Cristy’s story

When she began using opioids, Cristy didn’t think much of it.

A family friend had been prescribed a pain reliever after a surgery, and Cristy took a few in lieu of aspirin. It quickly developed into a daily habit. Soon after, her husband was given OxyContin for his back problems, and he began taking those regularly. Cristy started using them, too.

“We took them recreationally at first,” Cristy says. “Then it took over. You’re taking them before work, then you’re taking them all day, every day. And then you’re chasing them.”

Both she and her husband isolated themselves from their loved ones. They drained their savings accounts. They took other jobs to support their substance use.

And when they realized they needed recovery, they reached out to MultiCare.

Cristy was put on Suboxone, a medication used to treat opioid dependency, and it has kept her away from other substances for 14 years.

“It was hard to accept going into opiate therapy. I guess it’s stigma, and you don’t want to admit that you’ve been beaten,” Cristy says. “As soon as I got into the program, I felt like I had some control in my life, and I felt really positive and encouraged.”

Cristy now has a young daughter, and she regularly attends opiate therapy and discussion groups with other women who have also recovered from substance use. She says that more health care programs should offer therapy to patients, because hearing other peoples’ experiences have made her realize that she isn’t an anomaly.

“What helped me was having somebody to talk to, somebody to give advice,” she says.

For others who might be dealing with similar issues, Cristy says a helping hand may be all they need to turn their lives around.

“If you notice anybody that you think is having trouble, just have that talk with them,” Cristy says. “Let them know your concern. It might give people the encouragement to move away from it.”