I say this all the time... I'm grateful every day.

Instagram: davidhsnow68

Recovery date: 07/15/2009

Drug of choice: All of the above

Facebook: David Snow

Website: dukecityestateservices.com

I kind of feel like I came into alcoholism and drug addiction pretty easily. I was raised in a household with two raging alcoholics during the 1980s in a small town in northern New Mexico, and drugs and alcohol were just a part of what we did.

I knew from an early age that I wasn’t one of the cool kids. And so alcoholism and drugs helped me sit in my own skin. So I was pretty much a garden variety, trash dumpster. In my 30s, my partner of 10 years suddenly died of prostate cancer, and that flipped my world completely inside out.

I became a methamphetamine addict and a heroin addict, and as a result of that, I have 2, 3rd degree felonies on my criminal record, and my life was out of control. I met somebody who told me that I had a choice, and that I didn't have to live that way any longer.

The journey to recovery has been full and scary and amazing and so difficult to do all at the same time. I wouldn’t change a thing—I say this all the time... I’m grateful every day.

The catalyst to me getting clean and sober was the result of two felony convictions… due to heroin... but... really for 30 years... my self-will ran unchecked.

Drugs and alcohol were my coping mechanisms... I didn’t know I had a choice. My first sponsor… showed me that I did indeed have a choice... I’ll never forget that.

Give us a little background information. (Where are you from or grew up? What do you do for a living? What are your passions?): I grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico… I came of age in the 1980’s… my peers were all feral kids who banded together to create a family of choice... being a young gay kid added to my already fractured sense of self…
I’m an artist 
Actor
I collect art and am fiercely active in my community.

Describe your experience in addiction: I can describe active addiction as chaos.

When did you realize your life had become unmanageable?: I always sensed it was unmanageable from very early on... I couldn’t figure out how to change that until I faced real consequences.

What did your recovery look like? It’s been slow and steady

How are you doing these days? Life is always full of challenges... I choose differently—how to walk thru the challenges

What do you do to maintain your recovery?: I stay very close to other folks in recovery and I keep very close to a power greater than myself.

What are you grateful for?: All of it!
Every fucking day!

Any goals or aspirations you'd like to share? Just that I can be present in my own life today.

Any advice you would give to newly sober folks?: Don’t ever give up!! Ever!