Jennifer first used substances when her dad was diagnosed with cancer, trying to protect herself from the pain of losing him.
Jennifer first used substances when her dad was diagnosed with cancer, trying to protect herself from the pain of losing him. Now, she shares her story of substance use and recovery because she knows what stigma feels like. She didn’t feel like the people around her saw her as the whole person she was. "I was the soccer mom. I was the PTA mom. I was the one sitting at the games handing out the treats to the kids," Jennifer reminds us.
Jennifer is a loving mom with a full life, and she wants people with substance use disorder (SUD) to be seen for more than just their medical condition. Her kids were there for her through her recovery journey, and now they're closer than ever. The support Jennifer got from her loved ones helped her through the toughest times, and now she feels the love and closeness in all these relationships.