Samantha Bushika is a survivor with a story she finds inspirational, one that has already saved lives. She celebrates eight years of sobriety in March, marking a journey away from a lifelong addiction to using and selling heroin. Her battle with addiction led her into an unjust justice system, where she became a scapegoat in her small Vermont town's first heroin bust. Despite possessing no heroin herself—it was found in her roommate's possession—Samantha was unfairly targeted due to her circumstances as a poor 20-year-old with addict parents. Over two decades, Samantha endured what she calls "Life on the Installment Plan," facing repeated incarcerations for non-violent, drug-related offenses, some of which are no longer criminal. Despite completing treatment successfully twice during 14-day rehab stints, she was labeled a treatment failure. Each jail term stripped her of her mental health and maintenance medications, often leaving her isolated in solitary confinement for months. In 2016, at the age of 35, a tragedy led to an unexpected turn: Samantha found herself pregnant. Despite never desiring children and doubting her maternal instincts, she saw this as an opportunity for love and redemption. With nothing but a correctional GPS ankle monitor and a 450 credit score, she checked into a homeless shelter, determined to build a better life for her unborn child. Driven by a desire to help others, Samantha launched her blog, "Progressing Not Perfecting," aiming to support people on a larger scale. Despite facing stigma within her niche and financial challenges, she remains committed to her mission, tirelessly working 18-hour days to #provethemallwrong and #showthemwhatwecando. With a domain rating of around 65 and 27k followers on Instagram, she has built a platform to share her message of hope and resilience. Samantha's story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the potential for transformation against all odds. She is determined to make her life count by helping others and refuses to let her past define her future. https://addicted.org/supe HELP SUPPORT OUR FIGHT AGAINST ADDICTION: DONATE HERE: https://www.patreon.com/theaddictionpodcast PART OF THE GOOD NEWS PODCAST NETWORK. AUDIO VERSIONS OF ALL OUR EPISODES: https://theaddictionpodcast.com CONTACT US: The Addiction Podcast - Point of No Return theaddictionpodcast@yahoo.com Intro and Outro music by: Decisions by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100756 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ #drugaddictionpodcast #alcoholaddiction #alternativetreatment #hopeforaddiction #helpforaddiction #newmaninterventions

Also watch