Woman's Before-And-After Photos Show What Happens When You Stop Using Heroin

Drug abuse, especially heroin abuse, is never pretty.

Fortunately, with support and the right mindset, those addicted to heroin can get clean, healthy and keep living their lives.

Luckily, that's exactly what happened for Reddit user DisregardThisOrDont, who posted before-and-after photos of how she looked while addicted to the drug compared to how she looked after rehab and staying clean. Currently, she has been clean for 826 days.

The Redditor, 24, had a daughter taken away from her as the result of being in an abusive relationship with her boyfriend. She spent 36 days in prison on a contempt charge in June 2014. She tells the story on Reddit,

She is my whole world, so when that happened I fell into a deep depression and leaned to my abusive boyfriend for emotional support. His answer to making me feel better was heroin. After 8 months of daily use and a few half assed attempts at getting clean, I told the judge preceding over the guardianship case of my daughter that I had been using and that I needed help. He found me in contempt of court and put me in the county jail until he could find me a bed in a rehab.

The stark change in her face, skin and hair in the photos is pretty shocking. She looks like a completely different person.

In her more recent photo, her hair looks thick and healthy, and her skin is clear and glowing. She even looks much younger.

And no, it's not just a trick of the light. The Redditor said herself, "It's taken a lot of hard work and a lot of discipline."

Her photos were posted just 10 hours ago, but they've already received over 3,200 comments.

People have begun sharing their own recovery stories and have congratulated the original poster on her successful recovery.

The Redditor hopes other people who currently struggle with drug addiction see this photo and get motivated to make a change like she did. Posting these photos publicly was a big deal for her.

She writes,

There are other addicts out there who are in the same circle of hell that I was in in that mug shot. So even if one of those people see this and get their s*** together, then it was worth it.

Change is absolutely possible if you really want it and are willing to put in the hard work.

Citations: 'Here's what 826 days sober looks like': Former heroin addict shares powerful before and after pictures to help others with drug problems (Daily Mail)