Amber was a reckless teenager, and in high school, her friends introduced her to heroin. What started as a casual once-a-week high, slowly turned into an addiction. Amber started skipping school and began pocketing money from her parents to get her weekly fix. Unfortunately, she was also struggling with depression. One day her mother found her on the streets begging for money. Though it was heartbreaking for her mother, she collected herself and her daughter and began searching for help.
Amber was enrolled into California Behavioral Healthcare after her mother’s colleague referred the facility. Because her brain was still developing, substance abuse caused chemical changes in the brain that worsened her depression. Once the experts at the facility understood Amber’s condition, they started her on a dual-diagnosis program.
Today, Amber is in a happy space, recently completing her treatment and joining a university to pursue the course of her dreams. Even though the addiction and depression are behind her, she is watchful of the triggers and is armed with the coping mechanisms to face any adversity.