interview of anonymous male age 41

1. How long have you used drugs, and what age did you start?

-I started using drugs at the age of 7.  

1.1. What drove you into using drugs?

-one reason propably is that I had unsafe childhood and environment. Those where probably the biggest part reasons. 

1.3. Have you got involved in crime because of drugs?

- Yes, I have been in the criminal world for a long time. My own dad is a criminal as well and has a record.

2. Have you been in prison and if yes, how many times, how many years/months, and for what?

- I have been in prison about 6 times, together about 10 years and 9 months. For drug-related crimes, driving while being high, firearms offenses, violent crimes, and everything that fits into those lines and into the gang world.

4. Why don't you just stop?

- I have stopped already and am studying to be a nurse right now. And now I'm spending just a normal family everyday life including children and me studying.

5. Have you tried to stop using before?

- I have tried to stop over 30 years, long sober periods somewhere between but I have always left escaping my problems into a "home world", because I didn't find other ways to handle things.

6. Have you been homeless and why? 

-I have been homeless for about 8 years. I always had somewhere to go, but I didn't have my own apartment. Always when I left jail, I had my stuff inside a plastic bag and always needed to figure out where to go. I got to stay with my on-off girlfriend for a while, but when she kicked me out, I was on the streets. 

7. What things do you wish you would have done differently? 

-Probably everything. I wish I could have been a better dad to my children. If I had my credit information okay, I think that would have stopped me from continuing on the same road with crime and drugs. I have been so long in the criminal world, so I didn't quite know anything better. 

8. What things do you think you have done right? 

-Well, I don't know what to say to this yet, but probably always when I have been around, I have been a good father to my children, or at least tried. 

9. What would you like to say to people who don't know anything about drugs and have somebody close who uses?

- Don't make it possible. Support the person at the right time.

When they stop using drugs, give the support then, not while they are still on that road.

9.1. What advice would you give to those people so they can support their close ones?

-Help to make it possible to start a new life, help them to get a job or a place to study, and help them reintegrate into society so the “walls” don't go up again.

10. What would you say to youngsters and people who have just started to use drugs or are on the verge of using them? 

-Just don't, it doesn't lead anywhere. Go to school so you can get a job, and start a real life by stopping drugs. 

-Anonymous male, age 41, used drugs over 30 years.

Written: Light at the End of the Tunnel Blog 17.02.2025