18-year-old Natalie Hughes has been sober for over two years and credits the Portage Atlantic Youth Drug Addiction Rehabilitation Centre with turning her life around.
Hughes, a native of Grand Bay, struggled with drug and alcohol addiction in her early teen years.
She says parents need to ask questions if they think their children are doing drugs, but also need to be open minded and non judgemental.
Hughes remembers a turning point in her life was when her grandfather was sick.
She went to visit him in Nova Scotia and instead of spending time with him, she stayed high the entire time.
Hughes regrets not spending more quality time with him and has just recently been able to forgive herself.
She says her time at Portage Atlantic was a roller coaster of emotions, but by the end of her time there she did not want to leave.
