I was thinking just the same thing. Is the US care system the disaster it seems?, because I am seeing the American nightmare.

@@Anna-tj7mp The system is horrible. I grew up in the streets and the stories from kids who ran from foster care were the worst. It hasn't gotten better. We are failing our children. 😔🌹

@@miapdx503 how horrible horrible horrible.

@@miapdx503 and I hope you are now in a much happier place ❤️❤️❤️

@@Anna-tj7mp I totally am, thank God. 🌹

Yeah K&A was home away from home for 12 years. Down there everyday. Wasting money and shaving years off my life. I still watch the people who do walkthroughs of Kensington to see if I see anyone I used to associate with. It's nearly impossible to get clean if you're in that area. I had to go 15 hours away with no car and no way back to kick it. I've been back since but it's different when you get clean and realize that type of life isn't it.

Bless her. It’s so sad. Hope she’ll get clean 💜 I myself recovered from severe CPTSD. I had it all. Bipolar rapid cycling, suicidality, constant anxiety, borderline. Two years full-time trauma work and Im almost fully recovered. Still needs to get off the dam Xanax. I don’t believe anymore that it’s genetic. I think all this stuff is transgenerational trauma and there’s hope for all of us 💜

I also walked those streets as an addict. It's literally everywhere. I had to get out but learned I'd find dope anywhere. 200+ days clean.

Thats exactly what I feel when I see or think of Kensington...

k&a if you know then you know!!

It’s never too late. If she’s out there another 5 years from now, she’ll be saying the same thing ‘I wish I had made change before ‘this, this, and that’ happened’. Change begins with her; she’s gotta want it and that means fighting and sacrificing for it.

She's only 30. She has 37 years left just before she'll be old enough to retire.... If she woke up tomorrow and tried to change she'd have many years of good life. She's not ready

As long as you're breathing you have a chance...you can do it!

I had the Opportunity and warnings to get off opiates before I lost everything. The thing is I had everything I ever wanted. I had the same attitude as this Girl about "Knowing they could change before things get To Bad" or "I will when I'm ready". Today I turn another year older and I do it 18 months and 24 days sober from opiates, Fentanyl to be exact. 18 months and 25 days ago if I had one Wish it would of been to have a Peaceful Sober Mind. It took a lot of work and and lot of help from some great people but I have that Today. I wish I could hand a sample of that out to The Young Lady in the video and every other addict I see struggling. I Pray She gets her Wish Granted be before it's to late. But She is the ONLY one with the power and Ability to make such a thing happen. I Pray for Her as well.

She’s obviously intelligent but prolonged drug use will eventually take that too.

Man, I am glad you won the battle. Keep wining the war. May you have all blessings, love, peace, health and joy of the world. 🍀❤💎🙋🏻‍♀️

Proud of you!! 💝🥺

That's a Great Dam saying! It certainly hits home for me. Today I pass another year older and I do it with 18months and 24 days sober from fentanyl. I do it with a Sober Peaceful mind. I too wish I could hand this Girl a Sample of what that feels like. I'd stand rite off camera at my little station like at Costco handing little samples on napkins out to everyone of the addicts I see on this channel. To anyone struggling with addiction, there are Lots of ways to get Sober. Some people like to act like there is only One and they determine who's doing it rite. Don't ever let them Deter you. There are Always more Excuses not to quit than to Quit. NONE of them matter. What ever peace you found in your substance I Guaranty is causing more pain and suffering than anything. If there is something I can hand every addict struggling rite now is this, and it's what finally put me over the hump when it comes to taking the first steps to getting clean. I have the Ability to Grant My Wish of Sobriety. I Say if I Die a junkie or Fight my way out of this Hell. Congratulations on 8 years Mitchell! I love when I read comments like yours because it shows me that people can rise from addiction and start stacking years of Sobriety. Here's to The Calm and Peace of a SoberMind. May it find Everyone who is seeking it.

So true, my drug of choice was not so severe, not heroin, crack etc, but all the same path.

@@danielmeuler2877 , your a blessing to so many people my friend, keep inspiring others to be the person we know they can be, and deserve to be. Much love & respect, Just for today im free from the pain of addiction 🙏🙏

@@treasuretim3 This! Unfortunately so true. The last period of time where society was still completely filled with substance was the early to mid 2000's. It sucks because things will never be the same.

@@treasuretim3 l get what you're saying about the breakdown in communication with cellphones, particularly at meal times, but l do think we're clearly dealing with a far great issue, it's systemic substance abuse and addiction, which leads children of addicts to grow into addicted adults themselves and thus the cycle begins again. Abandoned children, raised by other family members, particularly aging grandparents doing the best they can, often in very poor circumstances while their own sons and daughters are running around the streets looking for fentanyl, leads to further abandonment issues and then the grandkids follow in exactly the same footsteps as their moms and dads. There are stories of abandoned grandkids actually bringing home their abandoned kids and dumping them on the grandparents when they get hooked on drugs. Imagine being elderly and responsible for your great-grandchildren after taking in your grandchildren!!!

@@treasuretim3 It's not a freaking conspiracy. No one is trying to "destroy the family."

@@sugarsore It's the place to start to destroy civilization. Nobody with bonds or loyalty. No unity no strength. Consider that.

As soon as I hear they have children, I'm immediately pissed off. They know how to get their drugs every day, know how to find needles, etc. They can certainly go get free birth control. They can get the needle or patch so they don't have to remember to take a pill every day. Better yes, get your tubes tied!! What a mess and then the cycle continues!!

I noticed the swollen hands and wonder how that comes about and wonder if her feet would also be swollen.

Tell your friend that I said congratulations!

It hurts to looks at I feel so bad .. could be her liver or a multitude of things but I feel so bad for her ! That’s gotta be so uncomfortable

Thanks for your compassion. I hope she doesn’t have to learn from experience that people don’t just decide to stop talking care of themselves. The skin infections and antibiotics, time after time, and the drugs and cutting agents will tear your body up, in time, until you’re disabled. The skin infections spread to the blood, and then the heart (endocarditis). Teeth crack and fall out from dope, not just from not brushing. She knows some of this but until you get that bad, or see someone close to you in and out of the hospital, it’s hard to truly understand. I still have chronic illness from my using days, and my friend has been fighting for her life for several years now, because she suffered endocarditis from infection, and multiple organ failure from the cumulative effects of cutting agents and Tylenol in the opiate pills she used too many of, for years (Percs, Tylenol 3, etc.). I got Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, due to a missed chlamydia infection on the streets at 17, and am infertilez. I have had PID recur over 10 times (for some women, bacterial PID never goes away completely…you don’t have to catch a virus again. You can’t spread PID. It’s not contagious, but it can kill me, or the antibiotic resistance or gut damage from multiple antibiotic courses might). I’ve got 4 years of recovery under my belt, though! I’m so happy for your friend! Recovery is better than I ever imagined it could be. I just hope Alyssa’s can be easier than mine…she still has a chance to get out healthy. ❤️‍🩹

@@johntheaccountant5594 Her feet and legs are swollen too. So sad. I'm surprised when Mark said she doesn't look like a drug addict because she really does.

That's the best part; him encouraging them. Him taking time to understand them is exactly what they need. I'm sure they must feel so much lighter after these interviews.

Straight up

I 2nd that! Great idea!

That's what I said! Put out a book with the portrait and the quote to the question of the most important thing they have learned. I think that would make a great book.

@@nickryan4619 Absolutely 💯 %

Brilliant

Cool idea 💡!

Lexi I am proud of you fot being in recovery ! Keep going and you’ll see the greatness sobriety brings to your life . Praying for you to stay strong .

Keep going

I’m trying so hard to get clean. I’m so ready, but it’s so hard. I want it so bad. Comments like yours encourage. Congratulations on your clean time. Can’t wait til I can write a comment like yours.

@@sydlovesbreedlove this was me like 6 mo ago it took me a long time of trying to finally get it. I would wish you best of luck but luck won't do it w this stuff!

@@sydlovesbreedlove Praying for you! You can do it! Message me if you wanna talk 🙏🏽💜🙏🏽

exactly. my parents kicked me out and i'm luckily to be alive after the many hell years i went through homeless living in motels....knowing your parents don't care enough to try and save you was the fuel to my fire back than :/

@natural flavor Better to see the best than to drag someone down.

@natural flavor 132 comments on this channel in 2 months - with you complaining about people. I don't know what's going on in your life right now, but none of us are any better than the other. Good luck out there!

Denial plays a huge role in addiction.

@@miapdx503 I agree 100%

@@miapdx503 and victimology

I think she’s in a defensive position because you have to protect yourself from the people you interact with. There’s a constant onslaught of violence and disrespect of property on the streets that doesn’t leave you a lot of time for moral self-reflection, which is already impaired, in addiction.

@@sciencenotstigma9534 Exactly.

I’ve had similar thoughts, I understood that people calling addiction a “disease” was probably meant to take away the blame that society put on people (because it’s obviously a lot more complicated than it being “a choice”) but then I saw people get disempowered again once they latched onto that because then suddenly they saw themselves as the victim of an incurable disease, and essentially doomed. So I like what you said!

@@klownofkether6996 That got me, too. Near total hopelessness. Like there is no way she could ever have a real life away from drugs. Made my heart heavy.💔

Absolute truth!

@Samantha Love, I agree that any form of addiction is not hereditary. YES, there is a high likelyhood alcoholism will be repeated in your behavior if all you've ever seen is someone pouring themselves an alcoholic drink (repetitive behavior). But if you witness the ups and downs of someone being drunk, mouthing off, puking, arguing with family members, apologies that go nowhere, job loss, eviction, etc,...you might also be the type that will never touch the stuff. The same goes for people that claim the "fat gene", what a joke. That is just an excuse for overeating and not caring enough about your health to be mindful of what you consume.

@@nhlibra Listen! I was Fine until the fat gene! You Are Waaayyyy Off about That and I Expect your apology! (😉🤣)

She doesn't want to!!

@@baublesanddolls I know I wish there was a way to get people to want better for themselves

That makes all the difference. I went to 1 juvenile, 1 voluntary, and 2 court ordered rehabs that really stigmatized and punished people, and I left feeling worse. I went to one based on current brain research showing that addiction is no less a disease than heart disease and, far from giving me excuses, it made me think maybe I deserved to get better. That was also by court order, but I begged to be allowed into it. I could not have just changed after the previous treatments, because they were bogus and didn’t help. In one, the counselor just let the biggest bully in the group cuss everyone out for not “caring about their recovery.” This was all day. Anyone who wasn’t into drama just didn’t participate. They found out the bully had been using the whole time, in treatment. That was how stupid the programs were. Then I went through one actual good therapeutic outpatient group I found through word on the street, not even inpatient. That was 4 years ago & I’m going strong, working on my education, and (hopefully) helping others recover. We need access to better treatment for everyone!

@@baublesanddolls You don’t have to want to go, on feel ready. That notion comes from the AA book, pub. 1939. AA is a support group, made up of laypeople. Science has come a long way since then. Most people who quit addictions do so because of a court order. (Understanding Addiction, Dr. Chuck Smith, Addictionologist & Dr. Jason Hunt, Addiction Medicine.). I was one of those court ordered people and if that hadn’t happened, I think I would be dead. I never would have wanted to quit because you don’t have access to well-functioning reasoning and decision making abilities. Those occur in the prefrontal cortex, which is profoundly biophysically altered by addiction, taking 1-3 years to repair. Even then, the dopamine circuits are typically still compromised.

It took me about 5 trips to rehab and a dozen trips to jail to finally get it right

Exactly!! I despise that mentality. You don't choose cancer!! You choose drugs.

You both clearly have not been listening. Rewind. Rewatch. Have empathy and open your heart and mind. Numbing/forgetting childhood trauma can often times not be a “choice” - it’s live (high) or die. Addressing substance (mis)use is the same as chemo for cancer. Again, you haven’t been listening.

What causes the swelling?

@@lisamarie5882 it must be injecting in the hands ??? I don’t know either

@@lisamarie5882 sometimes liver failure… or heart failure… sending her healing

Congratulations on your progress. May your continue on this wellness journey.

Run from the drugs the same way you ran after em and you'll be fine!!

@@shauncollins678 😂

Congratulations. It's nice to hear people can and do have the will power to leave the drugs and lifestyle. I'm very happy for you.

No she's just fucked up dude.. drugs before interview

There’s also so much that goes into recovery - so many modalities - mine happens to be 12 step, therapy and spirituality. 4 years heroin and meth free in august, from homeless prostitute to sober student and mother. In and out of 21 treatment centers in 10 years. If you are breathing there is still hope.

He has actually

Amanda was a good one

Mark and Mathew are 2 he's done recently

True! And do a lot of different styles of recovery. To show people that there isn't one specific way to get better. But that it can be done. 💜

Her legs and hands are swollen. She def looks like an addict.

@@emartinez7733 yeah and there's still time to get away from it.

I’m at work. A lot of night shifters most likely. I work days. Just picking up some ot. But we here. 😂

6226 now

This channel is saving lives! I watch every morning before I leave. It's a major part of my recovery and has taught me so much and how to empathize with others. Have a great day! Hello to everyone who reads this 4:55am in Denver have a good 1 SWU fam!

@@Gram72534 Gram you have an awesome day🌹

@@Gram72534 yo I’m in Denver to. Small world. At the purina play to be exact.

I agree... biological urges arent action unless acted upon. There is no proverbial gun to her head. I have a gambling addiction- i may take extreme measures like taking investment apps off my phone so i dont liquidate, keep my debit card at home etc.... Theres always a day to block yourself or at least make it difficult to get to that addiction

I agree, a history of addiction is only a history unless acted upon, but as we know when you are active in your addiction any an all excuses as to why you are there are viable in your own mind. I pray she gets help, gets clean and has a meaningful life.

Some people beat cancer, too. But some don't. And "will power" plays no role in the statistical outcomes.

I totally agree. Good for you for getting off meth. How did you do it? Are you on a maintenance drug?

Agree. I was surprised of her point of view.

The 'interviewer' His name is Mark. ✅

Your new here eh

@@shornandkenny you're

I can under it playing a part in addiction but it's total hopelessness to hear her say that. It's like she really believes there is no way out for her.💔

Once an addict always an addict. Even if you're sober, you have to live your life day by day.

@@jamesv26 that cultural of victimizing oneself for validation of others is really killing the society.

It's the truth. Addiction isn't just using drugs, it's a set of qualities, all genetic which make you predisposed to using drugs. Some people get lucky and never end up in situations in which they start using drugs. Others aren't so lucky. But even if they manage to quit, they're not cured, they're in remission, since those qualities didn't go anywhere and it's a time bomb. Success rate of beating addiction is 10%. And, speaking about you in particular. Ability to control your urges is also genetic (impulsivity). And coming from a family of addicts doesn't mean you will be an addict, it just means that you have the chance of having a genetic predisposition. Maybe you don't have it though. Addictive personality is a set of traits, all genetic, and what that means is that a person with those traits has a higher chance of starting to use drugs than a person who doesn't have those traits.

Thanks so much for looking out for him. You don't sound like a stepmonster at all! It's crazy that even knowing they could die at anytime of an OD that they do it anyway, even being parents.

I personally believe the Fentanyl issue is a created one; government is biggest dealer. They have no interest in trying to fix this, they created this.

@@a.wanderer5006 Hi, honey. 🙋🤗❤️

Never once do i recall seeing Mayor's take on this. It took a you tuber on Venice Beach (German in Venice) to call the leaders out on this issue. (Along with others). This part of the equation makes me angry, as not one of them apologized for dereliction of duties. Stunning.

I wish Mark would come to British Columbia, Canada. 🇨🇦 Vancouver's East Hastings is very similar.

Yeah, I know I'm going to see someone I know on here now that he was in Kensington... :(

Did any of you walk on the moon with Sherman Helmsley, too?

@@ossoduro7794 Or Sting???

@@LeBron_tha_GOAT They be out hur huntin' us down and stinging us er day! Lebronica Jane......? You hit the sherm, the dipper, walk on the water? Get dusted, too? Angel Dust, phencyclidine? Or do you just like it balmy? Sheeeeit, those days are over for me!

Do u love PA?

She's incapable of friendship. Drugs first.

I thought exactly the same. I so hope she makes it.

How is she a good person? I mean I hope she does well, but I didn’t get any good person vibes any more than the next unfortunate junky.

@@rhabdob3895 she didn't strike me as just another junkie. I could imagine her as a successful young woman if it wasn't for her background. She's emotional, aware & intelligent

Ok

@@rhabdob3895 She has compassion. If she could she can change her life over.

Bravo Joe. It is people like you who give me hope for those who need to quit.

So true! Well said!

Very true...good comment. People get addicted to the lifestyle, scoring, hustling, drama, getting high...more drama, danger, arguments, then escaping into the void...it becomes like a job and an identity

@@nickbrennan3389 💯🎯

Addicted to the drama and excitement as well.

What about the other people? Are they not worthy? Playing favorites isn’t helpful! No sympathy for men as usual!

@@putitback4789 I have sympathy for men, my husband of 20+ years and the Dad to our 3 kids is sitting in an urn on my shelf. I'm a female, I related to her. Some people just speak to other people's souls. I never said that someone else wasn't worthy. Check yourself before you wreck yourself pal.

To U as well my dear n my SWU Fams ❤️💙🧡💛💜💚

Good morning friend 🌹 it's 6 am on the west coast. Have an awesome day 🌹

What happened to heroin? Why isn't it available??

So true. Especially in the 90’s and early 2000’s. Heroin addicts were calm and didn’t attract attention to themselves, mostly kept to themselves and when they did do crime it was petty thefts or such.

@@baublesanddolls It is available. Just not common. It's all sugar & fentanyl now it seems.

@@elizabethc4037 Very true. And many weren't cut throat. They relied on people & relationships for help when they really needed it. Many were a community of people.

The government has to be involved in tainting the entire drug market with fake fent and tranq that destroys your tissue into necrosis after the first missed shot. It's not the same. It's absolute destruction that can't be denied. Fking war-fare. Once you know you can't unsee. It's a war on the people.

What is “sociology school”?

I feel the same way. I am as born in west Philly, and have had ties with Philly all my life.

I feel that...

Starkness of portraiture to me tells the story accurately.

WORD. I've been watching this channel for a couple years. He interviewed a guy on Skid Row that mentioned Kensington. I commented to Mark to not think of coming here. It's a whole different ball game. He needs to get out of dodge. I lived in West Philly for a decade, worked at (Jevs) Act 1, Wedge, and Kensington Hospital. Gaudenzia, WES, First Step, and MedNet. 2 of those are methadone programs that were damn near hopeless.

I really liked her interview too. Smart girl and a very clear communicator

BEAUTIFULLY SAID. I AGREE 💯 EXCUSES EXCUSES EXCUSES. 💐