My name is Dan Carter, and I completed the Jude Thaddeus program twelve years ago. At the time I was twenty six years old, and had been abusing alcohol from the age of thirteen, and also smoking marijuana daily for thirteen years. I used many different substances throughout my teenage years, but continued the alcohol and marijuana use. I had been to counseling throughout high school, attended the drinking driver program, and was mandated to attend alcohol education classes. I had also taken psychology courses in college, and none of these experiences helped me to find a solution to my intense unhappiness and substance abuse. I watched many friends and acquaintances enter various drug rehabilitation programs, (i.e. in-patient and out-patient drug treatment and therapeutic communities) and saw not one single person achieve a successful, happy, sober life.

While I always maintained employment and met my financial responsibilities, my substance abuse resulted in severe and dramatic consequences in my life. I nearly died on several occasions in car accidents and fights, was arrested, and suffered both physically and mentally. When I was first exposed to the Jude Thaddeus Program, I was experiencing the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal on a regular basis. I weighed 130 lbs, while the recommended weight for my 6’1” frame is 180 lbs. I had several teeth which were broken during fights that I didn’t bother to get fixed. While I did have dental insurance, I saw no point in fixing them as I believed that I would die soon anyway. I never smiled and let my hair grow to completely cover my back and half of my face. I had stopped driving my car for the previous two years, as I feared killing myself or someone else while driving in blackouts which had become commonplace.

I can admit that I never believed that alcohol or drug abuse were diseases. However, at times, I believed that I was mentally ill or doomed by fate to a life filled with despair and misery. While throughout my teenage years I had been violently anti-religious, I had also been praying to God that I would die on a daily basis. As usual, my prayers were answered but not in the way I had expected.

My life has been transformed by this incredible program. I have gained friendships, developed a relationship with God, found a passion and sense of purpose in my life, learned to set goals, and have obtained most of what I have endeavored toward. I do not have the slightest thought or compulsion towards substance abuse, and my life continues to improve with each passing day. If I can accomplish this change in my life, absolutely anyone can. All that matters is a sincere desire to change one’s life, accompanied by an open minded willingness to examine and apply what is taught in the Jude Thaddeus Program.

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