There was just nobody home anymore. I was a shell of a person.

Laureen is a mom to two boys from New York. She has 31 years of sobriety. She started drinking at the young age of 11/12 cleaning up after her parents parties and downing the drinks. She thought the taste was disgusting, but she enjoyed the fuzzy feeling. Alcoholism did run in her family- four out of seven of them are in recovery, while they are praying for one who is still suffering. Her mom started talking to her at age 18 about her alcoholism, so it was clearly prevalent, but Laureen didn't get sober until 31. For Laureen, drinking was her main thing, but other substances did come into play to aid and abet. She became homeless and found herself in a very violent situation where she thought she was going to be killed, and had the thought of thank God it's finally going to be over. She was at her lowest moment. Laureen ended up back home and had the help of so many people who reached out to her and were there for her. Getting sober alone cannot be done. WE need one another. Hear her story here!