The average person addicted to drugs falls between the ages of 18 to 32, and the average age a student at Moorpark College is 23.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in 2012, the rate of current use of illicit drugs was 22 percent among full-time college students aged 18 to 22, and 24 percent among part-time college students, students in other grades or types of institutions, and non students aged 18 to 22. It is astonishing to say that 1:4 or 1:5 ratio is among young students.

Kimberly Schliekelman is one of hundreds of individuals in Simi Valley and surrounding communities to have experienced the hardships and addiction that come with heroin.

“In suburban communities, drugs tend to go through ‘short-lived’ phases,” said Schliekelman. “Everyone just uses a drug like crazy, and then it moves onto the next one. But for some reason, heroin stayed.”

The life of addiction for Schliekelman began in middle school. Always having a comforting family lifestyle, Schliekelman started drinking and smoking pot, and that led to her experimenting with different drugs.

“I started noticing how intense the drugs were taking control of me when my grades were declining and I developed a reputation for myself,” said Schliekelman. “I partied a lot, until it got to a point that the drugs weren’t for relaxing, they were my life. After my methamphetamine binge, I got caught by my parents and landed in a treatment center when I was 15.”

Schliekelman went into the inpatient program, and soon graduated to the outpatient program. A few days after graduating from the outpatient program, Schliekelman was back to square one, experiencing a relapse with drugs that would ultimately drag her life into a downward spiral.

“Heroin was a drug I said I’d never do,” said Schliekelman. “It was the one drug that caused my closest friends to lie to me, and I hated the people they had become.”

The first time Schliekelman tried heroin, she never looked back, stating it was “one of the best feelings I’ve ever had, for the short time it worked.”

Yet after using heroin for a couple of weeks, it all went downhill. Heroin causes users to become addicted at a fast pace. After two weeks of using, there was no turning away from the substance. A user has to use, it wasn’t for casual relief anymore.

“I used all of my allowance towards it, and eventually started stealing just to get my hands on more,” said Schliekelman. “The pain made me do so many horrible things to the people closest to me… and then came my lowest point. I went to my mom’s purse to get some money, and I got caught. My mom said ‘take what you want, you’ve already taken everything I have, and get out of my house, I never want to see you again,’ and she kicked me out. My parents are the type of people that love unconditionally and they do everything in their power to help you. Disappointing them was the worst feeling; and that is when I knew that my using had gotten to a point that I could no longer control.”

After refusing to leave after being kicked out, Schliekelman tried to commit suicide with a cocktail full of prescription pills, but woke up the following morning angry and disappointed. Knowing she had to put the addiction in her past, Schliekelman called her dad and sought help. When going into rehab, Schliekelman did everything they told her to do, and began to notice a change in her way of thinking.

“It wasn’t easy, but I could feel that this time it was different, ” said Schliekelman. “I detoxed cold turkey because I felt like I needed to feel what I had done to myself, so I would not want to do it again.”

Schliekelman spent a total of $36,000 on drugs throughout her young adult life. Now, Schliekelman has been completely clean for over three years. Her family is her support system, and her life is back on track, with her currently attending college and majoring in psychology, with an emphasis in addictive disorder studies. She also has a great job helping individuals find the road to recovery.

“My life is so fulfilling now,” said Schliekelman. “I am so happy to have the relationship with my family and friends back. I’m grateful that I’m able to be present for some of the amazing things taking place in my life.”

Check out Part 2 here.