NJ drug addict: Why recovery moves me to tears

Peter from Manalapan thought he had his drug and alcohol use under control.

He started drinking wine with his Italian family as a pre-teen. He started smoking pot when he was about 20.

"Life wasn't good," he said. "It got bad. It got really bad."

That meant bad decisions. Days spent just getting high. Illegal acts. And even drinking and driving while in treatment.

For Peter, recovery through the CFC Loud N Clear Foundation in Farmingdale — an aftercare program that focuses on community and socialization — has been a life-changing experience.

"I forgot how to socialize," he said. "Because I was doing drugs at every point in my life. I didn't know what to do. I had no idea how to talk to people anymore."

And now that he's re-learning those skills, he said, "life is so much better."

It's a change that moves him to tears. Watch the video above and see Peter discuss his transformation in his own moving words.

This video is part of our week-long series on drug addiction in NJ. Part 1: Why quitting heroin is so hard. Part 2: NJ drug dealers — they're not who you probably think.

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