I came from a good family where there was no abuse of any kind. We went to church every Sunday, so I know about the Lord. My father and mother were still together. We were a loving family.

In 1963 my mother and I moved to Los Angeles, a fast moving town compared to the South where I was born.

Growing up, I always kept to myself. I never seemed to fit in with others. I seemed to always be alone.

In 1976 I tried out with the Roller Derby and made the team. And that’s when my addiction started. I drank and smoked weed to fit in with the “in crowd”. There were always parties after every games. Drugs and alcohol were everywhere. They helped me come out of my shell, to be the center of attention. I liked it, so I used more.

At the age of 26 I got a job working for a major aircraft company in Burbank California making good money for a female. I had my own apartment in a well-to-do neighborhood, a car, and some spending money. Once again, I was the center of attention to my “so called” friends.

So the party continued. Weed, hard liquor, pills, and yes... cocaine. Everybody loved me, everybody wanted to hang with me. Little did I know I was being used and my addiction was rising to an all time high.

I used so much it affected my work. I would go to work high and drunk. I smoked crack on the job. I started steeling tools from work to sell to get more drugs.

Eventually, I got caught with drugs at work. They sent me to a treatment program, but it didn’t work for me. My addiction was too strong. So I lost my job, apartment, friends, and my self respect.

I had nothing. I became homeless on the streets of skid row in downtown Los Angeles. I stayed down there for about 6 months before I checked into a women and children’s shelter. Still, there always seemed to be drugs around. I would do odd jobs for some bad people, and put myself in some very dangerous situations just so I could feed my addiction. I just didn’t care about myself.

I tried various treatment programs. And I did stay sober for awhile, but none of these programs gave me the tools to work with. Drugs came before anything, even my family.

I was out on the streets doing drugs and alcohol for 4 years before I came to the Las Vegas Rescue Mission on June 30th, 2006. I was tired of being tired. I thank my God that the Mission rescued me from myself, the streets, and the devil.

Thanks Pastor Jeff and the staff of the Rescue Mission for giving me back my life and family.


Andres Carter
Resident
Las Vegas Rescue Mission