Ex-heroin addict releases shocking pic of herself looking ‘near-dead’ in order to shock teens into staying away from the killer drug
Melissa Lee Matos has been clean for a year and five months
A RECOVERING heroin addict has shared shocking pictures of herself at the lowest point of her addiction to try and persuade others seek help for their own drug problems.
Melissa Lee Matos, reportedly from the US state of West Virginia, has been clean for a year and five months.
The harrowing images show the mum collapsed against a wall with her face covered in dark marks.
She wrote on Facebook: "This was what I looked like, daily, for years. This is what my husband dealt with. This is what my little girls walked in on.
"This is what my family and friends saw, on the rare occasions I left the house. I was SICK. I was DYING. I was so far gone I thought I could NEVER recover.
"I was so lost I couldn't imagine a life without using. I just wanted to die. I didn't realise I was hardly alive.
She added: "If you are currently in active addiction, this is my plea to you. Look at these pictures. Images of a dead girl. A needle junkie with a habit so fierce she spent days and nights in a self induced coma on her bathroom floor.
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"A girl who would spend every cent on dope and forget she had kids to feed and take care of. A girl who lost every single thing she ever had. A girl who was so sick she thought she would never ever find a way out, until she did.
"If you are reading this and are going through the same pain I did, I am begging you to reach out.
"I died more than once. I have now found life. I promise you, there is HOPE. There is recovery. There is freedom and serenity and you are worthy of it."
The brave post has now gone viral, with over 45,000 people sharing Melissa's story.
Melissa, who invited other struggling addicts to get in touch with her for help, explained she decided to post the photos because she "has friends who need to see this".
She said she received over 100 messages asking for support after posting her story.
And hitting back at critics, she added: "I'm sorry if my story offended you. Please forgive me for not responding to your ignorant messages and comments, but I am currently extremely preoccupied with spreading a message and helping those who have reached out."
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