENT TO A HOSPITAL AND SAID, “I'M A CRACK ADDICT.”

-Leroy Bagwell

LIVING DRUG-FREE: “IT’S BEAUTIFUL. FOR ME, IT’S EASY.”

-Leroy Bagwell

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