04/28/2026
(This is a long one, friends!)
We are proud to celebrate Ashley Hubbard on being selected for the Eric D. Meyer Endowed Memorial Poetry Scholarship from the NKU Department of English. This recognition honors her talent, dedication, and powerful voice in writing, and includes a $2,170 award. Congratulations, Ashley!
Ashley is currently employed with Horizon Health and pursuing her Bachelor’s in Health and Human Services with a focus on addiction at Northern Kentucky University.
Through her role at Horizon Health, Ashley has been able to directly connect classroom learning with real-world practice, strengthening her skills in areas such as motivational interviewing, case management, and supporting individuals facing complex barriers to care.
Ashley’s submitted poem, From Darkness to Purpose: My Journey of Recovery, reflects a deeply personal story of lived experience, healing, and hope. Her voice speaks to the importance of recovery, resilience, and using personal experience to support and uplift others walking similar paths.
"From Darkness to Purpose: My Journey of Recovery
There was a time in my life when every single day felt like a battle I was destined to lose. Addiction was not something I chose; it crept into my life slowly, disguised as a way to escape the pain and emptiness I carried inside. What began as occasional use soon became my entire world. I was a fentanyl user, and at different points, I used he**in, methamphetamine, and oxycodone. Truthfully, there wasn’t much I wouldn’t take if I thought it would get me high. I lived only for my next fix, and I was willing to do anything and everything for the drugs that controlled me.
For years, my addiction swallowed me whole. I lost myself, my sense of purpose, and my self-worth. I was a mother and a wife, but I couldn’t be fully present for the people who loved me most. My family watched helplessly as I drifted further away, but I couldn’t see the pain I was causing them. The drugs numbed everything—my emotions, my relationships, and my future. There were days when I didn’t recognize the person I had become. I remember looking in the mirror and seeing someone hollow, someone who no longer cared if she lived or died.
At my lowest point, fentanyl had an iron grip on me. I had seen people I knew overdose and die, yet I kept using, fully aware that every hit could be my last. M**h, he**in, oxycodone—these substances filled the gaps when I couldn’t find fentanyl. Addiction doesn’t discriminate; it doesn’t care about your dreams, your responsibilities, or your loved ones. It just takes, piece by piece, until there is nothing left. I remember lying awake some nights wondering if I would ever break free or if I was doomed to die this way.
Three years ago, I reached a turning point. I was tired of the constant chaos, the shame, and the fear of overdosing. More than anything, I wanted to be a better mother, wife, and daughter. I wanted to show my children that their mother could be someone they were proud of, not someone they pitied. I made the decision to seek treatment, even though I was terrified. Recovery felt like climbing a mountain barefoot, but I knew I couldn’t keep living the way I was.
The early days of sobriety were the hardest days of my life. I had to face all the emotions I had numbed for years—guilt, anger, sadness—without the crutch of drugs. I had to accept the damage I had caused and work every day to repair it. Recovery is not a straight path; there are setbacks and moments when the temptation to give up feels overwhelming. But I pushed through, one day at a time, reminding myself that I was fighting not only for my life but for my family.
Today, I am proud to say I have been in recovery for three years. Every single day of sobriety is a victory, and I do not take it for granted. My relationship with my children and my husband has been restored. I can now show up for them fully and with a clear mind, something that was impossible when I was using. Recovery has given me back my dignity, my self-respect, and my ability to hope for the future.
One of the greatest blessings of my recovery journey is my work as a peer support specialist at Horizon Health. In this role, I get to use my experiences—the good and the bad—to help others who are still battling addiction. Peer support is powerful because it allows me to connect with people on a personal level. When I sit across from someone who is struggling, I can look them in the eyes and tell them I understand, because I have been there. I know what it feels like to believe you are beyond saving, and I also know what it feels like to find hope again.
Working with others in recovery has shown me how vital support and community are in overcoming addiction. Too often, people are afraid to seek help because they fear being judged. Stigma isolates people and keeps them trapped in cycles of shame. As a peer support specialist, I strive to create a safe and judgment-free space where people feel heard and valued. I tell them that addiction is not a moral failing but a disease, one that can be managed with the right tools, resources, and support.
The prevalence of drug and alcohol use in the United States is heartbreaking. Fentanyl has made the crisis deadlier than ever before, claiming thousands of lives every year. I believe one of the keys to addressing this epidemic is increasing access to treatment. Too many people who are ready to seek help are unable to find it, whether because of long waitlists, lack of insurance, or limited resources in their communities. If we want to save lives, we must invest in treatment centers, harm reduction programs, and community-based supports.
Another crucial step is education. Many young people begin experimenting with drugs without fully understanding the risks. Fentanyl has been found in drugs like counterfeit pills, co***ne, and even ma*****na, making experimentation even more dangerous. We need to start educating children and teens about substance use and its dangers early on. Knowledge can save lives, and the more we can do to raise awareness, the more we can prevent addiction from taking root.
We also need to shift how we view addiction as a society. Too often, people struggling with substance use are dismissed or criminalized rather than supported. If we treated addiction with the same compassion and urgency that we treat other chronic illnesses, we could change countless lives. Programs like peer support are proof that connection and understanding make a difference. Addiction thrives in isolation, but recovery happens in community.
Looking back on my journey, I am grateful for every challenge I faced because it shaped me into the person I am today. My story is proof that recovery is possible, even when it feels impossible. I am living a life I never thought I would have—a life where I am present for my children, where I wake up each day with a sense of purpose, and where I get to help others find hope.
But I know the fight isn’t over. There are still so many people out there who feel like I once did—trapped, hopeless, and alone. My mission is to show them that there is a way out, that they are not beyond saving, and that they are worthy of love and healing. I will continue to advocate for increased access to treatment, reduced stigma, and stronger support systems for those struggling with addiction.
The drug epidemic in this country is overwhelming, but I believe change is possible. Each life saved, each person who finds recovery, is a victory. I want my children to grow up in a world where people battling addiction are met with compassion instead of condemnation. I want to live in a society where people can ask for help without fear, and where stories like mine are not the exception but the expectation.
My life today is a testament to the power of recovery. It is proof that no matter how far you have fallen, it is never too late to rise. I know what it feels like to lose hope, but I also know what it feels like to find it again. My journey has been anything but easy, but it has been worth every step. I am proud of the person I have become, and I will keep fighting—for myself, for my family, and for everyone still struggling—to ensure that more people can experience the freedom and joy that recovery brings."
Thanks for sharing this with us Ashley, and congratulations on your scholarship award!
