My name is Gregory, and I am an addict grateful to be in recovery since May 23, 1995.

I grew up in the South Bronx, Harlem, Coney Island, and East LA, and became a gang member, drug dealer and thief in all these neighborhoods where crime, drugs and poverty had a grip on many of my family and I. During the '60s and through the '90s, my Dad and Uncle sold drugs, and my mom eventually became addicted to heroin, crack and alcohol; she eventually died of AIDS-related complications.

Since 11 years old, I lived mostly on the streets, and by 14 to survive, I became a weed, angel dust and LSD dealer, and then a heroin and cocaine dealer. I made a lot of money, but as a dealer my family never said "do not get high on your own merchandise." It was more like "get high on the best merchandise," so I used pure heroin, pure cocaine and smoke and drank the best at the clubs. After a few years, a few arrests, prison and then my attorneys getting all my money, I soon became chronically-addicted, then homeless and destitute, buying drugs from the same people who I used to employ.

Over the years I’ve been to 17 detox programs and joined a methadone program for 10 years. I even smoked crack and shot heroin inside the bathrooms of the three methadone programs I was in. I joined several harm reduction programs and used clean needles. I joined research studies for drugs which were advertised in back of the Village Voice newspaper and I then later became both suicidal and homicidal.

At this point I signed up for another research study and I asked the harm reduction program to sign me up to a therapeutic community (TC), then I prayed and asked GOD to choose.

I went into a TC for 2 ½ years and got off of methadone on my mom's birthday. I was introduced to both NA and AA, and applied myself as the program suggested. I used the principles that I learned and went to work in the substance use and abuse fields. Over the years, I managed several programs and started consulting on the side. I took many trainings and used them as a way to help me commit myself to long-term education.

I obtained a Bachelors degree and then a Masters in Public Administration. I opened a business of my own three years ago. I have a contract with the Department of Motor Vehicles, and I teach classes to those arrested for DWI. With my business, I am a NYC vendor for the Department of Education, I teach "Gang Awareness," "Substance Abuse Prevention" and "HIV Prevention" in the schools.

I got married and many of my groomsmen and guests were individuals in recovery. I own a home and my recovery friends come over for BBQs. Life still has its ups and downs, but it is an extraordinary life because of the recovery process. So just for today…I am recovery.