4 GROUNDCOVER NEWS STREET STORIES The path to addiction and recovery Growing up, I always felt as if I was a victim of circumstance, whether it was being parentless due to drug addiction or just being a pretty young girl. I have seen the world around me and how awful things can be for those who are affected by drug addiction. The families who love those who are suffering from addiction go through a lot because all they want to do is help that person. But some people don't know how to truly help someone suffering. Often the ones who are suffering from this disease are afraid to get help or are ashamed. I am one of those people who MISTI DAVIS Groundcover vendor No. 625 thought I would never be like that, especially with me having two parents who suffered from this disease, but not until I walked the same path as them did I understand the true struggle of addiction and the mental effect it has on you as well as physical. I was only 13 when I tried cocaine and it was fun at first because everybody else was doing it, but eventually it became not enough; I moved to crack cocaine which changed my whole life. I noticed I stopped caring about myself and about others. I became very selfish. It seems as if my days became harder. Without it I couldn't function and would do about anything just to get the crack cocaine; it took away everything and left me with demons that I couldn't face without crack cocaine. It made me homeless and shameless, as if I was not part of civilization, So if you know somebody who is suffering from a drug addiction, reach out and have a conversation with them. Maybe something you say might change their life; I know it did for me. I can now say I'm a proud recovering addict of nine years and it was not an easy road to become the woman I always wanted to be, a part of civilization and enjoying my life to the fullest. MARCH 8, 2024 Taking care of myself Back in 2014, I was unhoused in Washington state. I had health insurance and was able to set up an appointment with a doctor. I had my first colonoscopy. After the appointment, my doctor told me to come again in five years for a check-up. Unfortunately, I could not come back to this doctor because in 2019 I was no longer living in Washington. Since 2014 I have been moving around the country staying in Chicago, Arizona, Idaho and Michigan. Now that I am back in Michigan, I once again have health insurance through the help of my Community Mental Health case worker. I was able to schedule an appointment on February 28 to have my next colonoscopy. Because I needed My grandmother, my aunt and my ROBERTO ISLA CABALLERO Groundcover vendor No. 347 uncle all died from cancer. This is one reason why I need to see the doctor to make sure my health stays good, and so I can catch any issues early. I do my best to keep my personal hygiene clean because I know this helps with my health. I do have to watch my cholesterol but fortunately I am in good health overall. I think it is important to see the anesthesia and time to rest, my case worker got me a hotel for three days. Besides my colon, I also would like to have my chest checked out and hope to schedule an appointment for this soon. doctor and I am happy I have Medicaid so that I can. I am still unhoused, and I have to look out for myself. Author's note: My colonoscopy results came back and I have good news to share: I am a cancer survivor! In ten years I will return for another preventative test. Roberto and new vendor No. 631 Marc Robinson (pictured right) at the Groundcover office. Who are "the homeless?" SCOOP STEVENS Groundcover contributor It is not uncommon these days for someone to solicit me for money under the pretext of helping "the homeless." I will give them $2 if I can afford to; this will not alleviate their homeless condition but it will give them enough money for a 24 ounce beer at the Main Street Party Store. A common expression these days is: feeding the homeless. Wouldn't it be better to feed the hungry and house the homeless? A real zinger coming from Westland, Michigan where I experienced long term homelessness, was that I was told that I chose to be homeless. If this was true and I had some type of moral defect that made me choose to be homeless then I would have abandoned my public housing apartment (Miller Manor) in Ann Arbor Michigan and lived on the streets instead. The fact of the matter is I choose to spend most of my time at home because of the assurances of 4th Amendment of the U.S Constitution. There is a great deal of intellectual dishonesty concerning homelessness, everyone seems to have their schtick, including Groundcover. It has become a self-evident truth that our economic system causes a great deal of injustice including homelessness and we need a new economic paradigm. Eamonn Ofoighil
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