Some RAP Members' Personal Stories

My name is Tracey and I am in recovery from drugs and alcohol,   Family traditions are very important in my family.  We celebrate all of the holidays, family birthdays, we have potlucks and the tradition of alcoholism ran rampant for generations.  Dysfunction and chaos was our family norm.  My parents fought during their marriage, after they were divorced for years and I was the keeper of the family secrets.   [more]   My name is April L. I am a recovering drug addict and alcoholic.   I would like to tell you a little about my story. I was born into the disease, born drug dependent, and my future was chosen for me. I was born a second-generation addict. [more]   My name is Bart and I'm an addict,   As I was growing up, I was painfully shy and didn’t communicate well with my family, my peers or my educators---I was the youngest of 11 children and my parents were practicing alcoholics.  There was a lot of fighting and I couldn’t do anything about it because I was too small.   [more]   My name is Terry L. and I have been in recovery for almost 9 years.    And I was the first Executive Director for the Recovery Association Project. Now I am the Manager of Program and Business Services for Central City Concern West Portland One Stop.   I was born in Hong Kong in 1959 and was placed in an orphanage. I was adopted into the United States in 1961 where I spent 13 years being abused and neglected.  In 1974 I was placed into Foster Care where they, who I call my family today, nurtured me back to some semblance of health. When I arrived to their home I was malnourished and beated down.   [more]