SEPTEMBER 22, 2018
FROM CRISIS TO CAREER: Megan Coldiron’s Story
“They tried to make me go to rehab and I said no, no, no.” Those powerful lyrics to a famous song by pop artist Amy Winehouse are now haunting: Winehouse, a brilliant, young artist, died of alcohol poisoning in 2011, only 27 years old.
Addition Recovery Care is all too familiar with the sentiment Winehouse expressed. Getting people to the treatment they need is never easy. Addicts are almost always hesitant to go. Maybe they fear detox, or they just don’t fully want to stop using. Even after they complete rehab, the need for treatment usually won’t end for months, sometimes years. That means treatment has to compete with jobs, kids, and often overcome transportation barriers. For all these reasons, ARC decided that since getting folks to rehab was a struggle, they would take rehab to those who needed it most.
“We decided to meet addicts where they are,” Megan Coldiron says. Megan was recently tasked with heading up a dynamic new division in arguably the largest, fastest growing company in Kentucky providing addiction recovery treatment. Her specific job: Director of ARC’s Outreach Services. At 33 years old, the native of Morgan County says she is living her dream, helping others find the support they need to get out of- and stay out of- active addiction.
Addiction is a subject Megan is all too familiar with. She’s been there. Megan spent five long years in active addiction. She recalls how far down addiction had taken her: “The lowest point for me was sitting in a place where my family wasn’t speaking to me. I had no relationship with my daughter, and I was living in an apartment that I had already been evicted from, with no electricity and no running water.”
Recovery wasn’t easy. She entered treatment while pregnant. After treatment, she struggled to find employment. She credits ARC’s willingness to be a second chance employer for individuals with legal issues and substance abuse histories as a defining moment in her life, so far: “I started with ARC doing drug screens in 2014. I was extremely surprised ARC even gave me a job. I knew God was bringing me back to reestablish a relationship with my daughter.” Not only did ARC give Megan a job, they believed in her ability to do even more. “ARC started investing in me, and developing me, and mentoring me.”
Megan advanced with the company and learned how to be an administrator. She had always been a problem solver. For people in active addiction, as well as early in their recovery, problems are usually piled up. Megan found her skills of working through people’s issues were a huge asset for ARC. Now, she’s using those skills and putting them and all the skills of her outreach team to use, helping others.
For Megan, it always comes back to two key themes: God and family. “I never thought I would be able to be an active mother showing up for my children. Today, I’m able to have stability. I’m completely happy and content knowing I’m doing what God called me to do.”
Megan is excited to take ARC’s motto- From Crisis to Career ( #FromCrisistoCareer ) and share it with addicts and those in recovery wherever they are.
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Addiction Recovery Care is a substance use disorder treatment company based in Louisa. It has outpatient and in-patient facilities around Kentucky. It prides itself on helping clients achieve recovery and taking them “from crisis to career!”
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, please call Addiction Recovery Care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 606.638.0938 or visit them on the web at www.arccenters.com.
There is hope. There is help.
