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.   My step father would give me alcohol when I was very, very young I believe that that way he could justify the abuse, you can use your imagination on were I'm going with this.   At the age of 12, I was in foster care and started my life of running away and in a matter of days I was addicted to the street life, I found family there and the drugs helped me to not feel or think about the bad.   I turned to the streets to make a living and found abuse there as well. I believed that that was what my life was to be. I started intervenes drug use at the age of 12 and continued off and on, mostly on for 21years. I have been married twice and have 3 children, 2 of which are also addicts, and 1 is in prison for a very long time.   Growing up I believed that drugs would always be my life, and I still believe that in a way.   What I never thought is that I could be on the other side helping people and changing lives.   I am grateful today that I am clean and sober, work in recovery and have a wonderful life, I am available for my children and I am engaged to a wonderful man. I would have never thought it possible before.   I give back by working with people in recovery, both at work and on my own time, passing on what I has been passed on to me in recovery.  I have been trained in community leadership and am a leader in the Recovery Association Project (RAP).  I represented RAP last spring when the Oregon Governor’s Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs gave us the Outstanding Community Achievement Award for all our hard work.   I need to give thanks to my friends, my higher power, and the 12 steps programs,  And the people I work with.   With out all of them I couldn't do it, because I could never do it alone. Just for today I never have to be alone again.   Truly Alive, April L   For more information call Recovery Association Project, 503.234.3133 or www.rap-nw.org   8/04/MultnomahCountyRAP