EVERYONE IS A PHOENIX –
Nov. 13, 2024 – On September 11, 2023, Juanita spent the entire day getting high. After midnight, she started having difficulty breathing and passed out. She later woke up in a hospital, where doctors told her she had suffered a heart attack, had an embolism in her lung, and also had pneumonia. The frightening experience marked a turning point in her life.
“It scared me waking up in the hospital and not knowing how I got there,” she said, tears streaming down her face. “That’s what woke me up, and I said to myself, I’m not ready to go yet.”
Two days later, Juanita enrolled in Outpatient Treatment Program at NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem. There, she received support from a team of dedicated addiction specialists that includes counseling and group therapy. Today, after spending nearly three decades struggling with substance use disorder, Juanita, 59, is sober.
“The program has taught me to know my triggers and what tools to use if I get the urge to use.” she said.
When asked what makes the program at Harlem special, she said it’s the staff.
“They make you feel comfortable. They don’t sugar coat anything. They’re real and upfront. They tell you how it is.”
