Recovering Heroin Addict Shares Harrowing Story with Murfreesboro Students

RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) – Inside a Rutherford County classroom on Wednesday young people heard a harsh reality.

Michael DeLeon’s past is a harrowing tale of drug addiction and prison time. It’s a story a local organization hopes the students take to heart.

For students who are experimenting with drugs or think they can’t become addicted, DeLeon stood before them to make sure they know otherwise.

“I ended up, because of the death of my mother, in prison for 10 years, and two years in a halfway house. That changed me forever,” he said.

It was a hard fall for DeLeon, who had tasted success before his drug addiction.

“I went from a fantastic opportunity and career in the business world to a complete and utter drug addict, homeless, committing crimes to support my addiction,” he explained.

His life mission changed, and that’s why he was there—telling his story to young people at Daniel McKee Alternative School.

“So many of the kids asking questions, so many of the kids interacting… Three kids asked me if I have handouts of my presentation that they can go over,” he told News 2.

DeLeon’s school visits come ahead of Thursday night’s town hall meeting on heroin in Murfreesboro, organized by Tyler Bowman.

“I have a history of addiction. I’m a lifelong recovering heroin addict,” Bowman told News 2.

And for him, it all started in high school.

“We have to cut it off from where its beginning with the kids in school by informing them, not scaring them,” he said.

The meeting is being held at the Lane Agripark Center at 6:30 p.m. State and local officials will be there, and it’s free and open to the public. Click here to register.

http://wkrn.com/2016/09/07/recovering-heroin-addict-shares-harrowing-story-with-murfreesboro-students/