There were rehabs. Then more rehabs.

As Josh got older, his addiction became something our family could no longer hide or fix on our own. He spent several years in and out of jail, and I learned his drug use had been going on for years.

Josh and our family tried approximately eleven different treatment programs, including a recovery house. We went wherever we could find help that we could afford. Sometimes we thought, maybe this will be the one.

Josh also met a woman during those years whom he loved. She was a beautiful soul with a beautiful past and a love for life. Together, they struggled with addiction. I miss her dearly. She died 1 year before him.

Eventually, survival seemed to replace everything else. He would take things from home and sell them to get drugs. Eventually, he found himself living on the streets.

And this is one of the hardest things for me to explain: the young man I knew was still in there. But addiction was getting louder.

*This is Part 1 of a four-part series telling Josh’s story. Follow along this week for the rest. *

• Tammy Rose