So many artists and musicians waste their lives due to drug use and drug abuse. Many die from their afflictions. Others live severely shortened, drug-addled lives. A few become clean and sober and thrive.
Hopefully, that will be the case for Shelly Moses Collins, as reported by TheNorthwestern.com.
Collins is a true gift. A powerful voice with a beautiful face and warm aura helped propel her to a country music star. At her peak she opened for such acts as Barbara Mandrell, Hank Williams Jr. and Willie Nelson.
Cocaine Arrives, Conquers and Destroys
The 47-year-old became painfully addicted to cocaine in her early 20s. It was a habit that consumed all of her time and all of her energy. She admits that she was completely lost to her addiction.
In one surprisingly responsible act, Collins said she entered rehab each time she became pregnant and stayed off cocaine until the babies were born, and never used drugs in front of her children.
In Missouri, Shelley Collins cooked crack for the local drug kingpins, who, to safeguard their dope, would lock the basement she worked in.
It was the first in a series of stints in jail for Shelley Collins — sentences of 2 1/2 years, 12 months, nine months and six months — that followed after she'd fail mandated drug screening on parole, and go back to jail.
Clean and Sober
She has been sober for more than 2 and a half years. Collins credits her faith in The Lord with helping her conquer her addiction. She is using her faith to help others overcome the demon of addiction.
While not singing professionally, she's back in business as a beauty salon owner — a career that cocaine had taken away from her — with her younger sister. She also has formed a 12-step support group.
It is always nice to hear a success story. It is a true shame that she wasted more than half of her life to cocaine. Hopefully, her efforts will continue to fuel my faith that we will curb drug addiction.