I Was Shooting Meth And Fentanyl Living In My Car

Alexa Cunniff never really had a childhood. Raised like what she calls "a gypsy kid" — living in hotels and trucks, on the run from process servers, never setting foot in a classroom until sixth grade — she learned to read off an atlas and grew up around addiction on every side of her family. She was drinking and using by 12, in the clubs by 15, and chasing the "hard stuff" she'd heard glorified her whole life. Her story runs through a decade-plus of addiction: cocaine and Xanax as a teenager, two kids by 21, and then the drug that truly took her under — Adderall. She describes eating eight to ten pills a day, dropping to 134 pounds, and finally crossing into meth (introduced, unforgettably, by a stranger driving a street sweeper) and then heroin and speedballs. She lost everything, ended up living in her car, and survived things she says by all rights should have landed her in prison or worse. What finally broke through came on Halloween of 2021 — after a terrifying assault and a night sitting outside a detox for hours waiting to be let in. A clinician she'd never met refused to let her sign herself out, told her she was worth fighting for, and it changed everything. Alexa got sober that day. She later went to work as a peer recovery specialist for the very organization that saved her, and today she's a therapist helping others find the way out. Sponsored by Caron Treatment Centers My recovery journey began at Caron Treatment Centers, and the care I received there changed the course of my life. That's why I'm proud to partner with Caron. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, Caron has been helping individuals and families find hope and lasting recovery for nearly 70 years. They are in-network with all major insurance providers, and same-day admission is available. ➡️ Learn more: https://www.caron.org/lp/rise-above 📞 Call Caron today: 855-352-0103 Recovery starts with taking the first step. RiseAbove #AddictionRecovery #MethRecovery #AdderallAddiction #RecoveryIsPossible #SoberLife #WomenInRecovery #SpeedballSurvivor #GenerationalTrauma #SobrietyJourney #PeerSupport #FromRockBottom #RiseAbovePodcast #KevinLanning #AlexaCunniff #HalloweenSoberDate #SoberLiving #SecondChances #YoureWorthIt #OneMoreThing 00:00 The assault that brought her to her knees 00:22 Halloween 2021 — sitting outside detox 02:47 The clinician who refused to let her leave 05:11 A "gypsy kid" childhood on the run 09:48 OCD, suicidal ideation & a childhood in fear 15:00 First drinking and using at 12 20:21 An overdose, arrest & court-ordered rehab at 16 23:06 Two kids by 21 & staying sober through pregnancy 25:25 Divorced, relapsing & back to cocaine 37:41 The first Adderall — "everything I'd been looking for" 38:45 Eight to ten pills a day & down to 134 pounds 40:37 The street sweeper & the first hit of meth 48:30 Crossing into heroin & speedballs 54:10 "Welcome home" & sober living 55:46 Becoming a peer specialist — and now a therapist 👉Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riseabovewithkevin/ 👉 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rawithk 👉 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/riseabovewithk ✅ For Business Inquiries: riseabovewithk@gmail.com ================================ ✅ About Rise Above with Kevin Lanning: Rise Above: Stories of Resilience with Kevin Lanning Welcome to Rise Above with Kevin Lanning, where resilience finds its voice. Join Kevin Lanning, a former Google Executive in sobriety, as he brings you powerful stories of individuals who have navigated life's greatest challenges and emerged victorious. About Kevin: Kevin Lanning personifies resilience. From overcoming addiction to conquering childhood trauma, his journey mirrors the triumph of the human spirit. Now, he's dedicated to sharing stories that uplift, educate, and ignite the spark within you. Join us on this journey to rise above adversity and thrive. For Collaboration and Business inquiries, please use the contact information below: 📩 Email: riseabovewithk@gmail.com 🔔 Hit that subscribe button for more exclusive, insightful, and inspiring videos: https://www.youtube.com/@Riseabovepodcastofficial?sub_confirmation=1 ================================= #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #corecore #motivation #addictionrecovery #inspiration #selflove #selfhelp #loveyourself Disclaimer: We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred by you acting or not acting as a result of watching any of our publications. You acknowledge that you use the information we provide at your own risk. Do your research. Copyright Notice: This video and our YouTube channel contain dialogue, music, and images that are the property of Rise Above with Kevin Lanning. You are authorized to share the video link and channel and embed this video in your website or others as long as a link back to our YouTube channel is provided. © Rise Above with Kevin Lanning