Kat Nixon

I came from a very conservative, sheltered family, but that didn’t keep me from drinking in my adolescence to finally having my first proper “drunk” at the age of seventeen. After that it was off to the races, I didn’t care what the consequences were as long as I could get and stay drunk or high. For ten years I used substances recklessly, leading to me moving twenty-three times in ten years, constant unstable housing, homeless stints, contentious relationships, and inability to hold down a job long-term. My life became glaringly unmanageable–I couldn’t go on like that any longer. I finally entered rehab two years ago and since then have been able to maintain sobriety and stable living. I am now working towards a Masters of Social Work so I can help people in the same way I was helped. Recovery is not a one size fits all, and there currently exist so many barriers to effective treatment that need to be torn down. I’m passionate about sharing my story and meeting people where they’re at, no matter what that means.