My name is John and I'm the owner of Lethbridge House Cleaning Company, a thriving cleaning business, however, life wasn't always so put together for me.

Just five years ago, I was in the throes of a serious drug addiction that had taken over my life. It started innocently enough when I was a teenager, dabbling in various substances out of curiosity and boredom. But over time, that casual drug use became regular abuse which eventually spiraled into full-blown addiction.

At my lowest point, I was spending all my money and time trying to score my next fix. I isolated myself from family and friends and my health was deteriorating rapidly. I knew I had to make a change but the grip of addiction was so strong, I didn't know how to break free.

That's when I finally worked up the courage to check myself into Coastline Drug Detox in Orange County. Walking through those doors was the hardest yet most empowering thing I had ever done. I was ready to take control of my life again.

Over the next 30 days in their reputable drug rehab program, I went through the difficult but necessary process of detoxing my body and mind. With the help of compassionate medical staff, counselors and peer support, I was able to get clean and start developing healthy habits and coping skills. For the first time in years, I had hope for the future.

After I completed the program, I continued attending support groups and counseling sessions to help maintain my sobriety. I cut off contacts who were still using and made new friends who were committed to living clean, sober lives.

As I celebrated milestones in my recovery, I knew I wanted to channel my newfound energy and passion into something productive - not only to stay busy but also to help others. That's when the idea dawned on me to start a cleaning business.

I had always enjoyed tidying and organizing spaces and several friends had suggested I go into cleaning professionally. So I decided to take the leap. I started small, offering cleaning services to local homes on evenings and weekends. Business grew steadily through word-of-mouth referrals.

Within a year, I was able to quit my day job and focus entirely on growing my new cleaning company. I brought on a few employees and expanded our clientele. We now clean both residential and commercial.

Owning this business has truly turned my life around. Not only has it enabled me to support myself financially, it has also given me a sense of purpose and accomplishment. I love making a positive difference in clients' lives by refreshing their homes and workplaces. My employees, many of whom have faced similar struggles, feel the same.

While running a company has its challenges, I draw daily on the strength and lessons learned in rehab to maintain perspective. I take it just one day at a time. And I'm so grateful to be embracing this second chance at life.

My advice to anyone battling addiction is to keep hope alive. With the right treatment program and ongoing support system, you can reclaim your health, relationships and dreams just as I did. If you or a loved one is struggling, please consider reaching out to Coastline. Their professional team can guide you through the first steps of recovery so you too can start writing your own story of renewal.