Dutton: ‘I love my life right now’

BY JORDAN TROUTMAN jtroutman@cassville-democrat.com

Brittany Dutton first told her story of recovery two years ago on Oct. 27, 2021.

Dutton’s Celebrate Recovery testimony was part of a 12-part series published in the Cassville Democrat, one step of the 12-step program for each month of the year.

At that time, she was just over a year into her recovery journey from meth and continues to take a personal inventory to this day.

She graduated drug court on Sept. 2, and she has been sober since Aug. 8, 2020.

Just after graduating high school, Dutton was 18, newly married and pregnant.

“They gave me hydrocodone after delivery to help with the pain,” she said. “I used opiates until I was 24 years old. I was going through 120 hydrocodone in three days.”

Dutton did get herself off of opiates, but then she turned to meth.

“I started using meth in 2016,” she said. “I started hardcore using it intravenously.”

On Aug. 4, 2017, she received her first criminal charge and lost custody of her children.

“My brother took custody of them both, and I spent nine days in jail,” Dutton said. “I lost everything. I was living on the street. At one point, I lived in a tent in the woods, and I struggled to find food — but I continued to feed my addiction.”

From her first charge to June 6, 2020, Dutton accumulated a total of eight felonies in Benton County and one in Barry County, most of which were possession of a controlled substance or paraphernalia.

“I was still in my addiction for the first two months of Drug Court,” she said. “On Aug. 8, 2020, I went to the Lafayette House in Joplin. I was there for 19 days — it is the best thing to happen for me.

“I finally decided it was time to change my life.”

Today, Dutton remembers those first few months and how she struggles to keep her mind straight.

“I just kept thinking, ‘One more time,’” she said. “In the past two years I have become an assistance manager, I have my own place, I had a baby, and I have custody of my children back.

“I am a sponsor, and I am keeping myself busy — I love my life right now.”

Dutton said when she became the assistant manager at her job, she got a set of keys to the store.

“That made me feel trusted again” she said. “I am doing something right, and it is being noticed.

“My two oldest kids lived with my brother, when I got clean and a place of my own, he gave me my daughter back for a trial run. Then I got my son back in August.”

Dutton said her children had been with her brother since 2017.

“My daughter was excited to come live with me and spend time with me,” she said. “My son is 12, so it was a little different. But he has accepted it.”

Dutton said her children speak with her brother every day and visit every weekend.

“My youngest is 8 months old,” she said. “My husband and I have been together for 5 years but married for 3 in June.

“I was in rehab, and he got sober cold turkey so that we could make it work.”

Dutton said her resources from getting sober have taught her to stay away from people who fed into her addiction.

“I either work or I am with my kids,” she said. “It is always a reminder to me when I am with my kids.

“For someone still in their addiction, I would say to take a chance on a new life. Don’t second guess yourself.”

Her advise for someone who is struggling is to reach out and talk to someone.

“In the future, we are planning to buy a house,” she said. “I am just going to see how things go and keep moving forward.

“Hopefully er get to our goals like we have been doing.” Dutton said goals take time. “Don’t give up,” ‘she said. “Once you have achieved them, it feels amazing.”

Meeting schedule

To add or update any meetings, people may call Mark Barton at 417-766-5449.

Tuesday

• Celebrate Recovery Cassville at the First Baptist Church in the loft. Meal is served at 5:45 p.m. and large group is at 6:30 p.m., childcare is provided nursery to 6th grade. People may contact Mark Barton at 417-766-5449. 

Wednesday

• Shell Knob – Celebrate Recovery at the Viola Victory Church at 29604 State Hwy., 39. Meal starts at 5 p.m., meeting starts at 5:45 p.m. Childcare is provided For more information call Jessica at 417-239-9001.

• Seligman Celebrate Recovery at Mozark Fellowship at 28277 Frisco Street in Seligman. Meal is at 6 p.m. and meeting starts at 70 p.m. For more information call Loni at 417-827-2737.

• AA meeting, noon to 1 p.m. at 1308 Harold Street in Cassville.

Thursday

• Monett Celebrate Recovery 6-9 p.m. at the New Site Baptist Church at 1925 Farm Road 1060 in Monett. Meal at 6 p.m. Childcare and nursery up to 5th grade. The Landing for 6th to 12th grade. For more information, people can reach Allan at 417-461-6802.

• AA meeting, 8-9 p.m. at 1308 Harold Street in Cassville.

Friday

• NA meetings from 6-7 p.m. at 303 East 11th Street in Cassville. For more information people can call Sarah at 417-846-7045.

Saturday

• SMART meetings from 10-11 a.m. at 208 West 8th Street in Cassville. Alliance counseling. For more information people may call Loni at 417-827-2737.

Sunday

• NA meetings from 6-7 p.m. at 303 East 11th Street in Cassville. For more information people can call Mike at 417-846-7866.