Stories of Hope
Shawn Maynard
My name is Shawn Maynard. I’m 36 years old and live in Booneville.I grew up in a very dysfunctional environment – partying and fighting were the norm around me. I started drinking when I was 9 years old. My brother was four years older than me, so I always hung around...
Carmel Cline
In long term recovery from a substance use and alcohol use disorder, Carmel Cline has been on her recovery journey for 22 years. Addiction had been a part of her life since childhood as her father was an alcoholic and suffered from PTSD from Vietnam. With her early...
Cindy Creech
I had a normal childhood. I am the youngest of three; I have two older brothers. My mom never drank or smoke. My dad drank in the evenings or on the weekend, but it didn’t ever get out of hand. My parents worked hard to provide for me and my brothers.Growing up I...
Lucy Vanhook
Lucy Vanhook doesn’t remember life without alcohol. Her nanny put bourbon in the baby bottle, and she used to crawl and drink out of cocktail glasses left out at her parents’ parties. Her life also was filled with horses and riding. As a member of a prominent...
Erica Gentry
A high school cheerleader. The voice of reason. Responsible.That was how many people would have described Erica Gentry.She didn’t really know much about drugs until she was 18. Then some people that Erica looked up to pulled out meth when they were hanging out. She...
Jill Decker
Jill had a great childhood. She was an only child with great parents – raised with spiritual values and no reason to use drugs. But, in high school, she felt awkward and defiant. She wanted the wrong people to like her and wanted to fit in. Ultimately, she used...
Brandon Tomlison
He thought his childhood was normal. Afterall, it was all he had ever known. But Brandon Tomlinson grew up in an alcoholic home, and fighting was frequently seen.Brandon tried alcohol at age 10. By the time he was 16, he was smoking marijuana and taking pills.During...
Chris Whitenack
At age 16, Chris would get dropped off at AA meetings, then his mom, who was a social worker, would attend Al-Anon. She did everything she could to help him.But pot, pain pills and alcohol progressed to heroin and meth. Chris spent more than 10 years in jail and...
Toddra Curry
Growing up I had a pretty good home life. I never wanted for anything and never did without. As I got older, I knew that I always felt different and would do anything to feel I belonged. In high school that led me to drinking alcohol and smoking weed. At the time I...