Kristina with a K: A Rainbow Person's Journey from Addiction to Recovery is an explosive expose into the lives of LGBTQ people experiencing addiction. Told from the first-person perspective, Kristina takes readers through her harrowing life as a gang member and a person with addiction. Her descriptions of the tragic episodes of her early life, her coming out process, her struggles with gender identity, and her life in recovery come from her heart and are celebrated as milestones to becoming her authentic self. From the lows of horrific intimate partner violence, self-harm, and suicidal ideation, to the highs of getting sober, leaving the "gang life," graduating college, and devoting her professional life to helping others, Kristina leaves no stone unturned. Kristina's personal story sheds light on what many young LGBTQ people with addiction experience. She shares the chapters of her life and then presents carefully researched explanations as to why LGBTQ individuals face the challenges they do with regard to substance use disorder. In each aspect, Kristina serves as inspiration as someone who has overcome great odds to turn her life into a productive and loving example of recovery.
The book is an outstanding and breathtaking look at addiction in the LGBTQ community. LGBTQ individuals in treatment or recovery and their families and loved ones; counselors and other practitioners; academicians in the field of substance use disorder and everyone who is an ally to the Rainbow Community should have this book on their shelf. This book will save lives and reduce suffering for millions.
"As a trauma survivor, I can attest that stories of addiction, violence, sexual victimization, and our triumphs over them are best told by those who lived them. Kristina's story is heartbreaking, yet courageous - she bares her soul, but then gives readers valuable information about why the Rainbow community suffers from extraordinary rates of substance use disorder, overdose, and suicide and then challenges her community to fight for change."
-Mackenzie Phillips Actress, NYT Best-selling Author, and Recovery Warrior
"Kristina with a K is a powerful testament to the harsh challenges for those in the LGBTQ+ community. It is an equally influential testimony to healing and recovery from addictions when coming from a history of internalized and externalized homophobia and gender phobia. Kristina has shared her recovery story and is here to remind the LGBTQ+ person that she and others in the community are by your side - it is time to take your recovery journey! Kristina, aka Baby Girl, once a gang leader extraordinaire, finding recovery from her alcohol and drug addiction, is now one of the foremost leaders in addressing mental health and addiction issues in the RAINBOW community."
-Claudia Black, Ph.D., Addictions Specialist, Sr. Fellow @ The Meadows, Author
"Kristina with a K is a riveting, heartbreaking, and inspiring story of survival, trauma, and triumph. It is a "must-read" for clinicians working with the rainbow community as the information is not only educational but essential for those working with this population. For clients, reading this book will be validating, normalizing, and inspiring. Bravo to the authors for providing such an incredible and necessary resource!"
- Stefanie Carnes, PhD., Clinical Sexologist, CSAT-S, Rainbow Advocate and Clinical Specialist
