Vanja Jakovljevic, Novi Sad

Hi, I'm Vanja, I'm 40, most of whom I spent as an addict. I was born and raised in a healthy, normal family, but that did not help my intention and decision to start bad habits in elementary school. I lit a cigarette first, and shortly thereafter I switched to marijuana, alcohol, pills and any substance that had the potential to change my consciousness, but more importantly, how I felt. Use of active substances, i. drugs became my daily routine, an activity that I believed brought me peace, joy and contentment, acceptance in society and a cool identity. During next 10 years of using, material situation and health became more difficult under the influence of drugs. I used drugs only to be able to function practically at some basic level, the periods of pleasure were practically gone, and the periods of pain, trouble, shortages and dissatisfaction became unbearably long. In the following years, I spent various private clinics and offices, working and talking with psychologists and psychiatrists, using substitution therapy, ie. substitution drug therapies. I was sure I would never end up there, at a state institution for the treatment of addiction - psychiatry. Although I eventually spent 5 years there in a substitution treatment program, my condition progressively only got worse and worse, and that little optimism, meaning and faith in life was lost, the "light" slowly went out, I felt it. This is where my godfather Boris, a buddy from my early school days, comes into the story, with whom I grew up and gained my first experiences in life. He motivated me years ago and advised me to go to the EXIT rehabilitation center, Teen Challenge in Slovenia as a place where they could help me. I have long denied this, believing in my strength, that I can quit if I decide to do so, even though the years behind me have told a different story. That's where a whole new chapter of my life really begins, it's where I really got the opportunity of a lifetime to come back to life. Thanks to the wonderful, dedicated people who work there, as well as the selfless desire to help and the love and support they provide every step of the way in a healthy, safe and sheltered environment, my life has started to change. With each day I spent at the Center, the power and squeeze that drugs had on me diminished, and life, health, the will to live, joy and happiness all came back. At the Center, I was given the opportunity to reconsider, clean and sober, look at my life, gain the strength and support to face my problems, as well as to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for a healthy and normal life after successfully completing the program. Now, after the program, I feel like I was given a new chance in life, the possibility of a fresh start, of what I thought was impossible for me in life, however, it turned out possible. The strength, will, peace, life, joy and happiness that each new day brings, the sense of worth, purpose and meaning that everyone should have is restored. Getting out of trouble is possible, getting out is real, let life wins.