The Shadowy World of the Poor: The Drug Addict
The Drug Addict
Unfortunately, this is a true story
He lost everything. He lost his house, his job, his family, his freedom, for he had a one word problem-drugs.Somehow, this unfortunate person hsd made the mistake, probably through npeer pressure, of getting involved in using drugs..
And by the time he hit rock bottom he was involved in such petty crimes as shop lifting and petty larceny, just so he could pay the rent on the house to an unforgiving father/landlord and put a loaf of bread or two on the table.
And since he was basically honest and not a professional crook, it didn't take the police long to catch him, leading to a lengthy prison sentence for our wayward young man.
After he was released from custody, he had no place to go because his father would not lift a finger to help. And so this hapless ex-con was facing a life of poverty, destitution and utter despair. A friend let him double-up in an apartment that was so dirty that it was described as "the most gross place I ever saw."
He did get a construction job once but his only mode of transportation was an old bike which always made him late for work, sometimes dues to inclement weather, thus he lost that one too.
Finally he got hungry, so hungry. He even found himself starving on Thanksgiving Day while the whole nation chowed down.
So he wandered to the local hospital in the hopes that someone would buy him a sandwich from a vending machine. Fortunately, some kind hearted soul did.
You talk about finding yourself in a pigpen; he was there.
God save the drug addict.
Published by Shirley A Mandel
Shirley A. Mandel is an award winning poet and the author of two books.. In addition to being a writer, Shirley Ann is a Vietnam vintage veteran and served her fellow veterans in the VA medical system as... View profile
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16 Comments
Post a CommentVery sad. I hope someday to see the sequel...that he was finally able to pull himself out of the pigpen. Until then...may God bless and look out for him.
A sad situation, but a worthwhile prayer.
A very poignant piece that will melt anyone's heart, Shirley. It is the naive who take such fatal steps of no return. They need sympathy more than being looked down upon - siva
Drug addiction is a terrible thing:)
Very sad.
We went through St. Louis City the other day and saw three homeless within two blocks. It almost made me cry. I think sometime it happens so fast to them that they dont know what happened...sad
Thanks for sharing, isn't is tough seeing someone bound by drugs with no desire to let it go. Addictions rob people of their lives and of the family. Well written and on such a tough topic, my heart and prayers are with those families who are hurting because of the heartbreak seeing someone they love lose it all.
I hope your kids learned their lesson. But I write this book not at a visitor to somekind of zoo, but as an insider of many years, but it was not addiction that drove me there, it was disease and disabilty. And yes it is scary after dark so just pray that your kids don't get sick (or old) because America is none to kind to folks like us, thus the reason for the book.
my husband and i will occasionally take our kids on a drive through the poverty areas of the city and show them what life would be like for them if they dont do well in school, make good choices and keep open communication with us. it's a very scary drive, especially when it starts getting dark at night. the idea is to scare the dickens out of them if they choose to do drugs or make bad decisions. it is very unfortunate that people choose that path of life and it can make us feel helpless for them. makes us count our blessings.
Shirley, all too often we see and hear about this sad situation. You painted this beautifully. I think sometimes God has a plan for people like this.