True Stories

After surviving multiple overdoses, an Austin teen hopes to raise awareness about underage drug use.

This is the second installment in a series of profiles featuring DEA special agents, diversion investigators, chemists, and more. Learn about the tough but fulfilling, fascinating, and vital work these DEA personnel do, as well as the many different ways to get involved in fighting drug misuse.

This is the first installment in a series of profiles featuring DEA special agents, diversion investigators, chemists, and more. Learn about the tough but fulfilling, fascinating, and vital work these DEA personnel do, as well as the many different ways to get involved in fighting drug misuse. For our first profile, we will be interviewing Special Agent Dave.

Victoria's substance misuse began before she went to college. While on campus at Emory University in Georgia she helped start the school's recovery community.

Bertrand started misusing substances when he was only 9 years old. Today he is in recovery and works as an advocate for young people.

Honesty started using drugs at 12 years old. She's been in recovery since 2007, and is now helping others as a CEO of a non-profit recovery resource foundation.

I was an only child, the nerdy kid growing up, and didn’t really feel as if I fit in with anyone specific group of people. I wanted to be accepted, so I started hanging out with the cool kids and partying.

Jeremy started his drug use with marijuana, then moved on to heroin. Read his recovery story.

Kristina, who is currently in recovery, struggled with opioid addiction for years.

At age 19, Hailey is recovering from years of heroin abuse at a treatment center in New Mexico.