Bertrand B's story

My name is Bertrand Brown and I’m a person in long term recovery.

What that means to me is that it’s been 2 years and 3 months since I found the need to use any mind altering substance.

Due to my recovery, I have found meaning in my life. I get to show up for my family, play a meaningful role in the lives of my brothers and sister, and most importantly my nieces and nephews.

Visit: Faces & Voices of Recovery

I also work for an awesome organization where they ask me to advocate for young people and tell them how young people feel about different situations. They also give me the opportunity to work on what I’m passionate about which is informing young people that there are different solutions to the problems or struggles they face on a regular basis.

Today I believe I’m a better brother, a better co-worker, a better employee, and just a better person overall.

I’m so driven by my recovery because it gave me new hope in life. I’ve been using since I was 9 years old and I don’t have to feel dead inside anymore. I don’t have to feel like I’m in this world all alone. I don’t have to feel like I can’t express how I feel.

So when I stopped using my life changed for the better and without my support network and the people that I met along in my journey through the Department of Juvenile Justice I would’ve never thought recovery was possible.

My job now is to educate young people about what worked for me and why my recovery matters to me.

Read more recovery stories on the Faces & Voices of Recovery website.