Lauren’s Story

My recovery story started where many do… confused and in the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous. Another important part began in 2018, sitting in the lobby of the Department of Human Assistance, where I received a linkage to Medi-Cal. At the time, I had lost stable housing, my car, and employment. I felt completely lost. Through Medi-Cal, I enrolled in outpatient substance use disorder treatment at WellSpace Health, where I received SUD counseling and medication-assisted treatment for alcohol and stimulant use. Medication was an essential part of my recovery, as was the compassionate care I received from my nurse practitioner and certified medical assistant. Like many recovery stories, mine wasn’t linear. In 2021, I returned to outpatient treatment for a second time, this time with more experience, humility, and hope.

The people who helped me inspired me to go back to school to study alcohol and other drug counseling, and I am now continuing my education through a master’s degree in education. I also embraced the AA tradition of giving back, spending years supporting youth experiencing homelessness in Sacramento and eventually becoming a director. Today, I am grateful to be part of the solution working at CAADPE, advocating for systems and funding that keep treatment and recovery services available to people like me, wherever they are in their journey. I stand proudly in my story because shining a light on recovery reduces stigma and shows others what is possible.