From Addiction to Recovery: A Morehead Woman’s 10-Year Journey Back to Life

For years, addiction controlled nearly every part of Samantha May’s life.

It damaged relationships, destroyed her self-worth, led to repeated incarcerations, and ultimately cost her custody of her children. There were moments, she says, when she truly believed she would never escape the cycle.

Today, however, the Morehead woman stands as proof that recovery is possible.

Now 10 years clean, May has rebuilt her life from the ground up. She owns a home, works in the healthcare field after earning her CMA certification, regained custody of her children, and has become someone her family can trust and depend on again.

But her story did not begin there.

May grew up in Morehead, Kentucky. From the outside, she says her childhood may have appeared normal, but inside the home there were struggles that shaped her deeply.

“My father was not present in my life, and my mother partied often, so there was not much emotional support or stability,” she explained. “Growing up in that environment left me searching for comfort, acceptance, and a sense of belonging.”

One of the strongest positive influences in her life was her stepfather.

“He stepped in and gave me the support, stability, and care that I desperately needed,” she said. “Even today, he remains one of my biggest supporters.”

Before addiction entered her life, May describes herself as outgoing, social, and motivated. She cared deeply about others and had dreams and ambitions like anyone else. But underneath it all was a desire to fit in and feel accepted.

Looking back now, she realizes she never developed healthy ways to cope with stress, pressure, and difficult emotions.

That vulnerability eventually opened the door to substance abuse.

Like many addiction stories, May says it started gradually.

Substances entered her life through experimentation and unhealthy influences at a young age. At first, it did not seem dangerous. In fact, she says the environment initially offered something she had been missing for years: acceptance.

“I struggled to fit in with certain groups of people, and eventually I found myself drawn toward a crowd that used drugs,” she said. “Almost immediately, I felt accepted and like I finally belonged somewhere.”

But that sense of belonging came with a devastating cost.

What began as occasional use slowly became a life-consuming addiction.

“Eventually my entire life revolved around substances — how to get them, when to use them, and how to hide it from the people I loved,” she said.

The addiction spread into every corner of her life. Family relationships became strained with disappointment and worry. Friendships deteriorated. Employment became unstable. Most painfully, she says her own self-worth disappeared.

“I felt ashamed, hopeless, and trapped.”

The deepest wounds caused by addiction, May says, were inflicted upon her children.

In 2016, she lost custody of them because of the choices she was making while using drugs.

“That was one of the most painful consequences of my addiction,” she said. “It is something I carry with me every day.”

Looking back, she says the greatest harm caused during her addiction was the pain and instability her children experienced because of her actions.

“There were many moments when I honestly did not think I would survive,” she admitted. “Addiction places people in dangerous situations physically, mentally, and emotionally.”

She also became trapped in a revolving cycle of incarceration and relapse.

“I have been to jail several times,” she said. “At first I almost treated it like it was normal or even something to laugh about.”

But each release from jail followed a familiar pattern. She would promise herself she would quit using drugs and never return, only to find herself pulled back into addiction once again.

“No matter how badly I wanted to quit, the obsession to use would eventually return,” she explained.

Over time, incarceration forced her to confront where her life was heading.

“Being incarcerated forced me to sit still and face the reality of where my life was heading,” she said. “Losing my freedom changed the way I thought about my choices and my future.”

Eventually, she reached a breaking point.

“I became tired of hurting myself and the people around me,” she said. “I realized that if something did not change, I was either going to lose everything permanently or lose my life altogether.”

That realization became the foundation for recovery.

May says recovery truly began when she finally became honest with herself and accepted help.

“I realized I still had an opportunity to rebuild my life if I fully committed to change,” she said. “I had people who believed in me even when I did not believe in myself.”

She credits family support, treatment, accountability, and encouragement from the community as major factors in her recovery.

“Recovery is not something most people can do alone,” she said. “Having people encourage me, support me, and hold me accountable made a huge difference.”

Still, early recovery was anything but easy.

“I had to relearn how to live without substances,” she explained. “I had to face emotions I had spent years avoiding, repair damaged relationships, and rebuild trust one day at a time.”

One of the most important milestones in her recovery came in 2018 when she regained custody of her children.

Since then, they have lived with her full time.

“Rebuilding those relationships took patience, consistency, and proving through my actions — not just my words — that I was serious about change,” she said.

Today, she says her relationship with her children is stronger than ever.

“Being present for my children is the greatest blessing and responsibility of my life.”

Now a decade removed from addiction, May says her life today is almost unrecognizable compared to the chaos she once lived in.

“My life is stable, peaceful, and completely different from the life I once lived,” she said.

She now owns a home, works in healthcare helping others, and has become someone others can rely upon.

“The people who depend on me can trust me today,” she said.

What she is most proud of, however, is not material success.

“I am proud of becoming someone my children can depend on and look up to,” she said. “Recovery gave me the opportunity to rebuild my life and become the person I was always capable of being.”

May believes one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding addiction is the belief that people can simply “choose better.”

“Addiction is complex,” she said. “Recovery is an ongoing process that requires support, accountability, and daily effort.”

She also believes communities often misunderstand relapse and struggle.

“Recovery is rarely a straight line,” she explained. “People need support, opportunities, and understanding — not just judgment.”

For those currently battling addiction, May hopes her story serves as proof that recovery is possible.

“Do not give up on yourself,” she said. “Recovery is possible even when it feels impossible. Asking for help is not weakness.”

And for families affected by addiction, her message is equally direct.

“Do not lose hope,” she said. “Addiction impacts entire families, and healing takes time for everyone involved. Support, compassion, accountability, and healthy boundaries all matter.”

While May credits treatment programs, support groups, and compassionate community members in Rowan County for helping her succeed, she says more support is still needed.

She believes additional access to mental health services, affordable treatment, transportation, stable housing, and long-term recovery programs could help many more people find lasting sobriety.

Her story, however, stands as living proof that recovery can happen — even after years of addiction, incarceration, and loss.

Ten years ago, Samantha May says she was trapped in a cycle she believed she would never escape.

Today, she is a mother, homeowner, healthcare worker, and survivor.

More importantly, she is living evidence that a person’s worst chapter does not have to define the rest of their story.