Two thirds of Americans say that their lives have been impacted by addiction, whether they’ve struggled personally or have seen a loved one struggle. There’s no question that addiction can ruin lives. But the good news is that about 75% of those battling addiction will manage to recover, and there can be a beautiful life waiting on the other side.

We’ve taken a trip to The Addict’s Diary Instagram account and compiled their most powerful stories and photos down below. These images show incredible transformations of people who fought tooth and nail to get sober and deserve to be celebrated. This isn’t the first time we’ve featured this page, but today we’ve put their best posts of all time in one place. So enjoy scrolling through these incredible stories, and keep reading to find conversations with Kevin Alter, founder of The Addict’s Diary, and A. Tom Horvath, PhD, ABPP, President of Practical Recovery.

• Read More: 50 People Who Refused To Lose Their Life To Addiction And Took Back Control (Best Of All Time)

#1 Now He’s In Treatment And On The Road To Recover

She met her childhood friend who went mad after being addicted to drugs. Instead of running away, she bought him breakfast, spoke to him, then decided to have him admitted to the hospital. Now he’s in treatment and on the road to recovery. Now that’s a true friend.

Image credits: The Addict's Diary

#2 2 Years And 6 Months Sober Off Meth And Pills

For most of my life I struggled with addiction. Today, I am 2 years and 6 months sober off meth and pills. In recovery I got my driver’s license back after 18 years. I am working full time, and next week I start college to become a drug counselor. Recovery is possible

Image credits: theaddictsdiary

#3 8 Months Clean From Heroin

8 miraculous months sober… Longest I've ever went… Without being forced. Because I want it this time.

Image credits: bilderbackbrooke_

#4 12 Months Clean Today (27 August)

A prolific thief has turned her life around with the help of a neighbourhood officer after being told she had just 12 months to live.

Caroline Best was a heroin and crack cocaine addict and has spent the last 15 years in and out of prison, due to shoplifting to fund her addiction.

Only 12 months ago, the 36-year-old was told she had just a year to live. Her addiction had caused her heart to start failing and she was told they would be unable to operate on her until she came off the drugs.

PC Stuart Toogood from Erdington neighbourhood police team reached out to Caroline last year to try and turn her life around and ultimately save her life.

With PC Toogood’s help, Caroline attended a rehab facility last August and following an intensive programme, she is now living in a dry house and has been clean ever since – celebrating 12 months clean today (27 August).

More importantly, Caroline was told she no longer needed a heart operation as her faulty valve had mended itself due to her drastically improved lifestyle.

Image credits: West Midlands Police

#5 One Year Meth Clean

I was going to jump off the bridge because I’d had enough of the lifestyle of being high, being homeless, having nowhere to go and being completely unhappy. Now I have real friends. I talk to my family a lot. I’m gaining relationships back. I can show up. I can show up in life. I can be a friend; I can be a brother, a son. I can be an uncle and those are all things that I value and all things I couldn’t do before.

Image credits: Minnesotapolis

#6 She Has 11 Months Clean Today

Hey guys this is Alicia. She sent me this photo a few minutes ago. She said, “I am proud of this photo. I had no where else to post it or anyone to talk about it with. Sorry for any inconvenience.” I decided to post it because I know all of your care. Let’s show her some love. She has 11 months clean today.

Image credits: The Addict's Diary

#7 My Life Is A Direct Reflection Of The Work I’ve Put In To Get And Stay Clean

A little while ago my grandma sent me a message saying, “ If you ever start to forget where you came from, here’s a reminder. I’m so proud of you!” Along with that, she sent me some pictures of me in active addiction. And can I just say … WOW! Passed out in her bathroom, on the toilet, pants down, because I thought if it looked like I was actually using the restroom she wouldn’t suspect I was using drugs when she busted in. And passed out in her driveway because I was no longer was wanted inside anywhere and just needed somewhere I felt safe enough to use and sleep without the fear of cops or being seen. My life is a direct reflection of the work I’ve put in to get and STAY clean and I cant wait to see what this next year brings.

My name is Donae, and I am a RECOVERING drug addict.

Image credits: The Addict's Diary

#8 4 Years Clean From Meth And Heroin

Today (12/6/16) marks 4 years clean from heroin and meth. I was a terrible iv user and like most, progressively got worse. On the left is me the day I was arrested 12-6-12 and coincidentally the day I finally surrendered to God! With the help of God I am completing my BA and hope to one day be a prison minister. I have a beautiful 18 month old and everyday I thank God that I am not where I once was! Sobriety is possible.

Image credits: Dejah Hall

#9 Two Years Sober

My Mugshot From Two Years Ago Following A Massive Pcp/Benzo Overdose And Before Homelessness And A Trip To Prison. I’m Now Two Years Sober, Living A Wonderful Life And Happier Than I Ever Thought I’d Be!

Image credits: outforchow

#10 . It’s Been A Rough Ride But It’s Now Been Six Months Since Then! I’ve Come So Far

From dying in the streets from a heart infection, to sleeping in my car starving for days at a time. To being turned away from the hospital and left to die because they wouldn’t treat me, to abandoned by everyone and everything, I found the strength to get clean, get treatment at a different hospital, get the heart surgery I needed, and from there I stayed clean even though I was still homeless. It’s been a rough ride but it’s now been six months since then! I’ve come so far. Yesterday I finally moved in to a shared house and my own little space and bought myself some nice things for it! I’m so happy. I thought I would be dead by the end of the year last year. But I’m thriving more than ever. It’s cool to be back to living.

Image credits: The Addict's Diary

#11 This Is What 393 Days Clean Looks Like

This is what 393 days clean looks like. This is a miracle!

Image credits: The Addict's Diary

#12 I Have Been Clean Since October 6, 2015. 1,372 Days Of Sobriety. 32,928 Hours. 118,540,800 Seconds Of Struggling And Learning To Cope With Life Without Drugs

I spent years in denial about my addiction. “I can stop any time”, I would always tell myself.
Then one day, I overdosed. Even with a PICC line in my arm from a recent heart infection, caused by shooting up, I continued to use. And that was nearly my last time. My mother found me in my room, on my bed, clinging to life. EMS was able to arrive on scene and reverse the opiods in time to save my life. If my mom wouldn’t have found me, I wouldn’t be here today to tell my story.
Like nearly every addict, I relapsed a few weeks later. Instead of pills and fentanyl patches, I moved to heroin. I loved the rush I felt when shooting it up. It provided me such serenity and a mind-numbing experience. My family and partner at the time found out a few weeks later. I was so embarrassed of my addiction, I fled and hid for 4 days.
Upon returning home, law enforcement was called and I was committed to a local psychiatric facility for 5 days. There, they provided some medications to aide in my withdrawls. Still so, I had numerous days of body aches, cold sweats that would soak my bed sheets, and incessant, projectile vomiting. Upon my discharge, I went through months of grueling therapy, medications, and learning new ways to confront my emotions and fears, instead of numbing them.
I have been clean since October 6, 2015. 1,372 days of sobriety. 32,928 hours. 118,540,800 seconds of struggling and learning to cope with life without drugs.
In January of 2016, I acquired a new job where I am now a manager of a department. I have also taken up a passion for EMS, working as an EMT in a county with numerous heroin ODs since May 2016. I am now nearing the end of a 2 year paramedic program. As it has been since the day I got sober, my goal every day is to continue to find myself and help others in a similar position do the same.
I am, and always will be, an addict. Sobriety isn’t easy. Life isn’t easy. But my God, a life without drugs is surreal.

Image credits: The Addict's Diary

#13 Sober 20 Years Next Month

This is me in dec 1995. This is me in dec 2017. I overcame addiction, homelessness, and a history of incarceration.

Image credits: traceyh415

#14 I’ve Been Clean For 2 Years And 8 Months

It started with pills, mainly percocet when I was 21. I was really sick one day and a friend gave me heroin. I started shooting it at 24. I tried meth for the first time at 25. I was shooting them both in no time. Over the next 3 years I overdosed 8 times. If I wasn’t homeless, I was living at a trap house with no electricity or running water with a 61-year-old man who was on disability and sold meth. In and out of jail constantly for possession, identity theft etc. I used needles I found in the bottom of a shopping cart full of trash. I didn’t care. I was 100 lbs. I hated myself and I truly wanted to die. I went to prison. I did 15 1/2 months on 18. I got clean. I’m 30-years-old now, I’ve been clean for 2 years and 8 months, and I have a 6,5-month-old baby girl, and a great fiance. Finally, as I lay here breastfeeding my beautiful baby I can say I love myself and I enjoy life now without heroin or meth

Image credits: theaddictsdiary

#15 Today, I Have 8 Years Clean And I Graduated Last May With 3 Aa Degrees With The Highest Honors

My name is Elizabeth Quiroz and I am a Human Trafficking Victim Advocate/Drug and Alcohol Counselor. I am also a human trafficking survivor, a former Foster youth and a formerly incarcerated student. The picture on the left is a broken woman. The picture on the right is who I am today. Growing up, I endured so much physical abuse that I landed in foster care. I come from a family of gang members, child molesters, drug addicts and alcoholics. I ran away from everything at 15 years old and right into the arms of my trafficker. My trafficker got me hooked on meth and my family supplied him with the drugs. For 12 years I was addicted and sold on the streets of San Francisco. I endured physical abuse and sexual assaults beginning at the age of 4 and rapes from the age of 14 to 26. Throughout the years I went to Valley State Prison and in and out of numerous correctional facilities. At the age of 26, I lost my son and was arrested for the final time. I was numb from all of the horrific abuse. That day brought me back to life though. I did 18 months prison term in the county and completed 2 programs. I decided to change my life around.

Today, I have 8 years clean and I graduated last May with 3 AA degrees with the highest honors. I am currently at Sonoma State University obtaining my bachelor’s and Master’s degree. I will be the first person in my family to obtain a degree! I am breaking generational curses! God, the programs, and the arresting officers gave me a new life. I am also on the Sonoma Counties Human Trafficking Task Force and I have been featured in multiple articles and newspapers. I was granted a full and unconditional Governors Pardon from Governor Jerry Brown on Christmas Eve. My long term goal is to become a probation officer and start non-profit housing for Human trafficking victims here in Sonoma County. If I can turn it around to help others then there is hope for the broken!

Image credits: The Addict's Diary

#16 Today, June 3rd 2020 Marks My One Year

Today, June 3rd 2020 marks my one year… that’s 1 year, or 12 months, or 365 days, 8760 in hours, 525,600 in minutes, 31,536,000 in seconds… & I’m still standing.

Image credits: The Addict's Diary

#17 6 Years Opiate Free

I was a hardcore addict for about 5 years up until 2009 when I was arrested for a DUI on what would turn out to be the last night I ever touched an opiate. I found the mugshot on one of those extortion "pay us to remove your mugshot" websites, and placed it next to a picture of myself after 6 years clean. I honestly had no idea at the time that I looked that bad.
Getting through withdrawal was hell… I went cold turkey from everything, including a daily 130mg dose of methadone. The first week, I spent in jail. The rest I spent at my mom's house curled up in a fetal position. It took about a month to beat it, and I initially stayed awake for 11 days. If you're currently struggling with recovery, stay in the fight. Believe me, you probably don't remember how awesome it is to wake up and not worry about finding drugs to not be sick for the day.

Image credits: https://www.reddit.com/r/OpiatesRecovery/comments/4ce9kk/opiate_addiction_beforeafter/

#18 Now He Has Over 200 Days Sober And A Brand New Smile

A few months ago, Shaun Weiss was arrested on drug charges. He starred as Goldberg in our childhood favorite film Mighty Ducks. I’m sure you remember this, because his decline went viral. Everyone couldn’t wait to share how far he had spiraled down. Well, now he has over 200 days sober and a brand new smile.

Image credits: The Addict's Diary

#19 The Picture On The Left Is When I Overdosed From Shooting Fentanyl. I Had A Heart Attack In An Applebee’s Bathroom

I spent six weeks in the hospital after that. Two weeks in a coma, two weeks learning how to walk again, and two weeks in the psych ward because of how s***idal I was. I’m ashamed to admit it, but I still used again after that. One day I just couldn’t take it anymore. I called a friend who I knew was sober and told him I was willing to do ANYTHING. My friend took me through the 12 steps and I changed my life. For anyone out there who is hopeless, look at me. On August 9th I celebrated one year clean

Image credits: theaddictsdiary

#20 I Started This Recovery Journey 16 Months Ago

Hi! My name is Brittany and I started this recovery journey 16 months ago. After 27 overdoses, God felt that I was worth keeping around. A life that I never thought I deserved. I’ve been set free by my Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

#21 7 Months Alcohol And Heroin Free

Image credits: Israel_Anthem

#22 5 Years Clean From Heroin

Jeanette was caught stealing to fund her addiction. Despite having 174 previous convictions, Fidler escaped jail after insisting that she had beaten her addiction after completing a drug recovery programme. The mum-of-two completed an eight-week stint in rehab and has now been clean for 5 years.

Image credits: Cavendish

#23 Today, I Am 124 Days Clean

My name Marilyn and I’m an addict. I struggled with crack cocaine addiction for most of my life. I have been in and out of institutions, jails, and prisons. I’ve been a prostitute. I’ve left my children. I stole from my family. On February 23, 2018 I lost my son. Then I lost myself.He was brutally murdered and I lost myself. For 33 years I just wanted one more hit. For 33 years it was always, “I’ll get help tomorrow.” On March 23, 2021 I finally had enough and went into treatment. I could not take the pain of degrading myself one more second. I surrendered and gave it all to God. Today, I allow him to lead and guide me. Today, I live in a sober living environment. Today, I work the steps. Today, I have a sponsor and I talk about my problems. Today, I live life on life’s terms without the use of drugs. Today, I am 124 days clean.

Image credits: The Addict's Diary

#24 Six Months Meth And Heroin Clean

Today, my life is different. And that's all I could really hope for towards the end. Not a better life, because I didn't feel like anything was ever going to get better… But just something different. This is what 6 months of hard work and commitment looks like for me. I can finally know what happiness and serenity feel like. I get to help others as well as tell my story and share my solution. In doing that, I'm able turn all of the negative from before into positive now. If you are struggling, please ask someone for help and dig deep down with everything you have to find the willingness to change. It's worth it, I promise you.

Image credits: jermwithaj

#25 147 Days Clean From Meth

We both started smoking ice in 2012 just after we were married. We already had 3 beautiful kids together and had everything, jobs, cars, a mortgage, a dog. And then ICE came and destroyed that, I was 20yrs old than.
We lost it all but my children although I think I came close. We smoked for the next 2 years than started injecting. We moved from NSW to WA to try escape but that's when it got worse. I had to make the choice between drugs/my husband or our children. He was not ready and I couldn't do anything so I left him and came home to NSW with my kids. 2 weeks later he ended up in prison. On August 5th 2014 I decided to get clean and stay clean. I'm now almost 5 months clean and have my own house again, have my dog again, have my own car again, and have my children and my health, both mental and physical. Everyone who knows what I have been through these past 3 years tells me I'm looking fantastic and they are proud of me for making the change.

Image credits: Never Give up. Giving up ice , Drugs

#26 Today I’m 6 Months Clean And I Couldn’t Be More Grateful

Last November I woke up in the hospital after finding out I had endocarditis from using heroin and meth. The Doctors couldn’t believe I was still holding on. I wasn’t supposed to make it. By the grace of God I was given a second chance. After two months of being in the hospital I got to leave healthy with a new outlook on life.

Image credits: theaddictsdiary

#27 More Than 3 Years Clean And Sober

Recovery for me exemplifies the promises coming true. The gift of family, and honesty between all of us, is truly better than what my life was even before I picked up a drink or a drug.

Image credits: thewatershedreviews.com

#28 My Husband And I Spent The First 15 Years Of Our Marriage In Chaos And Addiction

We went our separate paths of recovery and reunited as one force once we became healthy again. We are now 3 1/2 years clean and living life to the fullest! I thank God everyday not only for my recovery but that we were able to beat all odds and do it together

Image credits: theaddictsdiary

#29 9 Months Meth And Heroin Free

I was strung out on meth and heroin. I had been getting high for 7 years and shooting up for about 4. I was running around with a gang. Not everyone believes in God, but I do now. He has done so much for me, I’ve only been out of these ministries for about 1 1/2 months and I’ve already begun working at a transitional home to help other people who need a place to stay and someone to believe in them. I want to thank God for saving me from the terrible shroud of darkness I was in, and showing me true happiness. If you or anyone you know is struggling with drug addiction here is proof it can be done!

• You Might Also Like: 47 Times People Didn’t Hold Back Shaming The Worst Brides, Grooms And Wedding Guests (New Pics)

Image credits: incinerator1990

from Bored Panda /best-all-times-before-after-addicts-transformation-msn/
via IFTTT source site : boredpanda