Sheen's influence on local addiction

CLEVELAND -  

Heather Harper was just 14 years old when she started using drugs. Alcohol and marijuana were her drugs of choice then.

Now at age 26, Heather's finally clean. She has been for eleven months. But by the time she entered treatment she had also used heroin, prescription pain killers, ecstasy and crack cocaine. "I've never been sober before," she said.

Heather said she understands what actor Charlie Sheen is experiencing right now. She recognizes the erratic behavior caused by drug use.

"I feel bad for him," she said. "It brings back what I was like and what I went through. For me it brings back the pain I felt which are things I never want to feel again which is reason enough for me to stay sober so I don't ever have to live like that again."

Heather lost her two children because of her addiction. However, her youngest son is expected home soon from foster care.

She prays that Charlie Sheen will get help. And she hopes addicts who are watching him will recognize that they too, need to get help.

"I really hope they see him and can recognize what's really going on with him and it can help someone else," she said.

Heather is clean with the help of the Women's Center of Greater Cleveland.  Click here for their website.