In my article entitled “Self-Application: The Key to Recovery and Succeeding", I wrote about my personal experiences with drug relapse, and my mediocre recovery plan. After having experienced a relapse, and enduring the consequences of my action -- resulting from the relapse episode -- I now know exactly what the Narcotics Anonymous Big Book meant by stating, “A Relapse may be the jarring experience that brings about a more rigorous application of one’s recovery program.”

I want to strongly state that the best way to avoid relapse is to not use drugs at all. However, if you do use and stop, or want to stop, please take it seriously, and apply vigorously whatever you did to stop using.

Having found myself behind prison bars was enough for me, and yes, it did have a “jarring affect.”

There are times when I look back and reflect about the years of my life lost to drug use, my unfulfilled dreams, untapped potential, and years of incarceration due to drug use. However, I realize that there’s no turning back father time. I take the experience, knowledge and wisdom I’ve gained from those years and move on. Currently, I’m about to complete an inpatient drug treatment program.

During the last several years I studied relapse and the reasons why I felt I relapsed. I have established a recovery plan that includes a relapse prevention plan. I now realize what led me to using, and the relapse traps I must avoid, and the changes I had to make in my life.

I read somewhere that the majority of life lessons are learnt through living. I agree with that statement and can personally attest to it. The mistakes we make in our lives can be categorized as life lessons, lessons I see placed on our path in our life journey by our creator to better serve him and humanity. If we do not take heed to these lessons placed in our path, those lessons will be repeated, again and again and again, until we learn from them. I am a living example of living through repeated lessons. My desire now is to share my experiences from those lessons.

Please contact Dumisani Bankole at bankole _48 @yahoo.com

Duminsani Bankoke
Steered Straight, Inc.;
P.O. Box 842
Millville, NJ 08332-0842