The following is a guest story submitted by Chris L., a person in long-term recovery and Program Director at Common Ground Recovery in Huntsville. NOMA’s Family Support Group played a meaningful role in helping his family understand addiction during his journey.

Stories of Hope are shared with permission.

I struggled with substance use disorder for over 30 years before finally finding my way into recovery. For most of my life, I truly believed I had no purpose that I was stuck in a cycle I would never escape. Today, that couldn’t be further from the truth. I wake up Grateful every single day for the life I’ve been given, a life I never thought was possible. 

I actively work a 12-step NA program, and that foundation has changed everything for me. I have a sponsor who guides me, holds me accountable, and shows me how to live differently, and today I have the privilege of sponsoring other men walking alongside them as they begin their own journeys. Being of service is no longer something I have to do, it’s something I get to do. Whether it’s within the rooms of Narcotics Anonymous or out in the recovery community, giving back what was so freely given to me is one of the greatest gifts of my life. 

“Every day I get to be a part of something meaningful.”

I’m also incredibly blessed to serve as the Program Director at Common Ground Recovery, a men’s sober living program here in Huntsville. Every day, I get to be part of something meaningful helping men rebuild their lives, rediscover their worth, and learn how to live clean with purpose and integrity. Watching that transformation happen never gets old, because I know exactly what it feels like to be where they are. 

“Your organization didn’t just impact me – it helped my family.”

I want to sincerely thank all of you at Not One More Alabama for allowing me to be part of something so much bigger than myself. Your organization didn’t just impact me it helped my family better understand what I was going through during my addiction through your Family Support Group. That kind of support is powerful, and it creates healing not just for the individual, but for entire family. Because of that, this is something I will continue to support in every way that I can. 

Thank you for everything you do for our recovery community. Your dedication, compassion, and consistency give people like me a platform—not just to stay clean, but to grow, to heal, and to become living proof that recovery is real. You remind us that no matter how dark our past may have been, we are never stuck there. We can move forward, one day at a time, into a life filled with purpose, connection, and hope. 

Your work brings light into places many of us once believed would stay dark forever. Because of your efforts, countless people now believe in their own ability to rise, rebuild, and become who they were always meant to be. That kind of impact is something words can barely capture. 

I am forever Grateful and Blessed for all of you at Not One More Alabama, and I’m honored to be a part of NOMA! 

— Chris L., Program Director, Common Ground Recovery