A Story Of Hope Meagan D. Rebuilds Her Life At Beacon Point Recovery Center And Now Helps Others Do The Same

From addiction and despair to recovery and purpose—how one woman turned her life around and now leads others on the same path of drug or alcohol recovery at Beacon Point Recovery Center.

When Meagan D. walks through the doors of Beacon Point Recovery Center each morning, she’s not just clocking in—she’s living proof that recovery is possible. A former patient who battled substance use and mental health disorders for nearly two decades, Meagan is now part of the staff. Her journey—from overdoses and drug detox to motherhood and leadership—is nothing short of remarkable.

Rock Bottom: “I Didn’t Think I’d Live To See 2021.”

As current patients at Beacon Point open up about their struggles with mental health and substance use disorders to the bright young admissions counselor at the front desk, they might expect a sympathetic ear. But they probably wouldn’t expect to find someone who was in their shoes – or even worse – before finding recovery.

“I started my recovery journey on January 15, 2021. This is a date I will never forget because I thought that was a day that I would never see,” Meagan D. said in a recent conversation.

“I struggled with opiates (fentanyl), crack cocaine, and anything else that I could get my hands on to just keep myself numb from everything. My substance use disorder started when I was 14-15 years old. Drinking, pills, weed. Surprisingly I got through and graduated high school and even got into Penn State University, but unfortunately, I chose another path that led me down a very dark, scary road for the next 15-16 years of my life.”

Down A Path of Dangerous Opiates

The Pennsylvania girl who had shown so much promise started with Oxycontin and quickly turned to heroin and then fentanyl. Initially snorting the opiates, she later turned to the needle. Her family tried to help but couldn’t solve the mystery.

“I come from a beautifully broken family,” Meagan said. “My mother and father divorced when I was young. I have one older sister, and not one of them struggled with drugs as I did. It's hard to explain why and how you become addicted and even harder to explain it to the people who love you the most.”

Meagan reflected tearfully on that painful time from her new vantage point as a Beacon Point employee.

“You can't explain something you don't understand yourself, so that leads to isolation,” she said. “It was easier to run. To stay away. To live on the streets. Numb. Just hoping each time I put that needle in my arm was the last. It got too hard. I lost myself completely. I became a slave to a substance. To a needle. To a life I never dreamed I'd ever live.”

It’s a sadly familiar addict’s tale, but one that brought a beautiful young girl to the brink of death.

“In and out of jail,” she continued. “In and out of rehabs and detoxes. When the withdrawal got too bad, I left and resumed the life I wanted out of. Countless tries. Countless fails. Countless overdoses.”

End Appeared Near After Repeated Overdoses

Meagan slipped into two comas because of overdosing. Her body became septic, ravaged by endocarditis and numerous infections. At this point, Meagan was the epitome of the lost and broken soul for whom nothing could seemingly be done.

“I accepted the fact that this was how my life was going to end,” she added. “I welcomed death. My addiction brought me nothing but pain, tears, trauma, and nightmares. I was living in a nightmare.”

Her life was a series of close calls, broken relationships, and self-destruction—until one day, everything changed. She was about to decide to seek specialized help that would overturn the foundations of her shattered life, even in young motherhood.

If You’re Struggling, You’re Not Alone. Help Is Here.

After struggling for years, Meagan stopped blaming others and made a decision that changed her life.

“My family had all turned their backs on me because they didn't know how to help me, and I didn't want their help because somehow, along the way, it all became their fault,” she said. “I never took accountability. I blamed everyone else for my decisions.

“When I finally made the decision to really put the work in and let ‘help’ help me, the reputation in Pennsylvania of Beacon Point stood out. It was time to feel the pain. Face the hurt. To talk about things I swore I'd never mention to another person.”

A Turning Point at Beacon Point

Beacon Point Recovery Center proved to be the place Meagan D. needed to turn her life around.

“Beacon Point Treatment Center is known in Philadelphia and across Pennsylvania for its passionate staff,” Joe Harvey, Director of Outreach for Beacon Point, said. “It’s renowned in Pennsylvania and beyond for staff who deeply care about the success and, in particular, the outcomes of our clients, and to see one of them thriving every day I walk into the office gives us immense pleasure that we’re addressing one of the biggest challenges in our region.”

Meagan recalls the early days at Beacon Point.

“The first few days at Beacon Point must have been the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life,” Meagan said. “It felt like I was never going to get better from the withdrawal. I thought the screaming in my head was never going to stop. I believed I was always going to be sad. I worked the 12 steps. I asked questions. Counselors were supportive. I wanted to completely understand my addiction so I could finally understand WHY I couldn't do it on my own. Beacon Point helped me help myself. I stayed even when I wanted to run again.”

From Patient to Provider

Meagan D. is clean and sober—four years strong. She’s back in her daughter’s life, reconnected with her family, and pays it forward daily. As a Junior Resident Manager and Admissions Specialist at Beacon Point, she’s often the first person new clients see.

“I help people every day and try to help them get out of the hell I was living in,” she said.

Meagan is one of many alumni who have worked hard to lead meaningful lives. She has multiple responsibilities across the sprawling Philadelphia campus, which helps hundreds of patients every day. Her principal new role is to give Beacon Point clients all the support they need “while they are under our care fighting what I fought,” she added.

As a tech, she is responsible for ensuring that clients attend their scheduled groups, as she dutifully did in taking her small steps to recovery. She also transports clients to their next recommended rehab program. Her experience serves her well in the next chapter of her career as an admissions specialist.

“I try to let them know my truth and make them feel comfortable as I am the first face they see at our program,” she said. “I am an admissions specialist, but in reality, that's just a job title. I am a person in recovery. Part of the 3% who actually make it on the journey to lifelong recovery.”

This shining success story is still growing as a company leader and mother, and everyone at Beacon Point believes that the best is yet to come for “MD.”

“My family is in my life,” Meagan said. “My 7-year-old daughter is in my life. Recovery has given me peace. Recovery has given me back to myself. Recovery gave me back all the pieces I lost along the way, and it all started when I got to Beacon Point.”

A Face of Beacon Point—and a Beacon of Hope

“Meagan D.’s transformation is what this work is all about,” Harvey said. “She represents the power of what we do here—and reminds us every day that no one is beyond saving.”

With its central Philadelphia location adjacent to the Temple University Medical campus, Meagan and her well-qualified colleagues are poised to further prioritize treatment for the city's underserved communities.

“I am moved by Meagan and others to take great pride in our relentless commitment to helping the most vulnerable patients embark on the road to long-term recovery, particularly in the Kensington neighborhood—Philly’s epicenter of addiction struggles,” Harvey added.

After getting her life back, Meagan continues to inspire others.

“Recovery gave me back everything I lost,” Meagan said. “My family. My daughter. My peace. It all started here at Beacon Point. I’m part of the 3% who make it to long-term recovery. Now, I’m helping others do the same.”

If you’re struggling, you’re not alone. Help is here, and recovery is possible. Just ask Meagan. For immediate assistance, please call our 24/7 hotline at 833-248-6271. Visit Beacon Point Recovery Center for more info.