Philadelphia Woman's Incredible Journey from Addiction to Saving Lives

Sarah Laurel's life took a horrifying turn when a fight with drug dealers in Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood left her for dead. In 2017, she plummeted from a second-story window and lay in a vacant lot for 18 agonizing hours. Despite the excruciating pain from numerous injuries, she never lost consciousness.

Laurel suffered a broken nose, shoulder blade, several ribs, and severe leg injuries, spending months in a wheelchair and enduring surgery to relearn how to walk. This near-death experience served as a wake-up call, prompting her to recognize the peril of addiction. She realized she could have been one of the thousands who succumbed to drug overdoses in Pennsylvania, which led the nation in drug-related deaths in 2017.

Nationwide, drug overdose deaths surged by 52% from 2017 to 2021, reaching a staggering 106,699, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Laurel's personal journey from addiction and near-tragedy inspired her to take action. She founded Savage Sisters, a nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating the stigma of addiction and aiding those grappling with substance use disorder on Kensington's unforgiving streets.

Her life had once been far from the stereotypical image of addiction. She worked her way up to become a director of sales at a hotel chain before her descent into addiction began with a prescription for Percocet to treat carpal tunnel syndrome.

Laurel's opioid prescription eventually led her to heroin, jail, and homelessness in Kensington, notorious for rampant public drug use. She attempted sobriety numerous times but found recovery homes and rehab facilities lacking in empathy and holistic healing methods.

In 2017, after her brutal attack, Laurel established Savage Sisters to provide support through nine recovery homes. The organization offers various healing methods, including yoga, kickboxing classes, and Reiki, an energy healing practice.

Laurel and her team, all with their own addiction experiences, conduct outreach in Kensington, distributing safe supply kits, opioid overdose reversal spray, clothing, and food. Their work is grounded in empathy and a deep understanding of the pain and struggle faced by drug users.

Despite her resilience, Laurel has witnessed the evolution of lethal substances infiltrating Philadelphia's illicit drug supply, from heroin to fentanyl, and now an animal tranquilizer called xylazine. The "zombie" drug moniker only adds to the stigma.

She believes that Kensington has suffered from neglect by city leaders and a lack of compassion and care. Savage Sisters aims to humanize the situation and foster understanding and empathy, recognizing that addiction can affect anyone.

Sarah Laurel's journey from the brink of death to a beacon of hope in Kensington serves as a testament to the power of recovery, compassion, and dedication in the fight against addiction.