My name is Gabriel Shockley, I’m 40 years old. 4 years ago I was on a path of destruction, with drugs and alcohol leading the way. My whole adult life was spent struggling to maintain adulthood with weekly half gallons of liquor and beer, just to eventually trying amphetamines to help me recoup after benders. One day my cousin introduced me to a green powder called Kratom. He explained to me how this special plant was key to stopping his opioid addiction after he broke his spine after a car crash. I knew there was merit to it, because I know how long he had struggled with pain medication. So I tried it. It was the first weekend in years that I went without a drink; I was intrigued. I had energy, and I could focus, and it removed my desire to drink or take drugs that very weekend. I was finally in a place where my judgement was less clouded, and I went to rehab, 30 days. I tried the sobriety meds they prescribed me through the month, and set me up with afterward, which had little effect on my cravings. So I acquired more Kratom to see if that could make a difference. That was in the year 2020, I had my last drink July 17 of that year, and my last amphetamine a month before that. As of today, it’s been 3 tears, 7 months and 28 days. That’s how long I’ve used Kratom as well. I take a healthy scoop in the morning before work, and if my energy is depleting from the manual labor I’m involved in, I may take another scoop in the early to late afternoon, and finish the day strong. It’s safer on my heart than strong caffeine drinks, no headaches or nervousness, and doesn’t effect my appetite in the least. It’s been a Godsend. I had pretty much gave up on life, believing I’d drink and do drugs till the day I died, expecting something drink or drug related to end my life. Not anymore! Kratom gave me hope by breaking the chains that alcohol/drugs had me bound in. Since I discovered what this miracle plant could do, I’ve helped several folks in my recovery alumni groups, get off of suboxone and other sobriety maintenance medications, and have helped others stop drinking outright. I’m a very productive citizen now, and I’ve managed to save enough for a decent bank account, a savings, and several annuities to help me in retirement. I’ve got a life now, a great one actually. There’s no way I could’ve passed this opportunity by, to let anyone who’ll listen, know what Kratom did for me, and encourage anyone who’s struggling with a deadly addiction, to know there’s REAL hope out there. It seems too good to be true, but it’s really not. I’m living proof, along with others I’ve been blessed to help with the assistance of Kratom. I use it everyday as a supplement with my daily vitamins. It would be a very very very huge shame if those of us who consume, and help others achieve sobriety, had this tool stripped from our recovery toolbox. It really does save lives when it’s thought all hope is gone.