Drug use for Alma Payton began as a child, and her battle to overcome addiction hasn’t been an easy one.

“I’ve used drugs all my life,” she said. “I tried weed for the first time when I was 8 years old.”

Payton said she was the type who thought that it was impossible to have fun without drugs, and her drug use progressed throughout the years.

“Boy was I wrong. I’d try new things like coke, meth, but when I found crack, it was the best thing,” she said. “I liked how it made you not feel things.”

Payton said she hit rock bottom in 2009, when she was arrested on drug charges.

“My three kids were taken away from me,” she said.

Payton was eventually sentenced to drug court, but it was a long, hard-fought battle.

“I messed up a lot,” she said. “I went to rehab, and got a sponsor, who has helped a lot. I relapsed a few times. The first time, I was clean for 11 months when I relapsed. This time, I’ve been clean since Dec. 14, 2011.

“Thank, God, I got back on track,” she said. “It’s all thanks to, Ms. Kathleen, my sponsor, God, drug court, and my AA/NA family.”

Payton said this time around, clean feels “different.”

“It still feels weird not having weed or Xanax – something,” she said. “Sometimes I think I wish I had a nerve pill. Sometimes, I’d still like to have the feeling you get from drugs, which makes you not feel anything. I still have a difficult time dealing with my emotions properly, but I’m learning that you don’t always get everything your way. You’ve got to wait on God.”

Payton graduated from drug court in June, and now has custody of her children.

“I have two sick children,” she said. “One has a tumor in one of his legs. We’re working with Shiner’s to help him get surgery. It’s a little stressful, but it’s worth it. It’s not anything I can’t handle with my blood family, my church family and my AA/NA family. We all stick together.

“I’m so happy my youngins are home,” she said. “I love them, and they’re happy to be home. We’re happy.”