Haywood County Stories

Nolen

My name is Nolen, and I am an addict. My life has been impacted by the opioid crisis in an extremely negative way. I began using opiates after breaking my ankle when I was 16 years old. I continued to use opiates occasionally up until I was 25. That’s when I began doctor shopping. This is when things got bad. It was easier to get what I needed at the doctor’s office than it was to get them on the street. This went on for about 10 more years until my life spiraled out of control, and I hit rock bottom. I have been in recovery since December 2017 and no longer have the desire to use any drugs or alcohol.