As part of its 50th Anniversary Celebration this year, Brighton Center has introduced a “50 Years, 50 Stories” series to highlight some of the customers, volunteers, donors, community partners or supporters who are part of its history. The Northern Kentucky Tribune has partnered with Brighton Center to share some of those firsthand accounts with our readers.
In the coming weeks, the Trib will publish individual stories that demonstrate the breadth of services Brighton Center provides in Northern Kentucky. Occasionally some slight edits may be made in the text and, to protect confidentiality, we might only provide the first name of the storyteller.
These testimonials, however, describe some of the programs and services Brighton Center has provided in its first 50 years, in the words of the people who have benefited from them.
“If it wasn’t for God, Brighton Center, and my support system, I wouldn’t be here,” Debora
My name is Debora. I’m an alcoholic and my sobriety date is Jan. 6, 2012.
I was born and raised in Lexington Kentucky. My parents have been married for 55 years and gave my brother, sister, and I a great childhood.
As a child, I was a very shy and timid and felt I didn’t fit in with the other kids. I started using drugs and alcohol at sixteen. I smoked pot first and it made me feel like I could say or do anything.
At the time, I didn’t smoke it on a regular basis. My friends would throw parties and when I drank I always wanted to get drunk.
I fell in love with my high school sweetheart. He provided me with everything I needed and I always had a good job, car, and anything I could want. In my mid- twenties we started experimenting with harder drugs, and eventually we were holding cocaine parties on the weekends.
I decided to get my own place and lost control of my life. I could not pay rent or for my car because all I wanted was cocaine. I would get high before, during, and after work. In my early 40’s, I got into trouble and was put on probation, but I still couldn’t break my habit.
After years of battling drug abuse, prison and jail sentences, and failed rehab attempts, I had a revelation. Sitting on my jail cell bed, I prayed and something changed inside of me. I decided that when I got to rehab again, I would do whatever it took to get my life back together.
In 2012, a judge ordered me to rehab and that is how I ended up at Brighton Recovery Center.
In March of 2013, I walked through the doors and finally surrendered. My life finally changed. Those ladies and staff were a blessing. When I felt like I couldn’t do this anymore, they encouraged me.
I grew as an individual and, thanks to their suggestion, I started loving myself. As a result, I got my family back. I got my dignity back. For 15 months, I stayed at the Recovery Center working as a peer mentor at the center.
I eventually moved to Florence and can finally say I am a good daughter, sister, and friend. I have a good job, my own place, and a vehicle. Most importantly, I love myself and my life today.
I have an awesome sponsor and if it wasn’t for God, Brighton Center, and my support system, I wouldn’t be here.
From its beginning in 1966 as a modest Newport storefront, Brighton Center has grown to provide a range of programs and services which include meeting basic needs, adult and early childhood education, workforce development, substance abuse recovery for women, affordable housing, financial education and counseling, and neighborhood based programs.
Last year Brighton Center impacted the lives of 60,892 individuals from infants to senior citizens through 37 programs in Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati
For more information about Brighton Center and its programs and services, or to become a volunteer, click here http://www.brightoncenter.com/