One woman’s story of addiction, recovery and hope

By Melissa Moore-Randall

When you step off the elevator and enter the doors of Power of Recovery, you feel an overwhelming sense of support and encouragement by both staff and patients. For many, it leads to recovery and hope after breaking free from the grip of addiction.

Someone who knows this all too well is Crystal Peckham. Currently a Case Manager and Recovery Coach at Power of Recovery, Crystal’s spiral into addiction began at the age of 14.

“I grew up in a chaotic and unstable environment due to both of my parents being active in their addictions. I spent much of my childhood living with my grandparents, which came with its own challenges. Around the age of 14, I started smoking weed and drinking. At the time, it felt normal, like everyone was doing it. However, in reality, I was searching for an escape.”

At 15, Crystal became pregnant and gave birth to her first child just five days before her 16th birthday. “In addition to the birth of my child, I was also introduced to cocaine. Despite everything, I earned my GED shortly after giving birth, holding onto the hope that I could build something better.”

Within the next two years, she gave birth to two more children and was now a mom to three children, under three, at the age of 18. “As a young mother of three, I struggled to maintain stability while still caught in addiction. I sought treatment about three times, but each time I convinced myself that I could still drink or take pills. I didn’t fully believe I was an addict, even after four incarcerations.”

Eventually, after being arrested and caught with substances again, she was forced into treatment, which led her to Power of Recovery in Revere. “At first, I wasn’t sure I would stay sober or even wanted to. But while I was in treatment, I experienced a devastating loss, the unexpected death of my second child. It shattered me. That pain forced me to look at my life through a different lens, and I knew something had to change.”

“The staff and other participants at Power of Recovery truly saved me. They showed me support, encouragement, and belief — especially in moments when I had none for myself. Their love and consistency helped me start believing in the possibility of healing and recovery, even when I felt completely broken.”

Today, Crystal, 39, is now three years and three months in recovery and, as she says, it’s just one more day, clean and sober, at a time. “I’m proud to say I’m now a small part of the team here at Power of Recovery, serving as both a Case Manager and a Recovery Coach. It’s an honor to give back to the same community that helped save my life, and to walk alongside others as they begin their own healing journeys.”

“If you are struggling with any addiction, please seek help and give yourself a chance. All you need is to have hope for one more day. And realize never alone and never again. If you don’t believe in yourself, we believe in you — here at Power of Recovery.”

Power of Recovery, which is located at 385 Broadway, Suite 201 in Revere, is an addiction treatment center serving all of Massachusetts that provides various addiction treatment programs: Detox, Inpatient, Outpatient, Relapse, and more.