Diamond’s Story

Diamond is overcoming addiction to become a stronger woman and a stronger mom

Home was not a safe place for Diamond as a child. Her parents were caught in a cycle of domestic violence. Her father hid a heroin addiction. He was murdered when she was ten.

“Nobody talked about their feelings,” Diamond says. “I shut down and couldn’t express them.”

Before long, she started getting into trouble. At age 16, she became pregnant. By 19, she was using heroin. She assigned custody of her children to her mom. Caught in her addiction, she became homeless.

“I was sleeping outside… anywhere, skyways and under bridges.”

“I was sleeping outside… anywhere, skyways and under bridges,” she says. “Nice people would come. They would give me a sandwich; sometimes, just a hug. That made all the difference.”

When Diamond became pregnant again, she was ready for help. She wanted to be the mother her son really needed. She was referred to Avivo, which offers the only residential treatment center for mothers allowing them to live with their children, birth to age 17, while in treatment.

“I’ve been in a lot of treatment programs, but I just continued to use. Avivo’s program is different. I started a whole new ‘family’ and friends here.”

Diamond talks about how amazing her counselors are, and how she is finally finding out who she is, while also becoming a stronger woman… a stronger mom.

“I’ve been in a lot of treatment programs, but I just continued to use. Avivo’s program is different.”

Diamond is completing treatment, and she’s planning to get her GED as one of her next steps to sober living and supporting her family.

“I know I did much of this work, but it wouldn’t have been possible without Avivo.”