Although you might think that drug overdoses are something that happens “somewhere else,” the fact is that drug problems can occur anywhere, even in Cary, North Carolina. Every day, over 100 people die of drug overdoses in the United States, and more than twenty of those who die each day are teenagers, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Here in Wake County, there are many resources that allow both teens and adults to rid themselves of their drug habits for good and improve their lives considerably. Panther Creek News Network writers sat down with Ernest, who preferred to not share his last name, and who has worked as a shelter monitor at The Healing Place of Wake County for three years, to learn about how the center is making lives better.

Making Miracles

Although the work of an addict who is in recovery is hard work, it’s gratifying for rehab center employees to see the transformation. “I’ve witnessed miracles happen from the beginning, middle, and the end,” says Ernest, “When patients first come in through detox, they spend about three or four days in there.”

During the several-day detoxification portion of the rehab visit, patients are slowly weaned off of their drug of choice in a safe, medically-controlled manner. Some substances, when withdrawn too quickly, can actually make an addict sicker, so the facility ensures that the patient withdraws slowly and safely. Patients then enter the formal part of the program, which consists of almost daily classwork that helps the addict discover how they can stop using permanently. “Specifically, I get to see life come back into people,” Ernest says. “That’s the most beautiful thing about my job.”

Stop Before Starting

The number one lesson that anyone who has observed an addict will share is that drugs will ruin your life, so you shouldn’t start them in the first place. “Drugs not only have the power to destroy your life, but the lives of those around you like your loved ones and your family,” Ernest says.

If you’re interested in the other side of the rehab equation, however, working at a drug facility and helping others–you should research the field first. “Learn as much as you can about the disease and about the effects that it has on peoples lives,” Ernest advises.