A former addict who suffered 19 overdoses has revealed her incredible transformation after three years of sobriety.
Madison McManus, 28, explained that she was first introduced to drugs when she was 15 years old by her then-boyfriend.
The New Jersey native went on to suffer years of arrests before she made the difficult decision to get clean.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, she explained that her priority is now winning back custody of her nine-year-old daughter who she was forced to give up because of her addiction.
McManus was able to get sober through the help of Alcoholics Anonymous, and she is hoping that by sharing her story, it will show other people struggling with addiction that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
"When I was just 15 years old I started using crack and heroin," McManus said.
"I was in my first rehab at the age of 15, dragging my family through my addiction and hurting them and others left and right.
"Until the age of 18, I would go to programs and get out and pick up again. My disease had me. When I was 18, I had nine months sober while I was pregnant with my daughter, who is now nine. Until now, that was my longest time not using."
She explained that while she was homeless, she managed to escape situations "I still don’t have words for."
Eventually, she dropped out of education and "couldn't stop using", but that all changed after an arrest.
"I dropped out of school, I signed away temporary custody of my daughter, I just couldn’t stop using. I had no family in my life at this point, no friends, no soul, I was alone," she said.
"I pushed everyone and everything away, and it began a six-year run homeless in a rough and dark city. The things that I dealt with and accepted in my active addiction could write a book. The disease had me in its grips for six years, holding me captive. I held so much shame and regret for losing my daughter, losing my family, and losing myself.
"My lowest point was on July 18, 2018, the last time I ever used a drug,’ she adds.
"I sat on some rocks, and I cried in my hands 'God please get me out of here, get me out of Paterson'. I had warrants I never got taken care of, and I was in handcuffs two hours later. And I have never been back since."
McManus shared her shocking story on the Facebook Page The Addict's Diary, explaining that the drug court saved her life as she was able to finally stop using behind bars.
"I had no idea at this point how, I just knew I didn't want to use anymore. I went to a 30-day program in south Jersey, then wanted to continue treatment and went to a halfway house for four months," she said.
"The real work came when I got my own apartment in South Jersey after all of my programs. I found Alcoholics Anonymous, and that's when the real growth started, and now I know never stops."
Thankfully, McManus's family were the first part of her old life to return, and they are now supporting her through her continued recovery and with her attempts to win back custody of her daughter.