By HAROLD KELLER

I received the following letter last week. A changed life is one of the greatest miracles. Please allow me to share such a testimony.

“Dear Mr. Keller,

For years I told myself, ‘When I turn 30, my drug days will be over.’ Boy, was I wrong!

At age 30, my wife and I were so deep into a heroin addiction that we didn’t know the difference between up and down anymore. Our lives revolved around heroin from the time we got out of bed in the morning until the time we fell asleep at night (if we could sleep at all).

My addiction was like a second full-time job, with the problem being never any time off. Heroin – a relentless monster which never took no for an answer. I was a slave, and heroin was my master.

As general manager of a large restaurant and my wife’s income from full-time work, we could afford to do as much heroin as we could handle.

As I look back, I was a ‘functional junkie.’ In my opinion, the worst kind of addict. One who appears to have it all under control – a nice job, neat appearance, nice house, nice car, etc. My, how looks can be deceiving. Inside, I was dying a lonely, slow and painful death – insanity at its worst.

In March 1998, I enrolled in a methadone clinic to try and get clean, but decided to just get high one more time. That night, I was arrested on a possession of heroin charge. I spent the night in jail. Only by the grace of God did I escape a jail sentence.

I stayed clean for four months after that and then bowed down once again to my master – heroin. Two days before Thanksgiving 1998, I called ‘Big Al’ at SASAC in Bogalusa. After six days there, I was accepted at Fontainebleu Treatment Center. I was totally bankrupt, not only financially, but also mentally, physically and spiritually.

While in treatment, my best friend killed himself due to his addiction and I was able to attend the funeral. At this time, I decided I wanted to stay clean and sober the rest of my life.

I was told that only a small percentage of people who enter rehab centers are successful. I was determined to be one of the few.

In January 1999, after admitting that I was powerless over my addiction and could not make it without the help of a higher power, God, I joined society with a new outlook on life.

Today, things could not be better. I’ve become a good husband and a good father to my children. We purchased a house in the mountains and will be moving soon.

I would like to thank you and Mrs. Jeanne for taking time out of your lives and coming every Saturday to Fontainebleu, touching so many lives in the process. I will never forget either one of you.

This Dec. 1, I will make four years, clean and sober.

Forever grateful

(name withheld)

HAROLD KELLER writes this column as part of his affiliation with Get High on Life. Call him at (985) 652-8477.