Charlene Chandler, a 36-year-old mother of four, has transformed her life after years of battling addiction. Once heavily reliant on cocaine, alcohol, and cannabis, she now stands as a beacon of hope for others struggling with substance abuse. Charlene’s story, filled with hardship and resilience, proves that recovery is possible for anyone.
For over 22 years, Charlene was addicted to cocaine, snorting up to 3.5 grams daily. Alongside her drug use, she drank excessively—up to 30 bottles of alcohol a night—and regularly smoked cannabis. Growing up in foster care, Charlene turned to substances as a coping mechanism, with her tolerance increasing over time. “The partying started off as a bit of fun,” Charlene recalls, but it soon spiraled into full-blown addiction, told the New York Post.
Her wake-up call came when she met her fiancé, a 31-year-old landscaper, who encouraged her to get clean. It was a difficult journey, but with the help of her church support group and her partner, Charlene managed to overcome her addictions. “Getting clean was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to go through,” she said, “but life is just better.”
Charlene’s past was marked by trauma. She was diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome at birth, grew up in foster care, and faced behavioral issues that eventually led to her being placed back into the care system at age 13. She was diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD), depression, anxiety, and emotionally unstable personality disorder. By the time she was 16, Charlene was living in a council flat in London and had fallen into a cycle of non-stop partying and substance abuse.
Her addiction took a toll on her life, leading to job instability and her children being placed in care. However, in 2023, Charlene finally managed to break free from drugs and alcohol. She credits her church, spirituality, and partner for helping her through the darkest times. “It felt impossible to come off it, but they helped me through,” she said.
Now, Charlene is focused on her future. She’s preparing to marry her fiancé in December and is launching a small business selling candles and cosmetics. Her memoir, My Testimony, from Darkness to Light, is available on Amazon, where she hopes her story will inspire others to overcome their struggles. “I want to help and empower women,” she said, “and let them know your past doesn’t define you.”