My name is Derek Morgan and I want to be honest about how I got here.

I didn’t choose addiction—I chose to ignore pain I didn’t know how to handle. Drugs started as a way to cope, a way to quiet my mind and keep moving when I felt overwhelmed and stuck. For a while, I told myself I was in control. I wasn’t.

Over time, drugs took more than they gave. I lost trust, stability, and parts of myself I worked hard to build. I made choices I’m not proud of, and I hurt people who cared about me. The hardest part wasn’t just the addiction—it was realizing how far I’d drifted from who I wanted to be.

The turning point came when I admitted I couldn’t do this alone. Recovery has meant taking responsibility, asking for help, and facing the things I used to run from. It hasn’t been easy, and I’m not claiming to be finished—but I am committed.

Today, I’m choosing sobriety and structure over chaos. I’m working toward stability, accountability, and a future where my life isn’t defined by survival, but by purpose. Support at this stage isn’t charity—it’s an investment in real change. With the right help, I can continue building a life that gives back instead of taking away.

Thank you for taking the time to hear my story and for believing that recovery is possible.