Austin Greene was addicted to meth and heroin for years after being hooked at the age of 13 But he is now recovered and has changed his life. On TikTok, he has shared his transition with millions of viewers, raising awareness about the devastating effects addiction can have on a person's life.
After spending years hooked on the class A narcotic, a father who was addicted to meth and heroin since 13 has finally gotten clean.
Austin Greene, a resident of Ohio, initially explored toxins at the age of 11 when he consumed alcohol and marijuana.
He tried to fit in with his mates, but he never anticipated "falling in love" with the high.
It was the beginning of a terrible slope for now 27-year-old, who has since struggled with meth and heroin addiction.
However, after losing his ability to walk and cutting ties with his family, especially his 8-year-old daughter Kayonnah, the father realized he needed to change his behavior.
Austin is ready to speak about his way to redemption in an exclusive interview after a year of sobriety.
He explained: “My daughter's mother isn't in her life, and I didn't want her to grow up without either of her parents.
“Every single aspect of life has improved since getting clean. I've rekindled relationships with family and my daughter that I so selfishly destroyed in active addiction.
“Right before I got clean, I would refuse to go see her and she knew when she did see me it was only long enough for me to get money to get my fix and then I would disappear for days on end.
“Now, she lights up when she sees me.”
Austin used to see himself as a "threat" to society, stealing whatever he could to support his heroin addiction.
He said: “I would steal anything and everything that I could get my hands on that had any value. I would lie to my family, telling them I needed money for food and used the money to get meth and heroin.”
Austin has not only rekindled a strong relationship with his young daughter, but he also feels physically well.
He lost his ability to walk while utilizing because he had a serious yeast infection in his lower spine.
Although this is unknown, experts assume needle injections caused it.
Austin recalled: “My lowest point would have to be when I had a severe yeast infection in my lower spine and had to learn to walk again. It was right around six months before I started being able to walk and right about a year before I got my mobility back completely."
Austin added: “My mental health has improved as far as not being depressed and sad about everything all the time. My physical health, I no longer have an infection in my spine nor do I have Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C any longer."
Since becoming sober, the father has found a job as a photographer and is working on getting his life back on track.
On TikTok, he has shared his transition with millions of viewers, raising awareness about addiction's devastating effects on a person's life.
Austin's best friend died of an overdose, another motivating cause for him to ultimately break his drug habit.
He hopes that through telling his story, others may overcome their addictions and enter recovery.
“I want to help show as many people that they can turn their life around as I possibly can.
“It is more than possible [to get clean], and there is a whole world of strangers that can relate to your struggles, so you are not alone.
I believe anyone is capable of changing as long as they believe in themselves.”