"When you realized you were addicted to drugs, why didn't you stop taking them?". Lol. Because that's what "addiction" is... As a recovering addict myself, I always explain it this way to people who are either judgmental toward addicts, or who just don't understand: try going a day without eating. Got that feeling? OK. You can do it; you probably have! Now, looking at addicts, have you ever noticed that they don't sleep, eat, hydrate themselves, shower, or treat their wounds? That's because when you're in active addiction, the natural drive to do alllll of those things I just listed--COMBINED--are nothing compared to the hunger for the drug. So, if you're starving, dying of thirst, sleep-deprived, filthy, AND infected: your whole body is screaming at you that the most important thing to do RIGHT NOW: is to get high.

I adore how you’re able to get a smile & chuckle out of most people. You’re real & relatable in each interview and it shows!

Mal. You are a very caring and sincere man and what you do for the people in Kensington is commendable.

The crazy thing is I went to high school a Kensington back in the 90s. It was sad back then but now it's just depressing period whenever I drive through. They call it a Zombieland. Everyone just looks smashed. I feel so bad for her she will be in my prayers tonight. Prayers for Kensington please everyone pray for Kensington. If you live in Philly or if you live in Shanghai please pray for Kensington

It makes me so sad that she can’t even look at you. She feels so sad I just want to hug her

Thank you Mal for treating her like a friend you are such a lovely man I bet you’re mother is so very proud of you I would be if you were my son praying for Nicole and addicts everywhere 🙏🏻

Benzo addiction is one of the worst and not talked about as much

Nicole is very open and honest. That can be very healing. I think addicts need more counselors. She can make the second half of her life better than the first half. She could have a brand new start. No one has ever regretted getting sober. It can be done and Nicole is worthy and deserves to give herself that gift!!!!

Nicole I wish you would quit. You say Kensington is a trigger. That is why I'm in a different state. I don't know anyone here that uses except the addicts I went to rehab with. I'm by myself too much but for today I would not give up my alone time cause it does keep me from relapsing. Doesn't work for everyone but try religion. God's helped me and I'm thankful for that.

I think a lot of the folks that are interviewed have a need to talk and tell their story. They reach inside themselves to recall their past lives, which likely stays in their minds well after. Something like that could trigger a wish to get clean, or at lease try to.

This poor lady has no idea how much Jesus loves her. She's very honest and humble and I can see her clean with His help. She was clean during her pregnancies....she loved those babies more than she loves herself. Prayers from Canada

Got me again when she said at the end “we didn’t come out of a f#cking box like this” 😢💕 Sending you love and hugs beautiful lady 🤗💜

Mal, although we don't see you, your work on the streets is a clear reflection of your character. You have SOUL and your friends on the street respond. You are safe to be with and interviewees respond with honesty and a level of integrity that cuts through the lies and myths that surround addiction. Thank you!

love how Mal puts a positive spin on even the worst childhood we all need a Mal Lewis in our lives

Mal I love how even though you take them through painful memories before the interview is over you ask them about their favorites. You also are so supportive and encouraging. I believe when they leave you they feel humanized and loved. Thank you for being kind and accepting.

There is no saving money when you're a addict. 9 yrs clean off of opiates and crack. It can be done. These stories make me deathly afraid of ever using again.

Mal, the amount of pure joy and compassion you bring to these interviews is breathtaking. I may not be in a position to do more than watch your footage but it has truly transformed my personal attitude to the downtrodden in our communities. Everyone deserves the opportunity to speak their truth! Thank you!

This is heartbreaking the suffering she has been through 💔 I hope she can find peace someday soon☮ God Bless You for all your compassion 🙏

Much love to her and all us addicts who struggle daily , mal your amazing god bless

Nicole-i dont know if you'll ever see this..but I want you to know that your story touched me deeply. The feeling of hopelessness you have is heartbreaking . You remind me so much of my sister, my best friend, who is also addicted and on the streets. Every time is ask her what she needs, she laughs, because when you're that far down it's hard to imagine anyone can give you anything that could even remotely help you. But please know that when people ask you if you need anything, you're allowed to say "yes..I need everything..I need help..I need money, clothes, food, I need someone to help me find a way out of this.." NICOLE you're allowed to feel drained and hopeless..but I promise you there are people out in the world that CAN help you. Please please ask for help. Someone out in the world has the means to help you through this. I promise. You just have to ask. I hope you make it through this. This is not the end, this is not all that your life will be. There is hope..you have to fight..but please, do. I know you can do it. 🖤

A girl always needs her daddy's love. I thank my dad that he's STILL my daddy.... in my mid 40's❤ Real life, real pain, needs real love!!!

Nicole, you have beautiful, soulful eyes😍, so intelligent, don't give up on yourself, ever!! Sending prayers and love from Australia 💓 x

Mal, your kind uplifting words of encouragement make these young people feel a little better about themselves. Let us pray! 🙏🙏🙏

She was absolutely beautiful...a amazing soul... gone to soon...I will remember you Nicole...I will try to use your story to help get myself clean...

AML #1 ! This Man is alway's the Hero!👍❤️

She has nice skin especially her legs for an addict.

You can tell she's been through a lot.

Isn't it amazing what the body can go through? The drugs, lack of sleep, poor nutrition etc. I hope this woman can get help. You can always turn your life around. Never lose hope.

Silence rattles in my brain! I gotta get away! ❤️❤️❤️❤️ love you Mal. Praying for Nicole and all of Kensington to get clean.

Nicole, I see you and you are Beautiful. Thank you for being you and sharing your story, many heartfelt prayers going out to you.

It’s heartbreaking. Every one of those people shuffling around, dipping has a story😢

Hey Mal ❣️ We Out There 🖤🙌🏽 Stay Blessed ! Your Such An Angel Sent From God To Help Us Lonely Souls. Thank you 🙏🏽

In spite of her lifestyle and the sadness she's still beautiful.

She's my favorite so far. Super smart, very insightful. She needs a hand up.

Mal you have a special way with people. God bless you. You give them the opportunity to get a lot of things off there chest. ,❤️❤️❤️❤️

Sending Nicole lot’s of love me and my husband can see so much pain in her eyes 😥this shit always gets the good ones stay safe Nicole

This channel is so Great ⭐🏆💪

Nicole,if you want people to not give up on you, tells me YOU haven’t given up on you ❤️. I wish you all the very best, you can do it! Let us be your cheerleaders 🤟🤗☺️

Hey my friend. Great interview prayers for Nicole that she can get some help and get back to being a mom. She seems like a nice and genuine person.❤️🙏🏼

Mal you show so much love and kindness to these poor lost souls. You bring light into their darkness.

I'm Nicole high now Nicole is a beautiful beautiful lady inside and outside and I hope for the best and she gets to be with her children again and thank you for the interview now you're great peace be with you all

Almost 3 years & 3 months clean, but the “disease” still speaks to me… with everything I have built & have going for myself, the “disease” is on my back telling me to run away from everything (job, family, great life) with my entire savings, get in my car & drive up Philly to Kensington, or back on the streets of Baltimore. Even with over 3 years clean, it’s a fight.. rather it be the “disease” speaking to me, depression, feeling down or stuck or having a bad day, I’ve accepted that I will have to fight for the rest of my life…. That acceptance is what keeps me going day by day, & also knowing that even tho the drugs may help “escape” life’s problems, if I use… the problems are still going to be there. These everyday life problems/struggles are NOTHING compares to the problems/struggles of everyday active addiction. Peace, love & respect from Baltimore ✊🏼

Nicole, sending you strength and love from Ireland. I am so sorry for what you have gone through and are still dealing with. You're very intelligent, you are a Survivor and you will recover. Just take that first step when you're ready xx 😘

Blessings Mal another great video💪🏼 continuously praying for everyone dealing with Addiction...it’s an extremely tough road,a lot of bumps to get over,but it can be done.

Mal, that was a fantastic interview. Bless her. I pray Nicole gets off those streets and gets well.

Nicole, u can do it, leave this life behind. U can see the shame and guilt in her eyes! Work thru ur problems, u can do it!! Easier said than done, I know but in the end it will be worth it!! Mal, another great interview in the books!! Be safe!! We out there 💙🍀💪🤗🙏😁

Mal your one of a kind . Please keep being you ! 🌻✨ your so kind to everyone & that is such a strength. God Bless 🙏 & take care ☮️

Nicole I seen this and it's so sad 😞. U can do it!! I know u been on the right track before. This video broke my heart. U need to get far away from here and not look back. 🙏🙏 .

Great interview mal. I really felt the beginning when You mentioned that people love her and she got really emotional.

Her wish is to get clean. Ain’t nothing to it but to do it! It all starts with SELF!

Nicole I pray that you get from down there soon your a beautiful young lady💜

When you treat a child like crap and you don’t give him or her the love they deserve bad things happen. Childhood is a blueprint of what’s going to happen to you as an adult. With children it’s all about love love love love love!!!!! They remember everything and when there’s lots and lots of trauma and not enough love they will try to fix that trauma with drugs and alcohol and it doesn’t work.

I just want to hug her. She's been through alot. She's really a beautiful woman. I hope she's ready soon for recovery. God Bless you Nicole. 🙏 and Mal keep doing what you're doing.

Another great interview Mal!! Nicole is very well spoken and didn"t hesitate one bit when answering your questions. Even though she is stuck out there and the streets may have gotten the best of her. Nicole seems like a person that could pull herself together if she would just give herself that chance.# We out there. Yes indeed!!

Omg . Addiction will take you too the scariest places. There’s is hope

Nicole you are beautiful young Lady inside and out. Never Never give up you have a lot of potential. Sending love and hugs to you. 💟💖🌹🥀💐.

Another great one Malcolm!! You keep up the amazing work you do you are making a difference!!

God bless you Nicole. You are irreplaceable❣️❣️

The hardest drug she is going to get off of is the benzodiazepine. You should never stop cold turkey but taper over a long period. I was prescribed a small amount and took it as prescribed and I cold turkeyed 2 years ago. Never thought I would still be having symptoms. Please if anyone is taking a benzodiazepine, taper off. Hardest thing I’ve ever been through and wouldn’t wish the hell I’ve endured on my worst enemy!!

Mal, thank God for you doing the work you do. It really makes a difference. If I lived closer, I would help you. I live in a small town 8n northern Louisiana. Sorry for typos.

I felt so bad for this poor woman sitting on that terrible rock..it looks so uncomfortable..and the horrors of prostitution..i appreciate her honesty...the ugly smelly disgusting men..its so sad..mal u r the best one out here..thank u for your kindness

I love you Nicole, may God rescue from addiction.

I love you Nicole! You have a big heart, you were always so nice! I was wondering how you were doing. Im gonna come look for you! Wish I knew where to look from this video I have an idea! I believe in you Nicole! And I love you girl! I'll see you soon!!

Love ya Nicole! I pray to get to the place when you are ready! You truly are a beautiful person ❤💛

It's freaking me out because I feel like I know her from somewhere even though I haven't worked or lived in Philly since 2017. Regardless, all the best to you, Nicole. xo

Wish I could give her a big hug.. blessings to her ❤️🥺💕

My heart has broken…. You are a angel.

Love, blessings and good vibes your way. I hope you learn to cope with your depression and anxiety so you can get clean and break the cycle for your kids. Good luck hun. Be well.

The pain. You can see them trying to hide it. It hurts me to see their pain.

What a lovely girl, wish her all the best to get clean and live life again ☺️☺️

Prayers & love Nicole, you are lovely. I hope you feel ready to get clean soon 🙏x

WE OUT THERE !! Nicole really touched me at the beginning when she started to cry when you talked about dying…..Nicole your worth it and your right we didn’t come out of a box like this. EVERYONE HAS A STORY. Stay strong, your smart, beautiful and worth it !! I hope your path in life only brings positive actions from here on out. MAL ANOTHER GREAT VIDEO

I respect this lady because she’s honest & says she’s not yet ready to get clean.

I think Nicole can get and stay clean. She seems like a really nice person who just needs a hand up. She can have the family she clearly misses. Have faith in yourself, set your goals and keep going then one day you’ll have your own Christmas tree 🥰

I'm praying for you Nicole 🙏 God bless you Mal 🙏❤

I love Nicole....one of the most beautifulest women of Philly. I would love to protect her from all harm. She is some special!

Sending prayers to her, hope she gets better 💕🙏🏾

Sighs. Im so sorry you went through that Nicole. Sending love and healing energy ✨💕. Be safe out there everyone. You are love. #Wedorecover #weoutthere ❤Im a loner as well.

Nicole you got clean before, so you CAN do it again! You are so much stronger than you know! Don’t ever give up! So many people will miss you if something God forbid happened to you. Do it, not just for you, but for all those that truly care about you! You are worth so much more! Remember that! Stay safe! Xo ❤️

Hello,I can see her being a great Mother.May she gain strength and confidence to get herself into Rehab.She is a beautiful lady with a kind soul,and deserves the best in life.Blessing's and Praying for Nicole.😘❤🙏👌

Being from north Philly, this shit is normal to see. Like a stop sign or a red light. I have 2 kids n I refuse for them to ever see this as “whatever”. Growing up the hood was always the hood but Kensington wasn’t this bad. We used to shop, get our nails done n shit now u can’t safely. Ur more nervous about stepping on a needle than the actual violence. I’m proud to be from Philly all the way down to my soul but it’s heart breaking all at once. God bless the addicts who are ill n the dealers who felt they had no other choice. Love conquers all! 🖤💯🇵🇷

I feel so bad this has happened to you Nicole.. no one deserves this!!!!🙏🙏🙏

Wtf is wrong with these Men!!! Nicole needs a High Voltage anything, sorry these ppl have to get in Any ones car!! Be safe Nicole, were with u in spirit, from ALL parts of the world. Now that's Powerful. 🌹🦋🌹

Nicole I pray for your recovery and your life changing in to a positive way. May God give you the strength to stay sober and that you can be with your boys. Also don't lose hope. WE OUT THERE💜💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🎉🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

What a sweetheart hang in their never give up everyone's worth it!

Prayers🙏🏼 I see your strength and your sadness. I hope you’re back healthy and home soon taking care of your boys! They need you and love you. I know you can be a great mother. I believe in you! 🥰 🤗

That's good honest truths from a damaged but beautiful soul. Thankyou Nicole. Brave lady..here in NZ we about 10-20yrs behind the substances...and results...can see this slowly becoming reality here too. I hope you survive this, I hope you get out of there, I hope you don't give up on yourself. The world needs you.

This breaks my heart. Mal your amazing♥️😍😘🥰

Mal always bringing out the best in people . the idea of cleaning park for money could work i hope someone can look into that ......could possible save some of the girls from being hurt by Johns and or Pimps

I liked this interview Mal as you did make her smile and laugh a little… it’s disheartening to see her sitting on that stone, and looking as she did. I often wonder what really goes on in their mind. Addiction is so ver bad, it may take the pain away…but always return like a vicious cycle. I wish this lady the best.God-Speed♾♾💟✝️☦️💕

I’d wish for never ending money and inner peace too 🖤🖤

Mal we waitin on ur story!

Nicole if u see this please reach out!! Love ya babe!!!

Beautiful person. I hope she beats this.

She’s a wonderful person I actually kno her in real life and stop by all the time to give her things godbless You Nicole 🙌you know all hugs Nd xoxo over her ❤️😘 Keep Your Head High Mama!

Jesus that story is so sad

You are such a caring person Mal! And its not too late for her to get a life back! If she has gone thru the horrible addiction life ...she can defiantly handle a sober life! Shes stronger then she realizes

I m in love with Nicole she s got all her head and analyses very good the things...she s kind and she touched my heart......when you talked about her family she was crying...oh God never give up Nicole and don t hear people who are talking bad about you they re only assholes. You re wonderful believe it!!!!ans fight to be again the good mom you were.send you lot of kisses and to AMF channel ❤

Its always the parents that set the tone, for their childrens wellbeing....generally. it's not fair, they haven't had the right start, simple.

Fortunately, when i waas addicted i never walked the streets, i can't imagine how much that messes with ones head. It's heartbreaking 💔.