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—Andre Rhyne, NoTurningBack “My life has purpose, something it never had. I have a relationship with the creator, something I never had.”

Before becoming clean, Rhys, a Baltimore native, had been searching for purpose his entire life. Born into what he calls a “dysfunctional family,” he says his single mother worked two jobs to support Rhys and his ve siblings. With little supervision and plenty of energy, Rhys was smoking marijuana and taking pills by the age of 12. Combating complacency and a sense of purposelessness, needing somewhere to concentrate his quick wits and youthful enthusiasm, Rhys was picked out of the inner city school system and placed in an advanced academic program in a county school. He was in sixth grade and out of his element. The new surroundings didn't bother him much. The racism did. “I started understanding racism,” Rhys says, adding, “I understand they were doing what they were learning at home, but it did nothing for my self-esteem.” Soon, he longed for the familiarity of the city. “In the streets, I t in. I’m not an outsider.” EXPERIENCED, CLEAN CLIENT USES HIS KNOW-HOW TO HELP NEW CLIENTS TRANSITION Before becoming clean, Rhyne, a B ltimore native, had been searching for purpose his ntire life. Born into what he calls a “dysfunctional family,” he says his single mother worked two jobs to support ne nd his ve siblings. With little supervision nd plenty of energy, Rhyne was smoking marijuana and taking pills by the age of 12. Combating compla ency and a sense of purposelessness, needing somewhere to concentrate his quick wits and youthful enthusiasm, Rhyne was picked out f the inner city school system an placed in an advanced acad mic program in a county school. He was in sixth grade and out of his eleme t. The new surroundings didn't bother him much. The racism did. “I started understanding racism,” Rhyne says, a i g, “I understand th y were d ing what th y were l arning at h me, but it did nothing for my self-esteem.” Soon, he longed for the familiarity of the city. “In the streets, I t in. I’m not an outsider.”

ADULT SUBSTANCE ABUSE Rhyne continued his substance dependency, sustaining it while being a functioning member of society. He pursued the American dream. He would get good jobs and advance through the ranks. He had a nice home and was engaged to be married. He says he chased worldly possessions to de ne who he was. “I projected an image to others because I couldn't handle who I am,” Rhyne says. At the age of 27, he decided to try to get clean. For the next 20 years he was in and out of programs. He had periods of sobriety followed by relapse. He sees now he wasn't taking the programs seriously. “I wasn't doing what the programs asked me to do.” His dependence worsened. He was institutionalized. Shortly thereafter, he concluded that suicide was the only course of action. “It was the best idea I could come up with,” Rhyne says, “I thought I was doing my family, community and God a favor by eliminating myself.” On May 9, 2002, Rhyne attempted suicide.

—Andre Rhyne, No Turning Back “ ere is a di erence between being clean and abstinent. Being clean gives your life purpose.”

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