Shane’s first encounter with the law was at the young age of fourteen, when he was caught stealing a vehicle with his friends. This wouldn’t be the last time he would run into such trouble. By this point, he had already experienced a lifetime of ups and downs, including past traumas and a strained relationship with his father.
At 15, he began drinking and taking drugs recreationally. His addiction progressed rather quickly and Shane turned to substances like LSD, Ketamine and more.
As he got older, Shane experienced a grave loss – that of an unborn child. This resulted in a period of depression from which he couldn’t escape, and eventually led him to heroin use. He quickly lost his job and apartment, found more trouble with the law and burned bridges with those who cared about him the most.
Soon, he began using every day, right in front of his mother, with no remorse. His dealer and other users were in and out of her home on a regular basis. Eventually, maintaining this lifestyle became too hard, as he saw everybody in his family turn away from him. The pain in his mother’s eyes brought him to a point of no return – he needed help, or he was in danger of giving up.
Motivated to change, yet still ashamed of his actions, Shane reached out to Spectrum Health Systems requesting help for a ‘friend.’ But in fact, there was no friend and Shane soon after entered inpatient treatment at Spectrum’s treatment campus in Westborough, Mass. There, he completed detoxification and remained on-site for more than three months. Shane had no insurance. His treatment was covered by the State of Massachusetts. Following his stay with Spectrum Health Systems, he spent time at a sober home in Southbridge on a month-long scholarship. Money didn’t stop Shane from seeking and receiving help, and it shouldn’t stop you either.
To this day, Shane remains connected to Spectrum Health Systems and all the people here who helped him along the way. He is eight months sober, has reconnected with his father and is sharing his story to help raise awareness around addiction, and to reduce the stigma it holds. You can listen to his story in his own words on a recent episode of Airing Addiction, our weekly radio show and podcast hosted by WTAG.
Learn more on our website or call us at (800) 366-7732 for inpatient services and (800) 464-9555 extension 1161 for outpatient treatment.
