reprint from Know Your World Extra, Volume 40, Issue 4, November 3, 2006

This teen is fighting drug addiction - and getting his life back.

His name is Evan. He's 19, and he's slowly building a new life without drugs. After spending nine months at a treatment center, Evan has discovered he can live his life clean and sober - and have fun doing it. He has learned to replace the high from drugs with a healthier feeling, such as the rush he gets from playing extreme sports and the satisfaction of writing and playing a guitar tune.

Now evan wants to tell his story. He wants to inspire others to fight their addictions. His struggle with drugs began when he was in middle school. "I started at age 13," he told Extra. "I've used a lot of drugs ... a lot of cocaine, crack, psychedelics, pretty much everything except meth (methamphetamine)."  Evan's drug abuse continued for five years.  During that time, he was expelled from school and arrested. At this lowest points, his parents were ready to kick him out of their home.

Hitting Rock Bottom
"You don't really understand it until it happens in your home," says Evan's father, Pat, about his son's drug addiction. He can still remember having to make the terrible decision to kick Evan out of the house. His son was out of control.

"Drugs turned me into a bad person," Evan says. "I was lying, stealing, and cheating to get my drugs. My life went downhill fast. At first it was fun, but then it got to where I couldn't get out of bed without heroin."

When Evan began using, he was able to buy drugs wth money he had saved. After that money ran out, he started dealing drugs to sustain his habit. When he was 16, he was arrested in a police raid on a crack house. "That's when life got really bad. I ran out of money, so I was constantly ripping people off to get my dope."

"We decided we had to send him somewhere," says Evan's mom, Cathy. Evan's older sister, Erin, called a treatment hotline. The family was referred to a team of drug counselors at Sober College Academy near Los Angeles, California. The counselors advised Evan's parents to give him a choice:  Either get help or find another place to live.  Three days later, Evan was in Sober College.

Cleaning Up
Sober College is a place where people go to learn how to fight their drug addictions. Evan showed up there in bad shape.  "I had a bad attitude," he recalls.  The counselors worked with Evan to help him understand that addiction is a sickness. Their 12-step program helped him learn how to fight that sickness.  The staff also showed Evan healty ways to have fun.  They took him on outings to try cool activities, such as indoor skydiving, playing paintball, and surfing.  "They were all rad," says Evan.

Now, nine months later, Evan is back home in Utah.  He's feeling much stronger.  "I'm getting ready to be a productive member of society," he says.  Evan has started taking his life seriously.  He enjoyed playing guitar when he was using drugs, but now he's focusing on it as a possible career.  He has written 12 songs and says playing the guitar "is definitely how I express myself."

Evan's father says the guitar playing is an example of how his son's life has improved. "He thought you had to be on drugs to play well," he says, "but now his guitar work has gotten so much better."

Evan's advice for people who are struggling with drugs is simple.  "You have to go for treatment," he says.  "You have to have a positive attitude."