Danielle Mendolia

In October of 2001, I was sentenced to Prop. 36. I started my outpatient program only to learn that I needed an inpatient program. On December 23rd 2001, I entered a 3 month Prop. 36 inpatient program. Once I completed the 3 months, I went back to the outpatient program where I began treatment and completed 6 months of outpatient. I feel if it was not for Prop 36 I would not be sober today nor would I be looking forward to celebrating my 5th year of sobriety this year.

I currently am blessed to work in recovery and on a daily basis I get to work with people who are in Prop. 36 and I am able to give them hope that if they choose to stay sober, work a program and complete prop 36 they too can have their life back.

I am grateful for Prop. 36. If I was not offered this program, I would probably be in prison, with a drug habit. Instead, I am blessed to have husband and a 2 1/2 year old daughter I get to spend every night with and I am lucky for that.