A Day in the Life of an Addicted Musician
When I was thirteen all I ever wanted to be was a touring musician and live my life on the road. I had the most supportive family I could ask for regarding me pursuing my dream. I come from a family of musicians, my father was the singer in a hair metal band and my mother sang in the choir for high school and college, so naturally, I was born to play music and I wanted to take it as far as I possibly could.
I’m twenty-one years old and my phone is ringing off the hook, it’s my guitarist asking where I am. Late for mic check again. I spent most of the night using and partying with my friends and didn’t even plan to fall asleep until I passed out on the floor somewhere at five or six in the morning. Mic check was at 8 a.m. My mom texted me that morning, saying “good morning honey, hope you are having a great time in California, I am so proud of you!” If she only knew what was going on while I was out on tour.
My drum set is all set up and microphoned on the stage as I walk up around 8:45 a.m., making everyone else fall behind schedule. I mess up on some of the songs and can’t fall in time with my bandmates who keep looking at me wondering what is going on. I know what’s going on, I haven’t gotten my fix yet today. I know that if I can just get something quickly, I will play better then I ever have and the show doesn’t start until 8 p.m., so I have time to run out.
The show goes fine and the crowd cheers for more songs to be played. This is the life I had always dreamed of except for one factor. I can’t stop using drugs, I can’t function without using, I can’t continue my dream unless I’m using. At least that is how I thought about myself every day for seven years.
I got on my drum set a couple of weeks ago, which made me super happy because I realized that I still have a set and never sent it off to the pawnshop to buy drugs. I played for hours, playing the songs I learned and have loved since I was a young teenager. It brought back fond memories of when I first started touring and knew I had fulfilled my dream before addiction took over. All the late-night practices, the endless hours in the studio recording our latest album and the camaraderie of being a part of something I loved, were very good times in my life.
“I’m twenty-eight years old now and I wake up every morning excited to start my day because I am truly proud of what I do. I get to help people. I have an amazing relationship with my family and friends that I thought were lost to me forever.”
I’m twenty-eight years old now and I wake up every morning excited to start my day because I am truly proud of what I do. I get to help people. I have an amazing relationship with my family and friends that I thought were lost to me forever. I also write music and play my drums not only because it is what I really enjoy doing and but also because I’m healthy enough to do it well now. My life has taken such an amazing turn for the better and I can’t wait to continue my growth and thrive in the new field of work I am in and it’s all because I changed that one factor of my life. I got clean and healthy by overcoming my addiction.
J.M.—Narconon Suncoast Graduate
(To preserve privacy, the photos do not show an actual Narconon student or graduate.)
