EAST BRIDGEWATER — Katie O'Malley struggled with an opioid addiction in her 20s but turned her life around and opened a cabinet business, Rusty Rose Cabinet Painting.

O'Malley is a unique business owner with chapters of her life story that some would be afraid to read out loud, but this Stoughton resident is fearless.

She celebrates who she was in the past and how much it blossomed her into a mother, community mentor, business owner and artist.

The troubles started in O'Malley's early 20s when she injured her knee playing college soccer at Massasoit Community College. The doctor prescribed her an opioid, and it took about 10 years to become sober since the introduction.

The road to sobriety was not an easy one. There were a few times O'Malley relapsed. However, the turning point for her was on Christmas Day. She hit rock bottom and was admitted to rehab once again.

"Having to leave my family on Christmas was one of my lowest points, probably one of my worst moments," O'Malley said.

This entire experience taught O'Malley to be resilient and keep trying. No matter how many times she relapsed, she kept fighting for her life to become better.

"It took me a year sober to completely feel back like my old self again. A reason people relapse over and over again is that the first month is so hard. You feel terrible. Your body is going through withdrawal. It's not a fun time," O'Malley said.

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Since O'Malley's last time in rehab, she's been sober for 15 years and is never looking back at her past. O'Malley mentors women battling addiction and helps her husband with Guardians of The Streets, his organization that helps people battling addiction, homelessness, and mental health issues.

Additionally, Rusty Rose Cabinet Painting located at 906 North Bedford St. in East Bridgewater pays it forward by making sure people who have a past of drug abuse or homelessness have a chance at a job.

"Facing addiction firsthand gives you the ability to be compassionate and understanding. That's the main reason I don't turn people away who may have a past," O'Malley said.

She has 12 employees painting over six kitchens weekly.

The thriving business came about six years ago when O'Malley painted her own cabinets to spice up her kitchen. Once her sister saw the detailed work, she posted it on Facebook, and a few hours later, O'Malley's inbox was flooded with requests for her work.

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"I knew there was interest in this type of business, and I started small. I didn't have a clue what I was doing, but I learned along the way," O'Malley said.

O'Malley started the business in her basement and recently moved to commercial space to further expand the business.

O'Malley hopes to teach people cabinet painting in a workshop-style class.

Currently, in her shop, she gives small incentives to employees who can stay sober for a year. The result of sobriety is O'Malley's teaching the employee how to own and operate a cabinet painting business of their own.

"Never in a million years did I think I would become a business owner. But, at any point in life, you can change things around completely," O'Malley said.

"In this season of my life, I am reliable. People depend on and count on me. People don't remember the old Katie. I've grown to be the woman I was always meant to be, and the business helped me gain confidence and do things I never thought I could achieve," O'Malley said.

To inquire about cabinet services, please visit Rusty Rose Cabinet Painting on Facebook and Instagram.

Enterprise staff reporter Alisha Saint-Ciel can be reached by email at stciela@gannett.com. You can follow her on Twitter at @alishaspeakss and Instagram at Alishaatv. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Enterprise today.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: East Bridgewater cabinet painting: Katie O'Malley owns Rusty Rose