“I’m human just like everyone else” – Portrait of a 23-year-old Lethbridge drug addict WARNING: Video contains coarse language
LETHBRIDGE – She didn’t aspire to become a drug addict when she was a little girl. No one does.
But at 23-years-old, “Sam” has been addicted to drugs on and off, for 14 years.
I was introduced to her by Jill Manning, ARCHES Managing Director. Sam was tall, had short brown-ish hair, wore dark-rimmed glasses and had several facial piercings. She was dressed in a number of warm layers, but I couldn’t help but notice how thin she was. I thought I might unintentionally bruise her when I shook her hand.
We went to a separate, quiet room in the basement of the building where her interview was taking place, and Manning asked her if she’d eaten that day. She had not. Manning then went upstairs and brought down a small container of apple sauce and what looked like a granola bar. She told Sam she also had half a wrap she could give to her after the interview.