Annette – (2007 Graduate)

Living in the District, raising 2 children, working for the federal Government as a GS12, no one would have imagined that Annette, a 46 year old women from Charles County, would be telling her story of recovery at Second Genesis’ Mellwood House, but she is. Annette graduated from Second Genesis in May 2007, after living there with her 5-year-old son Dante for more than a year.

Annette began using marijuana and other drugs as a teen. Then in her early thirties, her drug use progressed to cocaine and then to crack. She always maintained a good job and was able to take care of her responsibilities despite her drug use; but, when faced with an unhealthy relationship and both mental and physical abuse, her drug use increased and she found herself unemployed and addicted. It was at this point that her mother filed a case with child protective services, giving custody of her 14-year old daughter to her father, and Annette and Dante were sent to Second Genesis.

Annette recalls her family being afraid that a drug and treatment program would not be a good environment for Dante. They had a number of preconceived notions about the types of women who found themselves in treatment programs. However, once Annette and Dante arrived, she learned that these women, her sisters, were more like her than they were different. It was at Second Genesis that she learned how to let go of her anger and her bad attitude and began to take responsibility for her situation. This is when Annette began her journey toward recovery. She said that the hardest thing she had to do was getting her head clear and learning how to deal with the new women entering treatment. Annette knew that these women were a reflection of where she had once been, but quickly Annette became a leader at Second Genesis and took these women under her wing setting an example for then to follow.

Annette and Dante are doing well. She and Dante are living in the DC Metro area with her mother, while she looks for employment and works diligently to regain custody of her daughter. Annette’s recovery did not end with Second Genesis; she attends NA and AA meetings 5 days a week and outpatient 3 days a week, where she serves as President of her outpatient group. Annette is only one example of the many success stories to come out of Second Genesis’ Mellwood House.