Stories

Brittany, from student council to court in Phoenix, Arizona

As a high school freshman, Brittany seemed to have everything going for her. She was on the cheerleading squad and the swim team, participated in the student council, got good grades and was in an ideal position to receive college scholarships.

What most people didn’t know was that behind her smile and glowing accomplishments, Brittany was struggling with a home life that was very unsafe and destructive. “Drugs and violence have always been a part of my life,” says Brittany. “Growing up, my father was a drug addict and my mother was an alcoholic. My father was very abusive toward my mom and beat her constantly.”

The intense pressure to be a star student while coping with violent, alcoholic parents caused the direction of Brittany’s life to change dramatically. Even though she grew up hating drugs, at 14 she began drinking and using drugs as a way to escape. By 16, Brittany had dropped out of school, was using meth heavily, committed crimes to support her habit, and was in an abusive relationship.

Finally, the downward spiral came to a screeching halt when Brittany appeared in court with her mother. The judge detained Brittany because of the unsafe environment she lived in with her mother and referred her to Florence Crittenton.

“The day I went to Florence Crittenton, I felt happy and scared; I didn’t know what to expect. I was welcomed with open arms, and I couldn’t believe how nice everything was!”

Brittany spent the next three months learning to have a positive self-image through sober living and healthy decision-making skills. Looking back on this time, she says, “Florence Crittenton offers girls the opportunity to become who they want to be; it’s a place to heal and call home where they know they will always be safe and feel wanted.”

Brittany is attending high school again, where she is doing very well. Ongoing support from her therapist has helped not only her, but also her mother. She and her mom go to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings regularly and celebrate each month of sobriety together.