Kim if you're reading this, you can do this. I was addicted to opiates and meth for 17 yrs. I lost my 2 daughters in 2009 to CPS cause I couldn't quit. In 2018, they took my 6 yr old son as well. That was the end. I finally quit, got my kid back and now by the grace of God, teach the same parenting class CPS had me in. I just want you to know you CAN do this. It won't be easy. I was on Suboxone for a while and weaned myself off that because I couldn't face the withdrawals. But however you gotta do it, you can do it. God has a purpose for your life ❤️
Sheri, What a sweet & noble comment to, Kim! And, what a courageous woman you are...God Bless 🙏 Love, I hope your words of wisdom resonate with Kim's mind, body & heart and she becomes an example to someone else one day as well.
They actually compliment each other. It will be very difficult to get sober together. They’ve formed a relationship built on getting high. From my own experience, they will trigger each other to go back to it.
I agree 1000% personally I could never be in any kind of relationship with someone I used with. When i got sober i cut out everyone that was in that circle.
It’s common in addiction unfortunately .. it’s founded on co dependency and drug fueled toxicity masked as a relationship … speaking from personal experience and having seen this from multiple couples around me … slim chances of either one getting clean until they seperate, they could clean up alone and then get back together tho
In the recovery community we call this trauma bonding. However, I work for an opiate treatment facility, and it can be done. We have couples who come together for treatment. It has to be an equal level of commitment for recovery.
She is in fantasyland. A friends addict daughter says the same about her baby. The baby was taken away because they were concerned the mother would sell her to pedophiles for money for drugs if she hasn't already. She is three, screams if anyone comes near her , has learning disabilities, can't seem to bond with anyone. Can't play with other children. This is who I feel sorry for and the hell she will have to endure not by her choice but because her mother made the choice to do drugs. There are plenty of people who had horrible childhoods and chose not to do drugs. You always have a choice. Unless you are their child. Makes me sick every time I see her.
I’m in my last year of RN school, about to start my psych rotation which includes several detox facilities. A classmate recommended this channel as a way to better understand why people use, regardless of how it negatively affects them and their families. Thank you for sharing these stories, I feel I will now be more empathetic towards patients during this rotation. One of my instructors mentioned being in nursing school is a privileged position, and we shouldn’t judge our substance using patients, who would love to switch lives with us. I now understand more what she meant. I hope Justin & Kim are able to get healthy.
Just remember in your position, a simple smile, eye contact and a sense of understanding could be the difference between ones success in getting clean. It could be the reason an addict chooses to continue their fight. Shame was such a huge emotion for me at that time.
Thank you for already being a human being who wants to help others. From what you're writing you have some very good qualities. This actually made me cry. The fact that you're going that extra inch just to understand and educate yourself tells me that you're genuinely interested in doing the best you can for the people you work with. To be a warm, emphatic person with a smile is often what it takes. Just be open and have a lot of patience. What we all need is to be seen. You know what I'm saying? Many of these people have never been seen before. Many of the young addicts are extremely loud and angry but don't buy into it. It's just a show. They're testing you. They've been hurt so many times so they try and push people away before they get hurt again. All they want is to be loved.
Learning curves bring experience… so while being wary and watchful when nursing lost souls going through detox or addiction, always remember that most people just want to be valued, listened to and loved. Go well and stay happy 😃
She hasn’t even started toward her sober life. And she’s married to an addict. She won’t be getting her baby back. That baby needs to stay in a stable household.
Being young and addicted is the worse.You think you have forever and just want to have “fun”.If you make it out alive all you’re left with is regret and the knowing the “fun”wasn’t worth it.Hope she finds some clarity and self love before it’s too late 🤍
It's obvious u have an addiction to food so u know how hard it is to get clean and get on track. So instead of insulting her and assuming that u kno everything about her off of a 15 minute video, give her a chance to try. U don't kno what happened after this video.. none of us do, only Mark does. Hopefully he can do a follow up in a few months.
@@sashaprettyeyes2052 my weight is due to having lupus and RA. Between my meds and being unable to move some days, it’s a little difficult to be able to exercise or get any movement in on some days. Addiction to food isn’t my problem, sweetheart. It’s an actual medical disease.
I'm wondering whether parenting used to be seen as more of a communal responsibility, as it still seems to be in many indigenous cultures. Today, it seems like parenting is thrust on many people who are either unwilling or unable to take on responsibility for another human being. We need better sex education, better access to contraceptives, and better health care systems, particularly for women.
TALK IS SO CHEAPKIDS ALWAYS WANT THEIR MOTHER ALL THE TIME AND THE OLDER THEY GET THE MORE THAT LOW SELF ESTEEM CREEPS UP FEELING UNWANTED FROM BOTH PARENTS SOME KIDS DEAL WITH IT BETTER THAN OTHERS BUT THEY ALL HAVE FEELINGS OF WHY DIDNT MY MOM & DAD WANT ME...SO SAD...i THINK SEEING THEM WHENEVER IT DOESNT INTERFERE WITH YOUR DRUG USE ONLY HURTS THE KIDS..NOT EASY FOR THEM AT ALL
Well to be fair those are the terms of their custody. Like if CPS gets involves and gives the child to the custody of other caregivers, its not accurate to say, "we can see the kids whenever we want [but they are not in our custody]" vs other types of custody where visitation is much more limited
@@itsmelive Yes. When CPS is involved, it is generally to protect the child from one or both parents. The welfare of the child is central, in a more complete sense than simply taking care of material needs. Children cannot raise children and people who fundamentally do not want children should not take on this responsibility. I remember an experiment where teens - both boys and girls - were given dolls to take care of for a week as though they were babies. Almost all struggled, not understanding the level of commitment this demands - and from people who typically are, at this stage of their lives, very self-centered and self-absorbed.
I normally have compassion when it comes to this Chanel But it gets kind of balls to me that is addicts same Fucking story! All cry they had this horrible shit show Upbringing nobody love them nobody one of them but they do the grandparents the hands of girls cousins one parent people taking care of their kids I’m not a fucked up life to and I did a little fucked up things too but when the test said you positive !!! pregnant!!! I didn’t marry a crackhead or heroin addict I married a fucking fireman and did the right thing and left everything else thing behind. My kid was number one still is… he’s 16 Has a house we have a huge Olympic size swimming pool two huskies two bedrooms what is the game room the downstairs hang out wrong on a 1 acre trampoline outside On the football team since it’s 4 Drives with a permit has a jeep almost has a job… goals Kind of a douche Can be nasty hormones . But that’s great because I made a decision to just grow the fuck up for him. I hear a lot of ppl that had much more then I And I never hid it from my child. I wanted him to know how good we had it. You Younger people need to watch the others on this Chanel who REALLY had a HARD af life… nerve Sorry call me whatever
"I try not to feel. That's why I get high. I don't try to feel my emotions, that's the exact reason I'm using." Bingo. This is the heart of addiction right here. Terribly painful emotions that are incredibly difficult to sit with and so people turn to substances to alleviate themselves from having to sit and feel their pain.
@@beabeauchamp956 oh absolutely I agree with you. I didn't say it's not possible to not sit with your emotions, I just said that this is the reason for addiction. It's definitely possible to heal the emotions and heal addiction, we just have to learn to sit with emotions like you said.
I’m a Heroin addict myself here in LA. I fortunately am functioning even holding a job as a firefighter. I guess I can appreciate the struggle they are in but now that I’m on Suboxone I’m seeing it for what it is…we addicts are pretty weak in a sense. We have the power to stop, nobody is forcing that needle into my arm but I’ve always got an excuse as to why I use and so do they. I’ve chosen not to have kids until I can clean up. We (addicts) need to start breaking the cycle, get help and quit with the excuses.
Thank you for your honesty. You are a Super High Functioning addict. Kudos to you. You should write a book about your life. It would be from an interesting perception.
Sending you love and support. It's not easy to face and overcome an addiction, especially with a trauma-inducing job like firefighting. I hope you find peace to leave it in your past. You can do it. Be well.
I was in recovery with Kim! Please do an update on her!!!!! She was always so kind and sweet and such a gorgeous woman!!!!! I would always see her around with her son sylis ❤❤
Every video I watch on this channel just shows me that shitty parents ruin their kids. 99% of these stories start with a bad childhood and those people carry that trauma for the rest of their lives. Makes me 100xs more thankful for the upbringing I had.
I know some people who were not shitty parents and yet their adult children are so messed up it's pitiful. I agree that shitty parents almost always mess up their kids but sometimes good parents have kids that mess up despite having been "raised right." It's sad. 😕
@@icy-hearted-angel Gabor Mate (look him up) says that not every traumatized person is an additc but every addict is a traumatized person....you have no idea what is happening behind closed doors...
Many people have shitty parents and turn out just fine. The link I see in these videos is a genetic component. Justine was adopted and raised in a Christian pastors home but his biological father is an addict too. Bad parenting doesn't help either though.
Many times tho, it can be a good kid with great parents getting sucked into a friendship or a relationship with someone is a BAD and into drugs. The excitement and peer pressure of trying these drugs for the first time is very enticing to a young kid who has lived a clean, straight and sometimes strict life. That's the sad part. These BAD friends they get involved with know perfectly well that they are are about to screw up the life of this "nice" person and get them addicted, but they do it anyway. Also, the whole "gateway drugs" thing is real. Like experiencing (and surviving) the thrill of more and more scary roller coasters, drugs can be similar in that the thrill of trying each one can lead to trying one that is just a little more dangerous and the highs a little higher. They don't have the perspective of hindsight as they are in the middle of it to see they are one a slowly destructive path that takes them down river, closer and closer to the waterfall drop off of no return.
This channel has really helped me with being humble and empathetic, however I still get irritated by some of these folks lack of accountability. You OD six times this year your child was just born I’m going to go out on a limb and say your lack of an address was not CPS’s only concern. I wish her the best, and hope she finds her way to sobriety.
Right, and she says she wants to get her kids, but she gets a tattoo across her face, of her deadbeat bf. She doesnt even care enough to keep some things quiet in this interview incase CPS sees it.
Imagine receiving involuntary electrical shots every 15, 20 or 30secs. Non stop. U try to manage these involuntary shots to little avail until something challenging happens to you during the day and those electrical shots start again. That’s how they feel. Look how much she moves, scratches herself and is fidgety… 🙏🏻 Its hell…
I agree - I am often torn with these people too. It is a disease but you need to seek treatment and you shouldn’t be having babies. I lost my little brother in 2012 to a heroin overdose. He had just completed rehab and died the same day he got out. It’s heartbreaking loving an addict.
She had a baby a week before this interview and she is a fentanyl user and she said the baby didn't go through withdrawal? BULL$#!+ That's bull. No way in hell that poor baby didn't suffer through withdrawal because of her using while pregnant. Saying she had the baby taken because she had no stable home? Umm sure that definitely has something to do with it also of course, but I'm sure they saw her and her husband were doped up and the baby going through withdrawal. I wish them the best but if her older son is with the father and she didn't get it together for him more then likely knowing her sister will take care of this new baby she won't get clean for him also. She has to do it for herself and she's not at a place where u see she wants out yet. Sad
Being adopted can be a trauma in itself imo. He stated he was trying to find his sister while he ran away as a child. Also, his parents only gave him up and continued having kids after him.
She just had a baby a week ago, but OD'ed 6 times this year. So all those times she overdosed she was pregnant, when she could have gotten in a MAT program like a good mother would. I hope the baby gets adopted by a loving family because the chances of her ever getting clean are slim to none.
She openly said that “he wasn’t going through withdrawals and was healthy” - stating clearly that she was using while pregnant. The statements validity is up for question.
When she mentioned losing her biggest support, which was her grandmother, I felt that part the most. I miss my grandparents so much (they were pretty much my parents too). 🙏🏽💛
I feel like it common for grandparents to take the role as the parents. I was raised by my grandmother as well, because my living situation with my mother wasn’t really suitable for a child to grow up in.
“I’ve grown up a lot...” I think you mean you’ve lost any innocence you may have had. Growing up involves stepping up to your responsibilities, including caring for the children you bring into the world. 🙏🏽 you’re bright... but so close to the edge... hoping the pull of your babies’ need for YOU and your loving presence will be stronger than the lifestyle
Well said 👏🏽 I hate to admit it, but I think the very same thing when I hear those words in these interviews. I’m not judging harshly or anything, I just want to clarify what they are REALLY saying.
It's sad to see people struggling with addiction but what's even more sad is seeing them bring innocent lives into their dark web. It's a sick cycle and truly takes the strongest of the strong to end it. Hope her kids are healthy and in a stable environment.
Chavon wright, it seems you always have something negative to say about drug addicts that are being interviewed!! You must have had an experience in your life with an drug addict or traumatic experience if I may say?!?!? Due to you have alot of anger at these people that are struggling with ADDICTION!!! How about encourage those struggling so maybe they will open their eyes and get the courage to change!!! You seem to be very Lonely, Miserable man nothing better to do then down on others if you don't want to be understanding of willing to see how and what addiction does then WTF are you watching these type of channels? Have a blessed day 😊
But they won't pull each other out from the pit they're in. If anything each is more likely to not come out as long as the other one is there to do it with. They are codependent.
They broke my heart. Justin seems like a respectful, kind soul. Kim also. I hope they get up and out of skid row... that would at least be a start. My mama heart feesl such sadness
Oh you two, you two. You both deserve so much more. It took me 10 slow seconds to admire both of your best qualities. What scares me so much is that your both on borrowed time. My point meaning on any given hour that 1 of you will be eaten up by the concrete jungle. I will pray for both of your saftey every day. If i had the money or the space i would scoop you both up and your new little boy. Your going to make!!!!
Not trashing on her I genuinely feel awful for her. But for anyone doing hard drugs and or have an unstable life like this. Remember birth control is free
Refraining from sex is free. She also( I know for an absolute fact) would qualify for Medicaid that would 100 percent pay for various forms of birth control including BCP, IUD, Shots and even covers permanent birth control like tubal ligation. So yes, birth control for her is 100 percent free. Also there are a ton of STD clinics in Southern California that offer free simple birth control options like condoms. So I would just like anyone doubting whether these people have access to free birth control, the answer is they do. Now, whether they take advantage of that is a different story...
I'm an addict myself. On fentnyl. I honestly feel in my heart that that stuff came straight from the devil. I've used opioids for literal years and I could always walk away. Until I put that powder up my nose. And the very first time I tried it I was caught. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. Thank God for the clinic I found and methadone bc I would definitely be dead had I not found help. I listen to these stories and I thank God every day for being lucky enough to find help. I pray for all these people.
@Steven Jackson Yes, hard drugs ARE from the devil, and so are the sub-humans who make them (Big pharma) and the kingpins who organize their trafic for mega profits. I admire you for your honesty and wish you the very best for a full recovery. Keep hanging on the God more than men and you will succeed
Have you been able to stay with the methadone? Use it to not be sick, not to not be high because you HAVE to find something that gives you joy. I’ve been in MAT since 2015 and haven’t touched a strrrt drug or broke the law since 2012 and it’s definitely what you make of it. If you depend on MAT alone it doesn’t work but if you focus on what gives YOU meaning that means a lot more. Much respect and love to you I’m so fucking glad I was already off the streets before this fentanyl crap was everywhere
I honestly have to say that even after being clean for over three years, I still fanticise about this lifestyle. MY BRAIN 🧠 can be my worst enemy at times 💔
The chaos can be just as addictive as the drugs. It's really just comes down to people like us have an addictive personality and anything can easily turn into an addiction.
Same here, but I keep doing the right thing one day at a time. I've been clean since 2-14-20 and even though my life is better than it has ever been, I still catch myself thinking about the first hit and how good it feels...
@@wendyrobison1973 The chaos is called "acting out": "People say a child is “acting out” when they exhibit unrestrained and improper actions. The behavior is usually caused by suppressed or denied feelings or emotions. Acting out reduces stress. It's often a child's attempt to show otherwise hidden emotions. Acting out may include fighting, throwing fits, or stealing." Its easier to "act out", than to deal with your emotions as there are so much anxiety related to them. So you just spew them out to avoid them. So it serves the exact same purpose as any other addiction. There are no "addictive personalities", its something that has its roots in the infant-mother relationship. And anyone can become an addict.
To state the obvious, he's a man, she's a woman. Just as they both said, he's mostly calm and patient, she's mostly emotional and concerned. He needs her empathy and love, she needs his emotional stability and love. That's how most guys are and why they are attractive to women, and vice versa. Both could live independently, but they're far happier and more secure as a couple.
@Jen Green You may be right, Jen. It's hard to tell because the fentanyl plays such an overriding element holding them together. I wonder if their relationship would survive sans drugs? What would your guess be, Jen?
It's crazy how in denial these 2 are. She said she had a baby 7 days prior who was healthy and had no withdrawals and 2 seconds later admits to smoking fentanyl for the past year with 6 overdoses?
The way she so casually talks about ODing like she is talking about what she has for dinner is so terrifying and sad. They are actually really sweet together but they are going to have a hard road ahead if they want to get clean because their relationship is based on using and has been for a really long time.
I remember watching this interview when it first happened... And I'm blown away by this chap he's very articulate and speaks well. I wish them both every happiness and success 🇬🇧
She’s really really pretty, she’s very well spoken and seems very smart. I hope she can get away from drugs. I hope she doesn’t come back to mark looking worse in a few months.
Your kids being with your family is a huge blessing. When we focus on limitations, we limit all the miraculous things that happen after the first step. One of the toughest parts of withdrawal is that all the emotions that got pushed down come right back. I hope you can find support & hope again
Excellent realization and comment. Only after forgiveness/acceptance can we forgive ourselves for taking on others burdens that aren't our own. It's the only way to crush the cycle and rise above it.
I’m a full blown addict as well and really don’t judge what people do for drugs or in their addiction, but when someone gets pregnant and doesn’t go on methadone or subs I just think there the worst people on earth. I know it’s wrong to judge but I managed to not knock anyone up because I knew it would be a terrible situation and I was able to do that all while being really sick, you just have to not give a shit about anything to do that, plus she said she OD’d 6 times this year but the kid was okay? Sure I got a mansion to sell ya
dude... It sounds like your own problems are a little bit more pressing than what you seem to be preaching. Maybe instead of taking the time to write a paragraph on youtube (full of misspellings and bad grammar) you could try a thing or two to get yourself better. Besides what good does your comment even do? Do you think that Kim is really gonna read this? Dont hate, Dont Judge. Deal with your own shit and only say something like that to someone if the person is open to listening.
Babies withdraw from subs and methadone. It is difficult for the child and mother no matter what path they take. Subs and methadone have a longer half life so the withdrawal for babies is actually longer and worse. The goal is to keep the mother alive which in turn keeps the baby alive. Don't judge anyone, period.
Any chance Mark you could do tour/history of skid row and show on the street some of the people from vids showing where they live etc. Just so those of us not from US or who haven't been to LA can get a idea what skid row is like and where some of your subjects live? Love your channel and love your subjects too. My heart goes out to them all. what resonates the most is that nearly every person has had trauma in childhood.
@@truth-hurts3089 If you’re interested here’s a channel where the channel creator walks around Skid Row filming: ua-cam.com/channels/QxUDxIC1O-e74DuP4Mzq6w.html
Kim and her husband need a lot of medical and emotional support to be able to get off fentanyl especially because their addictions are pretty severe. I hope they get the help they need.
This is so sad. I have known Kim a very long time. I have never seen her this bad. It’s so awful. Kim if your seeing this I know we have our issues but you are better than this you deserve so much more.
Mark is amazingly insightful of the struggles of those suffering homelessness and addiction. His level of understanding i find to be so beautiful. We need more Marks❤😊
Looks have nothing to do with this. They are in a incredibly toxic co dependant relationship based on hard drugs. She literally gave birth a week ago and back on the streets doing drugs. They can't push each other to do anything but get high. She needs alot more help than just him.
I would have thought,with it being so recent,that giving up her child a week ago would have been her lowest point.I wish only the best for her and that grace gives her some clarity.
Kim, I just had a baby born this year also while on Suboxone, no withdrawals either thankfully. I also have a 9 year old daughter, and I switched over to Suboxone from street opiates on her 2nd birthday. I’ve been sober 7 years now. You can absolutely do it, with Suboxone or not. The love for your kids can move mountains. Don’t let this precious time slip away ❤️ you are a mother and you can do *all* things.
@@jasl9987 some opiates cross the placenta and affect the baby more than others. In my experience, morphine did cause withdrawal symptoms, but subutex didn't, and I'm on a very high dose.
@@pamelaeiskina3838 wow... thats interesting. I didnt know that. I'm also on it and thats a reason I never wanted to have another kid. I thought he/she would have withdrawals.
Awe, You’re grandma sounds like the best one in the world, I’m sure she’s watching over you , talk to her and ask for a sign ! Take care ,you deserve better ❤️🙏fifi
It's interesting to see someone talk about overdosing so casually after expressing a desire to regain custody of her children. Like risking your life but also wanting to live at the same time. Crazy what this addiction does to people. Wishing you nothing but the best on your recovery journey, Kim. Lots of love.
A most utterly selfish desire…to try to get her baby back. WHY is she trying to get her newborn baby back at this point? Is it because she can more easily get benefits?? I do not get it and I decided to not finish watching after the first 5 minutes which is where I paused it to make this comment. The end.
i hope they make it out together and be successful! their relationship dynamic reminds me of my own 😂 “when she’s feeling riled up, i’m calm and when i’m feeling impatient she’s calm” that helps a lot when one person can level the other one out ❤️ stay strong you two
Went to prison after school, dad drug addict 😥 I hope she gets help she needs. To the person reading this: Even though I don’t know you, I wish you the best of what life has to offer.
She talks about her love for her grandmother, the reality is she destroyed her grandmother's last years with worry and dread and humiliated and probably a huge financial drain. I don't sugarcoat. It's true, addicts destroy everything in their wake.
Yes, what she's did was wrong. You think she liked doing it? You have no idea what happens to an addicts mind when they're in active addiction. Do you have any loved one's that are in active addiction?
@@JennaH-l1j I re-read Sally's comment. Not once does she say she thinks ''she liked doing it'' she simply stated her theory/opinion. I had 5 brothers...2 are dead because of addiction. BOTH drained our mother and grandmother mentally, emotionally, and financially until my sister and I put a stop to it. I'd say Sally is right on in making her point. Drug addiction is devastating to the addicts entire family....if you love them
@@kellyjoe1110 she insinuated. Being a former addict and now volunteering at several treatment center’s she gives me the impression she’s one of those, “just a junkie” “why can’t they just stop” types. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not defending an addicts behavior, never will. A lot of families don’t understand by not giving them anything is the best help. When family members give money and then stop, addicts justify in our fucked up minds that stealing is ok because they gave us money in the past. A lot of people are ignorant to this and don’t care anything about it, they only care when it happens to them.
She's been smoking Fentanyl for a year, and she just had a baby one week ago.. Which means she was smoking Fentanyl throughout her whole pregnancy. I understand addiction is a 'disease' and addicts aren't thinking straight, but when an addict is pregnant the social services should be allowed to take these women off the streets, and call it prenatal 'prison' or forced rehab, but for 9 months *to protect the unborn child* the moms-to-be should be forced clean. Tough love, but an unborn child has no choice in this, and so the decision should be made for them, by people who are thinking clearly.
Wow, what a disgusting comment. Based on that logic you would also support locking up women who want to have an abortion, women who smoke cigarettes, and women who, for whatever reason, do not receive full pre-natal care. Besides, if you knew anything about this subject, at all, you would know that the modern and resonsible apprach to treating pregnant female opioid addicts is not to take them off the opioids, but to replace the opioids with an appropriate substitute like methadone or buprenorphine, as opioid withdrawels can lead directly into having a miscarriage.
@@jayb2250 A newborn is obviously not going to know that they are drug dependent, so their withdrawels are not comparable to the near agony that a knowing adult would experience. Cases of adults who were not aware of their physical dependence show that withdrawels of opioids are surprisingly manageable until one knows what is causing them. When people do not attribute their symptoms to withdrawel (this frequently happens to people who have been prescribed opioids, as well as to fairly new users of illegal opioids) they often tend to experience them as no worse than a little flu, as that is what they will feel like in the absense of conscious drug cravings and the knowledge that one hit could make everything okay again. The worst agony of opiod withdrawels is caused by the knowledge of what causes them. So as sad as it is to see a little baby crying because of their withdrawel symptoms, it is highly doubtful that they feel anywhere near as bad as a knowing adult. And in the extreme cases in which babies experience massive physical symptoms, they are not left to go cold turkey anyways, they will be treated with opioids and then slowly weaned off over time.
@@justacatwhocantype bro it might be slightly not as bad because you don't know what it is but you have no idea what you're talking about if you think going cold turkey from heavy opioid use feels like "a little cold"
@@jayb2250 Actually I speak from experience. I used opioids, both prescriptions and heroin for many years, and I am still on methadone today. I went through the pheomenom that many users do at the beginning, the odd believe that I am the one person on the planet that would not become dependent. There were several times when I experienced what I now know were withdrawels. Because I was a dumb teenager this did not occur to me, and I figured that since I was sick, I probably should not be doing drgs, so it took a long time until the day came when I caught on that things are actually the exact other way around. After that discovery, once I knew what the cause was, the symptoms that I would originally be able to just deal with became unbearable. This is, as I know from drug therapy, a fairly common phenomenom. Yes, opiods *are* obviously pysically highly addictive, but the unbearablesness of the withdrawels is directly linked to knowing of the cause. When your are in pain, puking, sweating, etc. and you think you are sick, you will accept it and wait to improve. When you know that it is withdrawels it becomes impossible to accept. You can compare it to a person that is dying from what they understand is a 100% fatal condition and has just made peace with it, vs a person that is locked in a room that is slowly filling up with water and they know that there is a key hidden in there somewhere.
@@kristinab1078 bro when you’re withdrawalinh you’ll do things you never thought you’d ever do. Why you think so many woman addicts turn to prostitution?
@@abes3925 I know. I wouldn't call them "good" as the original commenter noted though.I wouldn't necessarily call them "bad" either (though some clearly are). I would use the term "tormented souls." They seem to be walking through a kind of hell every single day, often of their own making.
Good work. It's awesome for these people to tell their stories and put it back in perspective for them. Drugs sometimes make you put it on the back burner, but saying it out loud helps. I hope she gets better.
February 9th of this year (2023) I will be home year clean from fentanyl. August 8th of this year will be two years since my fiance passed away from an overdose. I know not everyone will make it but that will not ever stop me fr praying for each and every single person I know or hear about going through addiction, especially something as deadly and highly addictive as fentanyl. 🙏🏼 🙏🏼 May God watch over you. And give you guidance
I was a few years older than Justin, think he was a freshman when I was a junior... but he was always such a chill and dope ass dude to be around. Always super friendly and respectful. There was always a mutual love and respect for each other and I knew he has gotten involved in some bad shit but I promise anyone reading this, he has a huge heart. I'm sorry that you have to go through this shit Justin, if u ever get the chance to read this, just know I love u and wish u the very best my friend. Giving all my love to u n Kim bro ❤💯
I like these kids. I think it's their sincerity. Most of the time when you see these addict couples, one or both of them are in lala land.. confused and disillusioned. Despite their addiction, these two somehow seem surprisingly grounded. They seem to really love each other. Probably because they've both had encounters with the one and only Source of True Love. They get what alot of regular couples miss ... When things get tough, instead of fighting each other, you need to join forces and battle the situation.
I live adjacent to thousand oaks and grew up in the san fernando valley, specifically northridge. I hate to call bullshit but I love this channel and I think this is one of the best videos I've seen so far because of how much I can relate to. Im 28 as well...shits crazy. I have no clue why she could afford a 2 bedroom condo when she was around 20 years old by working at a eating disorder rehab in TO. She never finished 10th grade, yet somehow she can afford to rent bedroom condo in one of the wealthiest conservative suburbs in southern California? She said that she OWNED 2 CARS, not even leasing them lol. Car insurance and Registration plus car maintenance in California is not cheap lol. How was she making that much money take home after only 3 years of sobriety. Didnt sound like she had much experience before hand besides selling drugs and stealing, so maybe she got a temp job as a basic data entry clerk? but they don't make very much money anyways, even hired through a temp. I just get this icky feeling like shes really good at lying. Money for vacations...give me a break. Remember that she stated she had just gotten out of prison before she got those 3 years of sobriety, and earlier in the video she mentioned that she couldn't get a job because of her criminal record. things ain't adding up. In AA groups the jobs that usually during your first sobriety are menial and are suppose to put you against life on lifes terms. usually those jobs given by members are shitty and build character.
You can finish high school in prison. I didn't hear her say she rented but worked in 1000 oaks, I'll have to relisten. A lot of people say "it's mine" when they really mean "I was able to rent this on my own". I doubt she owned anything but rather leased/had a car note, or the cars were older and able to be purchased out right🤷🏾♀️
I found Kim to be extremely arrogant. Homeless people having a baby is completely irresponsible and a bad start to life for that baby. They are very selfish people. They both need to grow up and get clean or they should never have custody of any child.
@@jilprantner6322 ....yes, the arrogance is alot.. Attitude is everything. I grew up there too, n my brother stayed n became an addict the same, prison etc...he passed away a few year ago. He tried so hard to change, but I do think people get literally possessed by unseen energies dominating those places, and unless you Leave the area totally, it's like how can u quit drinking while in the Bar?
He's exceptionally intelligent, really switched on. They obviously love each other, how wonderful they would be, if they were both clean. Their lives would be awesome.
Imagine what it would be like if they lived with her. It's the generational cycles of abuse. If that shit was taught in schools at a early age what a difference it would make. Unfortunately if you don't go to school for social work or make it to rehab the chance of you being educated on that is nill.
That is the nature of addiction. She is a sick woman. Physically spiritually and emotionally. It raveges the soul. I should know i was addicted for 27 years
@taylorXo bro I know her irl, haven't talked to her in YEARS, because the last time I spoke to her, she stole my car!!! I told her after meeting her like twice that if she ever felt her life was in danger or that she felt like she needed to get away from where she was, that I would pick her up IN A HEART BEAT. So she used that to her advantage, had me drive an hour to come get her, and when I got there, she INVITED ME IN BECAUSE SHE WASNT DONE GETTING READY. then I took her and got her food, ran a few errands, stopped back in the town I came from to run inside Rite Aid to get a fucking ice cream cone, was going to take her anywhere she needed to go, and I came back outside AND MY CAR WAS GONE! She is not as pure as everyone thinks or she tries to portray her self as. I haven't talked to her in years, so I guess I can't say anything about who she is as a person now (although in the past months I've STILL heard only bad things about her and the things she's done to mutual friends). But I DO know that her baby was born addicted. And she gets mail sent to my bestfriends house, and a letter just came to her house recently about how they're looking for her because the case worker is still waiting to hear from her about her kid. I do not feel bad about talking about her in a negative light because I tried so hard to help her and she did me so dirty and cost me my job because of it, and still talks shit about ME like I did ANYTHING to her LOL. FUCK that and fuck this boohoo ass shit. She IS NOT a victim.
@@mclovinu3046 she is a victim...now she is doing all those horrible things but it has not started with her. Yes she is an adult and should take responsibility of her actions but she is a victim...not every traumatized person is an addict but every addict is traumatized.. not my words Gabor Mate's
@@blondie8822 oh thanks for the clarification. Regardless it's very sad she was on fentanyl while pregnant. I feel for both her and her new baby. It's really sad.
I truly hope both of these kids can get into some sort of treatment soon…They seem like a lovely couple who have so much to live for with their new baby, and yet they look moments away from death from how addiction/living on the streets have ravaged their bodies.
@Sushi Cookie junkies always have some lame excuse. The ones (like her) that piss me off is when they bring innocent children into their shit. She just had a baby, odds are, baby was born addicted
Watching these videos as a child of two meth addicts is so…. infuriating. Hopefully I will never be able to understand addiction. I have examples in my life who have made me terrified to even drink alcohol. I just don’t understand how you can’t get clean for your kids. There’s a lot of trauma and sadness that leads to addiction, but at some point people need to wake up and realize they’re passing on the generational curse to their children, and causing even more trauma and pain. At some point it becomes like… what are you living for? I know that’s an irrational thought because addicts are still people. But from what i’ve seen everything just falls apart in the end. Even if you’re doing good now, drugs will undoubtedly make your life fall to pieces. I think we should focus soooo hard on preventative mental health treatment. Because if an addict doesn’t want to change, they just won’t. No matter the cost of rehab, the loss of their family, friends, homes, health. They will keep using if they want to. I honestly don’t even give a second thought to people who are users and don’t have kids. At that point no one is relying on you for anything. But when you have kids it’s selfish. It’s fucking selfish. So many unconscious people in the world.
@@Interstellarpickles I don’t think that at all. Like I said, I don’t really bat an eye to addicts without children because no one is dependent on them. I think being an addict with children is 100% selfish no doubt about it, but I also understand how and why addicts are made. My main point was that you can’t use your parents addictions and vices as an excuse to pass that down to your children by being an addict with no plans to change. At that point you’re not just trying to get by for yourself, but most importantly your children. I understand that some of my feelings aren’t necessarily rational but my comment wasn’t directed to addicts, I know that shaming addicts does no good. Just giving my view as a child, a grandchild, a niece, and a cousin of addicts.
@@kaitlyngraham7276 I just disagree that even if someone gets clean they’ll always relapse and once they’ve fucked up so much they can’t be helped. I think silver linings are possible and people can be beautifully resilient and forgiveness of oneself and others through retribution and hard work can be a beautiful thing
@@Interstellarpickles I don't think there is any redemption for mothers who use during pregnancy. They should live the rest of their lives in tormented shame.
He's very well spoken and bright, I hope there is a solid foundation beneath the dynamics they bonded behind. They have a lot of potential to live fruitful and productive lives and raise those children. I'm sure with a stable environment they can both flourish. You are both strong and aware, make this happen!!
"FAMILY DYSFUNCTION ROLLS DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION, LIKE A FIRE IN THE WOODS, TAKING DOWN EVERYTHING IN ITS PATH UNTIL ONE PERSON IN ONE GENERATION HAS THE COURAGE TO TURN AND FACE THE FLAMES. THAT PERSON BRINGS PEACE TO THEIR ANCESTORS AND SPARES THE CHILDREN THAT FOLLOW." - T REAL Be a firefighter. 🔥Put your children first.
Exactly! My husband and I broke the cycle, changed the future for our kids, otherwise the dysfunction would've continued if we followed our parents examples!
Nicely spoken! I had my son at 38, and my devotion to him kept me out of so much trouble, I felt a little guilty noticing he was like my shield and honest conscience, and that his spirit even came to me to Help this generational cleansing. I'm so proud of him now, he takes such good care of himself and does not carry on his parents ' worst traits'
Addiction is often the result of trying to manage emotional pain, the symptoms of trauma, and potentially a genetic predisposition. It often takes so much more than willpower to stop. Kim says she essentially medicates so that she doesn’t have to feel. I hope Justin and Kim both get through this together and into a healthier place in life, with counselling and sound mental and emotional support to help them make the hard decisions and make practical choices necessary to help themselves and their children.
The part about having no foundation. That's why the "housing first" model is the single best modern response to homelessness and I wish more cities would try it.
@@kattihatt same lol. Plus im a man of odds and historical evidence, and realism. Odds are def low they get clean, especially together as a couple. highly unlikely
I have a very similar beginning of life story to Justin. Drug addict, young birth parents. Christian adopted family in Los Angeles. I was adopted later though. I was adopted at 5 years old, and found my 6 half siblings on Myspace and Facebook between when I was ages 13 to 20 years old. I've always had depression and anxiety, and an urge to go "the bad route". However, I never did. Always been sober. That being said, I did drop out of Nursing School three years in due to sucidal ideation, became totally a hippie, have taught yoga 5 years, and traded Christianity for New Age Spirituality haha
Omg when I was pregnant at 21 I was already a single mom at 17. I thought I was doing the right thing by choosing a wonderful couple to adopt her. I wasn’t an addict or anything bad, it was just so hard to do it alone and when I told the father he wanted nothing to do with it. I almost didn’t find the right couple in time and wasn’t settling for just any couple that qualified. I needed to a connection and trust. I feel like this daughter hates me and I screwed up. I don’t know. She’s been an adult for some years now and hasn’t wanted to find me. The family knows exactly where I am. Interesting to see other adoptees perspectives. Glad you chose the better route but sad u have those feelings. I can feel your pain when I read your story and it’s heartbreaking to think I’m the kind of mom that could’ve caused this same pain that just stays. Hope u can look back one day and not even imagine how it was to feel depressed or anxious when u were younger trying to become an adult and figure life out.
I’m glad they have each other. I was in a similar situation once upon a time. It made all the difference in the world to not go through it alone. I feel horrible for their children, but I can assure everyone that they themselves feel even more horrible for their children.
She’s beautiful. He has some good things to say. I hope one day they can get clean for themselves & their children. I was also hooked on fentanyl but got clean may 2, 2019. I now am building a relationship with my children & family again. If I can get clean, anyone can.
You both speak so well. I can tell you are intelligent people. not just street smart. I pray that the chains of addiction are broken and you guys catch a brake and move grow and share your stories. .
ODed 6 times this year been on streets 5 years and has a healthy newborn and wants him back? in and out of prison, drug addicted husband and no job skills other than drug dealer and rip off of innocent peoples credit? she's angry and uses to numb herself and has NO COPING SKILLS? HELL NO 👎. I personally would fight tooth and nail to make sure she NEVER gets her kids
I believe she said she was sober for 3 years while working at a recovery center and is a licensed estetitian (sp?) but maybe we just skipped that part and can't see the good in people 🙃 Not to say she should get her kids back right NOW but never? The kid is better off with their sober mother than in American foster care anyway.
@@k_xxo exactly.....massive denial .. I was trying so hard not to be sarcastic. I felt literally ill when she said he was born "HEALTHY" and not "drug addicted". and by her presentation and her behavior she's doing more than "smoking fentanyl"
And, it continues...... A baby brought into a world 🌎 & he/she is going to spend the majority of his life wishing he was NEVER born. (No, I'm not saying abortion is better) A horrible cycle. 😢
Baby, you need to get off that shit for your little boys. They need their mom. You need to be around for them and make them proud. We see you and love you and support you. You're beautiful. You can do this ❤
I'd like to see these two again. Hear a little more about their pasts and what's happened to them in life. They both seem quite smart. Shame they're living this life of addiction. Good they have each other.
@@methsmokingneanderthaltrai5309 how empty is your life that you made a troll account just to play idiot on this comment section. The people you're trying to mock have better lives than you, i know cause I've done drugs in the past but never was my existence as empty as yours seems to be. Hope you get it together one day.
He didn't even mention the child that was born 7 days ago? He literally said "I've been doing everything I need to do to make sure we have what we need" homie what? The placenta barely out and she's sleeping on a sidewalk. Everyone talking about how they so well-spoken, they both ain't shit 🤮
I'm not saying "they both ain't shit" but unfortunately, I've been in her shoes, with a man with a grandiose attitude & huge ego. Usually very self centered. They do the bare minimum for their significant other & think they do SO MUCH & want endless praise! Like "bitch, you're lucky I love you or I wouldn't have given you the last hit off the half smoked Doral light I found on the ground. You're welcome!" & she's like "Ty baby! You're SO sweet! What did I do to deserve such a perfect boyfriend?!" It's almost like Stockholm syndrome & codependency at it's finest. If he said he's been "doing everything he can" to make sure they have what they need & she were to be like "um, but we're still sleeping outside"?? He'd likely reply with a "fuck you, ungrateful ass bitch. I work my ass off to make sure we're taken care of" while she still goes hungry & wears the same clothes for a month.
@@toxic_city I have experienced the same. However, when you get pregnant, you are responsible for another life. When there is a child involved, their needs to be put ahead of the mothers. AND dad needs to care too. Which he doesn't lol. So, I stand by my original statement
@@toxic_city I will never understand these women, it's mind boggling. Same with the kind of women who like badboys/criminals, no sympathy for them when the shit hits the fan, which it always will at some point.
I really enjoyed this interview. I wish Kim and Justin the best of luck!! Great couple that needs the right support in order to get clean and stay clean. Keep your head up you two!! You have a lot of people praying for you :)
The way he tells a story like there is nothing wrong with what he is saying, like its normal. "I met her selling in a dope house." " I was in jail and I saw her." "We were all pretty strung out."
@@joshuaaugustin5005 Unfortunately, their decisions also impact the lives of their families and the babies they bring into the world. That's the shame of the whole thing. They suck others into their chaos like a whirling tornado.
Kim if you're reading this, you can do this. I was addicted to opiates and meth for 17 yrs. I lost my 2 daughters in 2009 to CPS cause I couldn't quit. In 2018, they took my 6 yr old son as well. That was the end. I finally quit, got my kid back and now by the grace of God, teach the same parenting class CPS had me in. I just want you to know you CAN do this. It won't be easy. I was on Suboxone for a while and weaned myself off that because I couldn't face the withdrawals. But however you gotta do it, you can do it. God has a purpose for your life ❤️
You are a survivor ❤️
So thankful to hear your story.........and so happy you made the changes for yourself and your kids, sending you love from across the pond!
Sheri, What a sweet & noble comment to, Kim! And, what a courageous woman you are...God Bless 🙏
Love, I hope your words of wisdom resonate with Kim's mind, body & heart and she becomes an example to someone else one day as well.
If that’s not inspiring i don’t know what is. Wow ❤️
suboxone is a bitch for sure
They actually compliment each other. It will be very difficult to get sober together. They’ve formed a relationship built on getting high. From my own experience, they will trigger each other to go back to it.
I agree 1000% personally I could never be in any kind of relationship with someone I used with. When i got sober i cut out everyone that was in that circle.
It’s common in addiction unfortunately .. it’s founded on co dependency and drug fueled toxicity masked as a relationship … speaking from personal experience and having seen this from multiple couples around me … slim chances of either one getting clean until they seperate, they could clean up alone and then get back together tho
In the recovery community we call this trauma bonding. However, I work for an opiate treatment facility, and it can be done. We have couples who come together for treatment. It has to be an equal level of commitment for recovery.
@@MoAli-wm4of So True Mo. When Justin joined, NO mention of their beautiful baby.
You ain't lying it's definitely a bad idea to go back to anyone you used with
She od’ed while pregnant. The baby is definitely not healthy. Those poor children 💔
The fact that she’s one-week postpartum makes this interview absolutely compelling. It’s NOT just him and her, there’s an elephant in the room.
Just unbelievable.
She is in fantasyland. A friends addict daughter says the same about her baby. The baby was taken away because they were concerned the mother would sell her to pedophiles for money for drugs if she hasn't already. She is three, screams if anyone comes near her , has learning disabilities, can't seem to bond with anyone. Can't play with other children. This is who I feel sorry for and the hell she will have to endure not by her choice but because her mother made the choice to do drugs. There are plenty of people who had horrible childhoods and chose not to do drugs. You always have a choice. Unless you are their child. Makes me sick every time I see her.
@@kizelizthis is a good setup for a cluster B personality disorder.
I would said it so sad! @@EvaSawicka
I’m in my last year of RN school, about to start my psych rotation which includes several detox facilities. A classmate recommended this channel as a way to better understand why people use, regardless of how it negatively affects them and their families. Thank you for sharing these stories, I feel I will now be more empathetic towards patients during this rotation. One of my instructors mentioned being in nursing school is a privileged position, and we shouldn’t judge our substance using patients, who would love to switch lives with us. I now understand more what she meant. I hope Justin & Kim are able to get healthy.
Kfl3ful -All well and good, kfl3ful. But don't get in between a smiling addict and whatever it is they say they need. You will get hurt.
As a RN who has worked with patients who have addiction this has helped me also good luck with your future as a nurse
Just remember in your position, a simple smile, eye contact and a sense of understanding could be the difference between ones success in getting clean. It could be the reason an addict chooses to continue their fight. Shame was such a huge emotion for me at that time.
Thank you for already being a human being who wants to help others.
From what you're writing you have some very good qualities.
This actually made me cry.
The fact that you're going that extra inch just to understand and educate yourself tells me that you're genuinely interested in doing the best you can for the people you work with.
To be a warm, emphatic person with a smile is often what it takes. Just be open and have a lot of patience. What we all need is to be seen. You know what I'm saying? Many of these people have never been seen before.
Many of the young addicts are extremely loud and angry but don't buy into it. It's just a show. They're testing you. They've been hurt so many times so they try and push people away before they get hurt again.
All they want is to be loved.
Learning curves bring experience… so while being wary and watchful when nursing lost souls going through detox or addiction, always remember that most people just want to be valued, listened to and loved. Go well and stay happy 😃
She said she OD'ed six times but she just gave birth to her baby. So sad for this infant. I hope they are all safe and can reunite one day soon.
She hasn’t even started toward her sober life. And she’s married to an addict. She won’t be getting her baby back. That baby needs to stay in a stable household.
It's fucked she od'd 6 times when she was pregnant..
Being young and addicted is the worse.You think you have forever and just want to have “fun”.If you make it out alive all you’re left with is regret and the knowing the “fun”wasn’t worth it.Hope she finds some clarity and self love before it’s too late 🤍
It's obvious u have an addiction to food so u know how hard it is to get clean and get on track. So instead of insulting her and assuming that u kno everything about her off of a 15 minute video, give her a chance to try. U don't kno what happened after this video.. none of us do, only Mark does. Hopefully he can do a follow up in a few months.
@@sashaprettyeyes2052 my weight is due to having lupus and RA. Between my meds and being unable to move some days, it’s a little difficult to be able to exercise or get any movement in on some days. Addiction to food isn’t my problem, sweetheart. It’s an actual medical disease.
I hope they don't get the kids
They always say “I can see my son/daughter whenever I want” like they pick and choose when they want to act like a parent.
I'm wondering whether parenting used to be seen as more of a communal responsibility, as it still seems to be in many indigenous cultures. Today, it seems like parenting is thrust on many people who are either unwilling or unable to take on responsibility for another human being. We need better sex education, better access to contraceptives, and better health care systems, particularly for women.
TALK IS SO CHEAPKIDS ALWAYS WANT THEIR MOTHER ALL THE TIME AND THE OLDER THEY GET THE MORE THAT LOW SELF ESTEEM CREEPS UP FEELING UNWANTED FROM BOTH PARENTS SOME KIDS DEAL WITH IT BETTER THAN OTHERS BUT THEY ALL HAVE FEELINGS OF WHY DIDNT MY MOM & DAD WANT ME...SO SAD...i THINK SEEING THEM WHENEVER IT DOESNT INTERFERE WITH YOUR DRUG USE ONLY HURTS THE KIDS..NOT EASY FOR THEM AT ALL
Well to be fair those are the terms of their custody. Like if CPS gets involves and gives the child to the custody of other caregivers, its not accurate to say, "we can see the kids whenever we want [but they are not in our custody]" vs other types of custody where visitation is much more limited
@@itsmelive Yes. When CPS is involved, it is generally to protect the child from one or both parents. The welfare of the child is central, in a more complete sense than simply taking care of material needs. Children cannot raise children and people who fundamentally do not want children should not take on this responsibility. I remember an experiment where teens - both boys and girls - were given dolls to take care of for a week as though they were babies. Almost all struggled, not understanding the level of commitment this demands - and from people who typically are, at this stage of their lives, very self-centered and self-absorbed.
I normally have compassion when it comes to this Chanel But it gets kind of balls to me that is addicts same Fucking story! All cry they had this horrible shit show Upbringing nobody love them nobody one of them but they do the grandparents the hands of girls cousins one parent people taking care of their kids I’m not a fucked up life to and I did a little fucked up things too but when the test said you positive !!! pregnant!!! I didn’t marry a crackhead or heroin addict I married a fucking fireman and did the right thing and left everything else thing behind. My kid was number one still is… he’s 16 Has a house we have a huge Olympic size swimming pool two huskies two bedrooms what is the game room the downstairs hang out wrong on a 1 acre trampoline outside On the football team since it’s 4 Drives with a permit has a jeep almost has a job… goals Kind of a douche Can be nasty hormones . But that’s great because I made a decision to just grow the fuck up for him. I hear a lot of ppl that had much more then I And I never hid it from my child. I wanted him to know how good we had it. You Younger people need to watch the others on this Chanel who REALLY had a HARD af life… nerve Sorry call me whatever
"I try not to feel. That's why I get high. I don't try to feel my emotions, that's the exact reason I'm using." Bingo. This is the heart of addiction right here. Terribly painful emotions that are incredibly difficult to sit with and so people turn to substances to alleviate themselves from having to sit and feel their pain.
100%
Yep. The pain can be empty and dull, or it can be acute psychic and physical discomfort. Either way, it seems endless. Intractable. Unbearable.
I wish more people could understand instead of being rude and horrible 😪
Not true you can. Stop your emotions and still be clean just excuses
@@beabeauchamp956 oh absolutely I agree with you. I didn't say it's not possible to not sit with your emotions, I just said that this is the reason for addiction. It's definitely possible to heal the emotions and heal addiction, we just have to learn to sit with emotions like you said.
I’m a Heroin addict myself here in LA. I fortunately am functioning even holding a job as a firefighter. I guess I can appreciate the struggle they are in but now that I’m on Suboxone I’m seeing it for what it is…we addicts are pretty weak in a sense. We have the power to stop, nobody is forcing that needle into my arm but I’ve always got an excuse as to why I use and so do they. I’ve chosen not to have kids until I can clean up. We (addicts) need to start breaking the cycle, get help and quit with the excuses.
Thank you for your honesty. You are a Super High Functioning addict. Kudos to you. You should write a book about your life. It would be from an interesting perception.
Sending you love and support. It's not easy to face and overcome an addiction, especially with a trauma-inducing job like firefighting. I hope you find peace to leave it in your past. You can do it. Be well.
What!!!??? Stop firefighting, dude.
I hope you get the help you need! Cudos for being high functioning and holding a job, but do this for YOU. you have a purpose and you matter!
@@ChavonJWright They said they're on Suboxone now....
I was in recovery with Kim! Please do an update on her!!!!! She was always so kind and sweet and such a gorgeous woman!!!!! I would always see her around with her son sylis ❤❤
That's great to hear
Every video I watch on this channel just shows me that shitty parents ruin their kids. 99% of these stories start with a bad childhood and those people carry that trauma for the rest of their lives. Makes me 100xs more thankful for the upbringing I had.
I know some people who were not shitty parents and yet their adult children are so messed up it's pitiful. I agree that shitty parents almost always mess up their kids but sometimes good parents have kids that mess up despite having been "raised right." It's sad. 😕
@@icy-hearted-angel Gabor Mate (look him up) says that not every traumatized person is an additc but every addict is a traumatized person....you have no idea what is happening behind closed doors...
Many people have shitty parents and turn out just fine. The link I see in these videos is a genetic component. Justine was adopted and raised in a Christian pastors home but his biological father is an addict too. Bad parenting doesn't help either though.
@@christmastree6817 You are right about some but not all. It's mostly genetics anyway.
Many times tho, it can be a good kid with great parents getting sucked into a friendship or a relationship with someone is a BAD and into drugs. The excitement and peer pressure of trying these drugs for the first time is very enticing to a young kid who has lived a clean, straight and sometimes strict life. That's the sad part. These BAD friends they get involved with know perfectly well that they are are about to screw up the life of this "nice" person and get them addicted, but they do it anyway. Also, the whole "gateway drugs" thing is real. Like experiencing (and surviving) the thrill of more and more scary roller coasters, drugs can be similar in that the thrill of trying each one can lead to trying one that is just a little more dangerous and the highs a little higher. They don't have the perspective of hindsight as they are in the middle of it to see they are one a slowly destructive path that takes them down river, closer and closer to the waterfall drop off of no return.
This channel has really helped me with being humble and empathetic, however I still get irritated by some of these folks lack of accountability. You OD six times this year your child was just born I’m going to go out on a limb and say your lack of an address was not CPS’s only concern. I wish her the best, and hope she finds her way to sobriety.
i feel like the recovery environment these days caters to ppl being like that too. "its ok, your an addict, its a disease, you cant help it"
Exactly, more than likely that baby came out strung out on drugs smh
Right, and she says she wants to get her kids, but she gets a tattoo across her face, of her deadbeat bf. She doesnt even care enough to keep some things quiet in this interview incase CPS sees it.
Imagine receiving involuntary electrical shots every 15, 20 or 30secs. Non stop. U try to manage these involuntary shots to little avail until something challenging happens to you during the day and those electrical shots start again. That’s how they feel. Look how much she moves, scratches herself and is fidgety… 🙏🏻 Its hell…
I agree - I am often torn with these people too. It is a disease but you need to seek treatment and you shouldn’t be having babies. I lost my little brother in 2012 to a heroin overdose. He had just completed rehab and died the same day he got out. It’s heartbreaking loving an addict.
I hope they do not get their son back, that would be straight up child abuse..
they wont. not in the state they are in now
The way she talks she wants to get her kids back and still use
I agree Bill
Agreed.
They won’t. You can see they’re clearly still using and have no intention of stopping anytime soon.
She had a baby a week before this interview and she is a fentanyl user and she said the baby didn't go through withdrawal? BULL$#!+ That's bull. No way in hell that poor baby didn't suffer through withdrawal because of her using while pregnant. Saying she had the baby taken because she had no stable home? Umm sure that definitely has something to do with it also of course, but I'm sure they saw her and her husband were doped up and the baby going through withdrawal. I wish them the best but if her older son is with the father and she didn't get it together for him more then likely knowing her sister will take care of this new baby she won't get clean for him also. She has to do it for herself and she's not at a place where u see she wants out yet. Sad
19:00 I admired the guys humility. He acknowledged he didn't have a bad childhood. He just chose the wrong path cause he wanted to be cool.
Being adopted can be a trauma in itself imo. He stated he was trying to find his sister while he ran away as a child. Also, his parents only gave him up and continued having kids after him.
Yeah n his adoptive dad abandon him n wife wen he was 10 or 12yrs old n never saw him again. Much Trauma I wd say.
I wish they would love their selves as much as they love each other
I wish they would love their children as much as they loved themselves....
She just had a baby a week ago, but OD'ed 6 times this year. So all those times she overdosed she was pregnant, when she could have gotten in a MAT program like a good mother would. I hope the baby gets adopted by a loving family because the chances of her ever getting clean are slim to none.
She openly said that “he wasn’t going through withdrawals and was healthy” - stating clearly that she was using while pregnant.
The statements validity is up for question.
@@hannuhlynn yeah drug addicts LIE
Exactly
@@hannuhlynn and you believed all that ? Good for you .
You don't understand addiction.
When she mentioned losing her biggest support, which was her grandmother, I felt that part the most. I miss my grandparents so much (they were pretty much my parents too). 🙏🏽💛
I feel like it common for grandparents to take the role as the parents. I was raised by my grandmother as well, because my living situation with my mother wasn’t really suitable for a child to grow up in.
I totally get that
@@Earthspirit555 🙏🏽💛😊
@@ladylaois8184 🙏🏽💛😊
yeah me too ..
“I’ve grown up a lot...”
I think you mean you’ve lost any innocence you may have had. Growing up involves stepping up to your responsibilities, including caring for the children you bring into the world.
🙏🏽 you’re bright... but so close to the edge... hoping the pull of your babies’ need for YOU and your loving presence will be stronger than the lifestyle
Well said 👏🏽 I hate to admit it, but I think the very same thing when I hear those words in these interviews. I’m not judging harshly or anything, I just want to clarify what they are REALLY saying.
It's sad to see people struggling with addiction but what's even more sad is seeing them bring innocent lives into their dark web. It's a sick cycle and truly takes the strongest of the strong to end it. Hope her kids are healthy and in a stable environment.
Poster Children for Mandatory Abortions.
ODed while pregnant? Not good, symptoms don't always show up right away, more likely will closer to school age. Please get sober asap for the kids 🙏💗
Like fetal alcohol damage? I agree, there are so many health issues these poor kids can go thru.
Or just get sober and leave that baby alone. :(
Chavon wright, it seems you always have something negative to say about drug addicts that are being interviewed!! You must have had an experience in your life with an drug addict or traumatic experience if I may say?!?!? Due to you have alot of anger at these people that are struggling with ADDICTION!!! How about encourage those struggling so maybe they will open their eyes and get the courage to change!!! You seem to be very Lonely, Miserable man nothing better to do then down on others if you don't want to be understanding of willing to see how and what addiction does then WTF are you watching these type of channels? Have a blessed day 😊
Both seem to have a good heart. They also come off very well mannered and respectful. I hope they pull each other from the trenches.
But they won't pull each other out from the pit they're in. If anything each is more likely to not come out as long as the other one is there to do it with. They are codependent.
They broke my heart. Justin seems like a respectful, kind soul. Kim also.
I hope they get up and out of skid row... that would at least be a start. My mama heart feesl such sadness
Um, how is a drug addicted homeless woman having a baby have a " good heart "?
Oh you two, you two. You both deserve so much more. It took me 10 slow seconds to admire both of your best qualities. What scares me so much is that your both on borrowed time. My point meaning on any given hour that 1 of you will be eaten up by the concrete jungle. I will pray for both of your saftey every day. If i had the money or the space i would scoop you both up and your new little boy. Your going to make!!!!
@@lisavargas459 how is she not a dead beat?
She had a baby a week ago and OD’d “at least six times this year”…that poor baby 👶
Not trashing on her I genuinely feel awful for her. But for anyone doing hard drugs and or have an unstable life like this. Remember birth control is free
I need some "free birth control" how is it free & where is it free?
except it's not free everywhere.
Refraining from sex is free. She also( I know for an absolute fact) would qualify for Medicaid that would 100 percent pay for various forms of birth control including BCP, IUD, Shots and even covers permanent birth control like tubal ligation. So yes, birth control for her is 100 percent free. Also there are a ton of STD clinics in Southern California that offer free simple birth control options like condoms. So I would just like anyone doubting whether these people have access to free birth control, the answer is they do. Now, whether they take advantage of that is a different story...
Your city health clinic def gives out free birth control. So I second, birth control is free
Edit: they give out condoms for free
No. lol. Mirena IUDs are $450.
I'm an addict myself. On fentnyl. I honestly feel in my heart that that stuff came straight from the devil. I've used opioids for literal years and I could always walk away. Until I put that powder up my nose. And the very first time I tried it I was caught. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. Thank God for the clinic I found and methadone bc I would definitely be dead had I not found help. I listen to these stories and I thank God every day for being lucky enough to find help. I pray for all these people.
@Steven Jackson Yes, hard drugs ARE from the devil, and so are the sub-humans who make them (Big pharma) and the kingpins who organize their trafic for mega profits. I admire you for your honesty and wish you the very best for a full recovery. Keep hanging on the God more than men and you will succeed
proud of you .
🙏🙏🙏🙏
Stay strong 💪🏻
Have you been able to stay with the methadone? Use it to not be sick, not to not be high because you HAVE to find something that gives you joy. I’ve been in MAT since 2015 and haven’t touched a strrrt drug or broke the law since 2012 and it’s definitely what you make of it. If you depend on MAT alone it doesn’t work but if you focus on what gives YOU meaning that means a lot more. Much respect and love to you I’m so fucking glad I was already off the streets before this fentanyl crap was everywhere
I honestly have to say that even after being clean for over three years, I still fanticise about this lifestyle. MY BRAIN 🧠 can be my worst enemy at times 💔
Thank for your honesty
The chaos can be just as addictive as the drugs. It's really just comes down to people like us have an addictive personality and anything can easily turn into an addiction.
Same here, but I keep doing the right thing one day at a time. I've been clean since 2-14-20 and even though my life is better than it has ever been, I still catch myself thinking about the first hit and how good it feels...
@@fresatx
WTF?!
@@wendyrobison1973 The chaos is called "acting out":
"People say a child is “acting out” when they exhibit unrestrained and improper actions. The behavior is usually caused by suppressed or denied feelings or emotions. Acting out reduces stress. It's often a child's attempt to show otherwise hidden emotions. Acting out may include fighting, throwing fits, or stealing."
Its easier to "act out", than to deal with your emotions as there are so much anxiety related to them. So you just spew them out to avoid them.
So it serves the exact same purpose as any other addiction.
There are no "addictive personalities", its something that has its roots in the infant-mother relationship. And anyone can become an addict.
Addicted to loving a man that will love her love her back. Repeating the cycle of codependency, she doesn't believe she's worthy of more.
💚
Do not patronize her, please.
Well ya, that’s part of being an addict. Kinda stating the obvious huh?
@@Jay-hp6pu Not really, That's why she's still as a place in her life where she's at.
To state the obvious, he's a man, she's a woman. Just as they both said, he's mostly calm and patient, she's mostly emotional and concerned. He needs her empathy and love, she needs his emotional stability and love. That's how most guys are and why they are attractive to women, and vice versa. Both could live independently, but they're far happier and more secure as a couple.
@Jen Green You may be right, Jen. It's hard to tell because the fentanyl plays such an overriding element holding them together. I wonder if their relationship would survive sans drugs? What would your guess be, Jen?
It's crazy how in denial these 2 are. She said she had a baby 7 days prior who was healthy and had no withdrawals and 2 seconds later admits to smoking fentanyl for the past year with 6 overdoses?
I have no hope for people unable to be honest with themselves.
The way she so casually talks about ODing like she is talking about what she has for dinner is so terrifying and sad. They are actually really sweet together but they are going to have a hard road ahead if they want to get clean because their relationship is based on using and has been for a really long time.
It’s called being “dissociated”. Trauma….
I remember watching this interview when it first happened... And I'm blown away by this chap he's very articulate and speaks well. I wish them both every happiness and success 🇬🇧
They’re so young and look so sick. Like walking corpses. I just wish the best for them- health, a home, stability, family.
A walking corpse is a zombie sherlock you didnt learned anything from the movies?
Justin looks 1000 years old holy crap
They don’t want it.
And her scratching all the time is NOT a good sign.
She’s really really pretty, she’s very well spoken and seems very smart. I hope she can get away from drugs. I hope she doesn’t come back to mark looking worse in a few months.
Your kids being with your family is a huge blessing. When we focus on limitations, we limit all the miraculous things that happen after the first step. One of the toughest parts of withdrawal is that all the emotions that got pushed down come right back. I hope you can find support & hope again
Excellent comment!
I was angry at my mom until I grew up and learned that what she did came from her own trauma, and I forgave her.
Thank you for saying it in that aspect.
Same
Same about my parents too. Eventually you realize everyone is just human.
Excellent realization and comment. Only after forgiveness/acceptance can we forgive ourselves for taking on others burdens that aren't our own. It's the only way to crush the cycle and rise above it.
I’m a full blown addict as well and really don’t judge what people do for drugs or in their addiction, but when someone gets pregnant and doesn’t go on methadone or subs I just think there the worst people on earth. I know it’s wrong to judge but I managed to not knock anyone up because I knew it would be a terrible situation and I was able to do that all while being really sick, you just have to not give a shit about anything to do that, plus she said she OD’d 6 times this year but the kid was okay? Sure I got a mansion to sell ya
dude... It sounds like your own problems are a little bit more pressing than what you seem to be preaching. Maybe instead of taking the time to write a paragraph on youtube (full of misspellings and bad grammar) you could try a thing or two to get yourself better. Besides what good does your comment even do? Do you think that Kim is really gonna read this? Dont hate, Dont Judge. Deal with your own shit and only say something like that to someone if the person is open to listening.
And she says not having an address is the reason she can’t get hired. It has nothing to do with that tattoo on her face.
She just plain doesn’t care
Babies withdraw from subs and methadone. It is difficult for the child and mother no matter what path they take. Subs and methadone have a longer half life so the withdrawal for babies is actually longer and worse. The goal is to keep the mother alive which in turn keeps the baby alive. Don't judge anyone, period.
Ditto. Zero accountability and disgusting with that baby in her belly
Any chance Mark you could do tour/history of skid row and show on the street some of the people from vids showing where they live etc. Just so those of us not from US or who haven't been to LA can get a idea what skid row is like and where some of your subjects live? Love your channel and love your subjects too. My heart goes out to them all. what resonates the most is that nearly every person has had trauma in childhood.
It’s actually not just 1 street.. it’s an area in the city.
@@glowingsme7943 I mean "the street" Iin a general term to mean outside the studio. I'm aware it's a whole area.
@@truth-hurts3089 If you’re interested here’s a channel where the channel creator walks around Skid Row filming: ua-cam.com/channels/QxUDxIC1O-e74DuP4Mzq6w.html
He's got a couple videos where he shows a little bit of skid row. Only thing is alot of the ppl there don't wanna be on camera AT ALL.....
Trust me I’m from la and skid row is horrible… tbh it’s no leaving that place
Kim and her husband need a lot of medical and emotional support to be able to get off fentanyl especially because their addictions are pretty severe. I hope they get the help they need.
This is so sad. I have known Kim a very long time. I have never seen her this bad. It’s so awful. Kim if your seeing this I know we have our issues but you are better than this you deserve so much more.
is she okay? i want to help her she is so beautiful
Captain SavAho. Good idea🤣 you should let her and her STD-littered boyfriend move in to your mom’s house
My late Grandmother was my security blanket.
I remember how lonely it felt when she passed.
Thank you for the interview Kim, Justin & SWU
Mark is amazingly insightful of the struggles of those suffering homelessness and addiction. His level of understanding i find to be so beautiful. We need more Marks❤😊
Her scars make me so sad 😞
I wish she could see how beautiful she is. She is not a lost cause.
The only way to go is up 🙏🏻💕
theyre super down to earth and honest. i hope they can get on a better path because i can see they deserve it. would love an update on both of them!
She’s gorgeous, he’s handsome.. they have sweet personalities.. they can push eachother to overcome this. So sad 😭 I wish them the best
Looks have nothing to do with this. They are in a incredibly toxic co dependant relationship based on hard drugs. She literally gave birth a week ago and back on the streets doing drugs. They can't push each other to do anything but get high. She needs alot more help than just him.
Yes, so sweet to commit fraud and theft then give birth to drug addicted babies and abandon them to get high.
Neither will make it to 2024
Yep these two definitely are on top of people magazine’s list of 100 most attractive people
I would have thought,with it being so recent,that giving up her child a week ago would have been her lowest point.I wish only the best for her and that grace gives her some clarity.
Kim, I just had a baby born this year also while on Suboxone, no withdrawals either thankfully. I also have a 9 year old daughter, and I switched over to Suboxone from street opiates on her 2nd birthday. I’ve been sober 7 years now. You can absolutely do it, with Suboxone or not. The love for your kids can move mountains. Don’t let this precious time slip away ❤️ you are a mother and you can do *all* things.
How did your baby not have any withdrawals while you were on suboxone?
@@jasl9987 some opiates cross the placenta and affect the baby more than others. In my experience, morphine did cause withdrawal symptoms, but subutex didn't, and I'm on a very high dose.
@@pamelaeiskina3838 wow... thats interesting. I didnt know that. I'm also on it and thats a reason I never wanted to have another kid. I thought he/she would have withdrawals.
I am proud of you
Wow mann proud of u
Awe, You’re grandma sounds like the best one in the world, I’m sure she’s watching over you , talk to her and ask for a sign ! Take care ,you deserve better ❤️🙏fifi
Hope she hears her 🎧
My Nana still guides me My saving grace of a woman
Noooo she will tattoo on her forehead whatever her grandma said.
@@rubymorris44 "you're fucked" would be an interesting forehead tat
It's interesting to see someone talk about overdosing so casually after expressing a desire to regain custody of her children. Like risking your life but also wanting to live at the same time. Crazy what this addiction does to people. Wishing you nothing but the best on your recovery journey, Kim. Lots of love.
A most utterly selfish desire…to try to get her baby back. WHY is she trying to get her newborn baby back at this point? Is it because she can more easily get benefits?? I do not get it and I decided to not finish watching after the first 5 minutes which is where I paused it to make this comment. The end.
i hope they make it out together and be successful! their relationship dynamic reminds me of my own 😂 “when she’s feeling riled up, i’m calm and when i’m feeling impatient she’s calm” that helps a lot when one person can level the other one out ❤️ stay strong you two
They’re more likely to die together rather than get sober together.
Don't judge a book by it's cover, Justin is pretty well spoken, that was surprising after first seeing him. Wish both them the best of luck.
They are both very well spoken with so much potential. Hoping they can get off drugs and wishing them the best.
His story of adoption will be the same story of her/their children. I pray for their recovery their kids need them
Went to prison after school, dad drug addict 😥 I hope she gets help she needs.
To the person reading this: Even though I don’t know you, I wish you the best of what life has to offer.
She talks about her love for her grandmother, the reality is she destroyed her grandmother's last years with worry and dread and humiliated and probably a huge financial drain.
I don't sugarcoat. It's true, addicts destroy everything in their wake.
Sounds like she was using her grandmother as her enabler.
Yes, what she's did was wrong. You think she liked doing it? You have no idea what happens to an addicts mind when they're in active addiction. Do you have any loved one's that are in active addiction?
Yes they do destroy lives, because they have a disease, *the* hardest to treat and cure. Their family still loves them nonetheless.
@@JennaH-l1j I re-read Sally's comment. Not once does she say she thinks ''she liked doing it'' she simply stated her theory/opinion. I had 5 brothers...2 are dead because of addiction. BOTH drained our mother and grandmother mentally, emotionally, and financially until my sister and I put a stop to it. I'd say Sally is right on in making her point. Drug addiction is devastating to the addicts entire family....if you love them
@@kellyjoe1110 she insinuated. Being a former addict and now volunteering at several treatment center’s she gives me the impression she’s one of those, “just a junkie” “why can’t they just stop” types. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not defending an addicts behavior, never will. A lot of families don’t understand by not giving them anything is the best help. When family members give money and then stop, addicts justify in our fucked up minds that stealing is ok because they gave us money in the past. A lot of people are ignorant to this and don’t care anything about it, they only care when it happens to them.
She's been smoking Fentanyl for a year, and she just had a baby one week ago.. Which means she was smoking Fentanyl throughout her whole pregnancy. I understand addiction is a 'disease' and addicts aren't thinking straight, but when an addict is pregnant the social services should be allowed to take these women off the streets, and call it prenatal 'prison' or forced rehab, but for 9 months *to protect the unborn child* the moms-to-be should be forced clean. Tough love, but an unborn child has no choice in this, and so the decision should be made for them, by people who are thinking clearly.
So sad imagine the baby having to go cold turkey right after being born jesus
Wow, what a disgusting comment. Based on that logic you would also support locking up women who want to have an abortion, women who smoke cigarettes, and women who, for whatever reason, do not receive full pre-natal care. Besides, if you knew anything about this subject, at all, you would know that the modern and resonsible apprach to treating pregnant female opioid addicts is not to take them off the opioids, but to replace the opioids with an appropriate substitute like methadone or buprenorphine, as opioid withdrawels can lead directly into having a miscarriage.
@@jayb2250 A newborn is obviously not going to know that they are drug dependent, so their withdrawels are not comparable to the near agony that a knowing adult would experience. Cases of adults who were not aware of their physical dependence show that withdrawels of opioids are surprisingly manageable until one knows what is causing them. When people do not attribute their symptoms to withdrawel (this frequently happens to people who have been prescribed opioids, as well as to fairly new users of illegal opioids) they often tend to experience them as no worse than a little flu, as that is what they will feel like in the absense of conscious drug cravings and the knowledge that one hit could make everything okay again. The worst agony of opiod withdrawels is caused by the knowledge of what causes them. So as sad as it is to see a little baby crying because of their withdrawel symptoms, it is highly doubtful that they feel anywhere near as bad as a knowing adult. And in the extreme cases in which babies experience massive physical symptoms, they are not left to go cold turkey anyways, they will be treated with opioids and then slowly weaned off over time.
@@justacatwhocantype bro it might be slightly not as bad because you don't know what it is but you have no idea what you're talking about if you think going cold turkey from heavy opioid use feels like "a little cold"
@@jayb2250 Actually I speak from experience. I used opioids, both prescriptions and heroin for many years, and I am still on methadone today. I went through the pheomenom that many users do at the beginning, the odd believe that I am the one person on the planet that would not become dependent. There were several times when I experienced what I now know were withdrawels. Because I was a dumb teenager this did not occur to me, and I figured that since I was sick, I probably should not be doing drgs, so it took a long time until the day came when I caught on that things are actually the exact other way around. After that discovery, once I knew what the cause was, the symptoms that I would originally be able to just deal with became unbearable. This is, as I know from drug therapy, a fairly common phenomenom. Yes, opiods *are* obviously pysically highly addictive, but the unbearablesness of the withdrawels is directly linked to knowing of the cause. When your are in pain, puking, sweating, etc. and you think you are sick, you will accept it and wait to improve. When you know that it is withdrawels it becomes impossible to accept. You can compare it to a person that is dying from what they understand is a 100% fatal condition and has just made peace with it, vs a person that is locked in a room that is slowly filling up with water and they know that there is a key hidden in there somewhere.
I can tell she's genuinely a person with a good soul so I hope the best for her.
She is. I know her. When she was 3 years sober
@@sabellaneal awww
A good soul who steals identities and makes life hell for innocent victims who have to clean up the mess.
@@kristinab1078 bro when you’re withdrawalinh you’ll do things you never thought you’d ever do. Why you think so many woman addicts turn to prostitution?
@@abes3925 I know. I wouldn't call them "good" as the original commenter noted though.I wouldn't necessarily call them "bad" either (though some clearly are). I would use the term "tormented souls." They seem to be walking through a kind of hell every single day, often of their own making.
Justin’s story is so interesting, if you’re a man or woman everyone needs love and needs to be wanted ❤️🙏fifi
True
Looking for Justin's story in the SFU Channel but did not see anything. Could you link it? Would love to watch that one.
@@kristinpistin615 it’s the second part of kimberlys interview! It starts about halfway through.
@@kristinpistin615 12:50ish mark
@@kristinpistin615 bring her bring her back up here no cuz I just did her hair s*** that's probably wet now damn
Good work. It's awesome for these people to tell their stories and put it back in perspective for them. Drugs sometimes make you put it on the back burner, but saying it out loud helps. I hope she gets better.
Says she just smokes it, her body shows different. And some are fresh sores so yeah that baby had withdrawals. Sad
February 9th of this year (2023) I will be home year clean from fentanyl. August 8th of this year will be two years since my fiance passed away from an overdose. I know not everyone will make it but that will not ever stop me fr praying for each and every single person I know or hear about going through addiction, especially something as deadly and highly addictive as fentanyl. 🙏🏼 🙏🏼 May God watch over you. And give you guidance
I was a few years older than Justin, think he was a freshman when I was a junior... but he was always such a chill and dope ass dude to be around. Always super friendly and respectful. There was always a mutual love and respect for each other and I knew he has gotten involved in some bad shit but I promise anyone reading this, he has a huge heart. I'm sorry that you have to go through this shit Justin, if u ever get the chance to read this, just know I love u and wish u the very best my friend. Giving all my love to u n Kim bro ❤💯
Very touching i bet they invite you for a dinner now
I like these kids. I think it's their sincerity. Most of the time when you see these addict couples, one or both of them are in lala land.. confused and disillusioned. Despite their addiction, these two somehow seem surprisingly grounded. They seem to really love each other. Probably because they've both had encounters with the one and only Source of True Love. They get what alot of regular couples miss ... When things get tough, instead of fighting each other, you need to join forces and battle the situation.
They're happy because they're stoned off their ass.
I live adjacent to thousand oaks and grew up in the san fernando valley, specifically northridge. I hate to call bullshit but I love this channel and I think this is one of the best videos I've seen so far because of how much I can relate to. Im 28 as well...shits crazy. I have no clue why she could afford a 2 bedroom condo when she was around 20 years old by working at a eating disorder rehab in TO. She never finished 10th grade, yet somehow she can afford to rent bedroom condo in one of the wealthiest conservative suburbs in southern California? She said that she OWNED 2 CARS, not even leasing them lol. Car insurance and Registration plus car maintenance in California is not cheap lol.
How was she making that much money take home after only 3 years of sobriety. Didnt sound like she had much experience before hand besides selling drugs and stealing, so maybe she got a temp job as a basic data entry clerk? but they don't make very much money anyways, even hired through a temp. I just get this icky feeling like shes really good at lying. Money for vacations...give me a break. Remember that she stated she had just gotten out of prison before she got those 3 years of sobriety, and earlier in the video she mentioned that she couldn't get a job because of her criminal record. things ain't adding up. In AA groups the jobs that usually during your first sobriety are menial and are suppose to put you against life on lifes terms. usually those jobs given by members are shitty and build character.
You can finish high school in prison. I didn't hear her say she rented but worked in 1000 oaks, I'll have to relisten. A lot of people say "it's mine" when they really mean "I was able to rent this on my own". I doubt she owned anything but rather leased/had a car note, or the cars were older and able to be purchased out right🤷🏾♀️
Maybe she was using her esthetician license on top of the other job ..drugs can play games with your mental too. Everyone stay safe
I found Kim to be extremely arrogant. Homeless people having a baby is completely irresponsible and a bad start to life for that baby. They are very selfish people. They both need to grow up and get clean or they should never have custody of any child.
@@jilprantner6322 ....yes, the arrogance is alot..
Attitude is everything.
I grew up there too, n my brother stayed n became an addict the same, prison etc...he passed away a few year ago. He tried so hard to change, but I do think people get literally possessed by unseen energies dominating those places, and unless you Leave the area totally, it's like how can u quit drinking while in the Bar?
@@NetivaHeard even if she rented in LA , it’s crazy expensive let alone insurance, cars. She’s lying…
He's exceptionally intelligent, really switched on. They obviously love each other, how wonderful they would be, if they were both clean. Their lives would be awesome.
She had a tough childhood, but her actions have caused her kids to even have a tougher one.
Imagine what it would be like if they lived with her. It's the generational cycles of abuse. If that shit was taught in schools at a early age what a difference it would make. Unfortunately if you don't go to school for social work or make it to rehab the chance of you being educated on that is nill.
Yes.
That is the nature of addiction. She is a sick woman. Physically spiritually and emotionally. It raveges the soul. I should know i was addicted for 27 years
I find it hard to believe that baby wasn’t born addicted.
She is absolutely capping on that one
@@jessicajennifer9827 she over dosed 6 times this year..
@taylorXo bro I know her irl, haven't talked to her in YEARS, because the last time I spoke to her, she stole my car!!! I told her after meeting her like twice that if she ever felt her life was in danger or that she felt like she needed to get away from where she was, that I would pick her up IN A HEART BEAT. So she used that to her advantage, had me drive an hour to come get her, and when I got there, she INVITED ME IN BECAUSE SHE WASNT DONE GETTING READY. then I took her and got her food, ran a few errands, stopped back in the town I came from to run inside Rite Aid to get a fucking ice cream cone, was going to take her anywhere she needed to go, and I came back outside AND MY CAR WAS GONE! She is not as pure as everyone thinks or she tries to portray her self as. I haven't talked to her in years, so I guess I can't say anything about who she is as a person now (although in the past months I've STILL heard only bad things about her and the things she's done to mutual friends). But I DO know that her baby was born addicted. And she gets mail sent to my bestfriends house, and a letter just came to her house recently about how they're looking for her because the case worker is still waiting to hear from her about her kid. I do not feel bad about talking about her in a negative light because I tried so hard to help her and she did me so dirty and cost me my job because of it, and still talks shit about ME like I did ANYTHING to her LOL. FUCK that and fuck this boohoo ass shit. She IS NOT a victim.
@@mclovinu3046 your story is crazy, if real...do you take back your car at least ?
@@mclovinu3046 she is a victim...now she is doing all those horrible things but it has not started with her. Yes she is an adult and should take responsibility of her actions but she is a victim...not every traumatized person is an addict but every addict is traumatized.. not my words Gabor Mate's
Just had a baby a week ago... Over dosed 6 times this year? That math is horrible. That poor baby.
She said she od’d 6 times in her life. Not this year. And for people that are active as they are, od’ing is basically normal.
@@blondie8822 oh thanks for the clarification. Regardless it's very sad she was on fentanyl while pregnant. I feel for both her and her new baby. It's really sad.
@@JessBrookeAllen She has a lot of denial in her life.
11:35 she definitely said this year
No she literally said 6 times this year.
I truly hope both of these kids can get into some sort of treatment soon…They seem like a lovely couple who have so much to live for with their new baby, and yet they look moments away from death from how addiction/living on the streets have ravaged their bodies.
And I doubt you can see your children quote whenever you want.... these people are delusional
@Sushi Cookie junkies always have some lame excuse. The ones (like her) that piss me off is when they bring innocent children into their shit. She just had a baby, odds are, baby was born addicted
I'm sorry but , I don't believe that her baby wasn't born addicted.
Watching these videos as a child of two meth addicts is so…. infuriating. Hopefully I will never be able to understand addiction. I have examples in my life who have made me terrified to even drink alcohol. I just don’t understand how you can’t get clean for your kids. There’s a lot of trauma and sadness that leads to addiction, but at some point people need to wake up and realize they’re passing on the generational curse to their children, and causing even more trauma and pain. At some point it becomes like… what are you living for? I know that’s an irrational thought because addicts are still people. But from what i’ve seen everything just falls apart in the end. Even if you’re doing good now, drugs will undoubtedly make your life fall to pieces. I think we should focus soooo hard on preventative mental health treatment. Because if an addict doesn’t want to change, they just won’t. No matter the cost of rehab, the loss of their family, friends, homes, health. They will keep using if they want to. I honestly don’t even give a second thought to people who are users and don’t have kids. At that point no one is relying on you for anything. But when you have kids it’s selfish. It’s fucking selfish. So many unconscious people in the world.
@@Interstellarpickles what’s the right way to look at it, especially the kids of users?
@@Interstellarpickles I don’t think that at all. Like I said, I don’t really bat an eye to addicts without children because no one is dependent on them. I think being an addict with children is 100% selfish no doubt about it, but I also understand how and why addicts are made. My main point was that you can’t use your parents addictions and vices as an excuse to pass that down to your children by being an addict with no plans to change. At that point you’re not just trying to get by for yourself, but most importantly your children. I understand that some of my feelings aren’t necessarily rational but my comment wasn’t directed to addicts, I know that shaming addicts does no good. Just giving my view as a child, a grandchild, a niece, and a cousin of addicts.
@@kaitlyngraham7276 I just disagree that even if someone gets clean they’ll always relapse and once they’ve fucked up so much they can’t be helped. I think silver linings are possible and people can be beautifully resilient and forgiveness of oneself and others through retribution and hard work can be a beautiful thing
@@Interstellarpickles I don't think there is any redemption for mothers who use during pregnancy. They should live the rest of their lives in tormented shame.
@@Zachmegoodin that I agree with
Re interview her!!! I’m curious to know where she is now! We were from the same area and I knew of her from the rooms of NA
He's very well spoken and bright, I hope there is a solid foundation beneath the dynamics they bonded behind. They have a lot of potential to live fruitful and productive lives and raise those children. I'm sure with a stable environment they can both flourish. You are both strong and aware, make this happen!!
I was thinking the same thing about him as he shared. He may not have been heeding his adopted father's sermons but the language within stuck.
Lovely words x
@@nadiahill4928 Thank you Nadia 0X
The fact that they control their anger and frustration in the relationship better than most ppl says a lot 😭
What does it say to you?
Lol they’re not controlling their anger, they’re masking it by getting high
"FAMILY DYSFUNCTION ROLLS DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION, LIKE A FIRE IN THE WOODS, TAKING DOWN EVERYTHING IN ITS PATH UNTIL ONE PERSON IN ONE GENERATION HAS THE COURAGE TO TURN AND FACE THE FLAMES. THAT PERSON BRINGS PEACE TO THEIR ANCESTORS AND SPARES THE CHILDREN THAT FOLLOW." - T REAL
Be a firefighter. 🔥Put your children first.
Facts! She’s gotta break those generational curses. She’s the one they’ve been waiting for. 💖
@lilaworley please lets be friends, i needed to read that, thank you
Exactly! My husband and I broke the cycle, changed the future for our kids, otherwise the dysfunction would've continued if we followed our parents examples!
This needs to be pinned 🙏🏾🙌🏽🥰
Nicely spoken!
I had my son at 38, and my devotion to him kept me out of so much trouble, I felt a little guilty noticing he was like my shield and honest conscience, and that his spirit even came to me to Help this generational cleansing.
I'm so proud of him now, he takes such good care of himself and does not carry on his parents ' worst traits'
Addiction is often the result of trying to manage emotional pain, the symptoms of trauma, and potentially a genetic predisposition. It often takes so much more than willpower to stop. Kim says she essentially medicates so that she doesn’t have to feel. I hope Justin and Kim both get through this together and into a healthier place in life, with counselling and sound mental and emotional support to help them make the hard decisions and make practical choices necessary to help themselves and their children.
The part about having no foundation. That's why the "housing first" model is the single best modern response to homelessness and I wish more cities would try it.
When she said she had her husband to protect her I was expecting this big guy..
right lol
They seem like they could really pull out of this and change their life. Best wishes!🙏🤞🤞🤞 You and your kids deserve it.
Im not too optimistic about that.
@@kattihatt same lol. Plus im a man of odds and historical evidence, and realism. Odds are def low they get clean, especially together as a couple. highly unlikely
@@nunyabizwacks6711 yeah, theyre deep in drugs, homeless, shes recently been in prison. I mean everyone can change, but this is really looking dark.
With all due respect, you're naive.
@@issafacelift No, I'm well aware of the possibility of it not happening. I'm hopeful. Big difference
I have a very similar beginning of life story to Justin. Drug addict, young birth parents. Christian adopted family in Los Angeles. I was adopted later though. I was adopted at 5 years old, and found my 6 half siblings on Myspace and Facebook between when I was ages 13 to 20 years old. I've always had depression and anxiety, and an urge to go "the bad route". However, I never did. Always been sober. That being said, I did drop out of Nursing School three years in due to sucidal ideation, became totally a hippie, have taught yoga 5 years, and traded Christianity for New Age Spirituality haha
Omg when I was pregnant at 21 I was already a single mom at 17. I thought I was doing the right thing by choosing a wonderful couple to adopt her. I wasn’t an addict or anything bad, it was just so hard to do it alone and when I told the father he wanted nothing to do with it. I almost didn’t find the right couple in time and wasn’t settling for just any couple that qualified. I needed to a connection and trust. I feel like this daughter hates me and I screwed up. I don’t know. She’s been an adult for some years now and hasn’t wanted to find me. The family knows exactly where I am. Interesting to see other adoptees perspectives. Glad you chose the better route but sad u have those feelings. I can feel your pain when I read your story and it’s heartbreaking to think I’m the kind of mom that could’ve caused this same pain that just stays. Hope u can look back one day and not even imagine how it was to feel depressed or anxious when u were younger trying to become an adult and figure life out.
I’m glad they have each other. I was in a similar situation once upon a time. It made all the difference in the world to not go through it alone. I feel horrible for their children, but I can assure everyone that they themselves feel even more horrible for their children.
She’s beautiful. He has some good things to say. I hope one day they can get clean for themselves & their children. I was also hooked on fentanyl but got clean may 2, 2019. I now am building a relationship with my children & family again. If I can get clean, anyone can.
Good morning y’all!! Everyone have a great day! Good luck to you Kim! Hope you find what I have found in sobriety!
👏🏼👏🏼 Thank you for your hard work Mark! Great respect for you from 🇨🇦 Alberta, Canada 🇨🇦
“I had a baby a week ago”🥴
“My husband is an active user”🥴🥴🥴
“I OD’d 6 times this year”🥴🥴🥴🥴🥴🥴🥴🥴🥴🥴
@@deen8842 it doesn’t take a week. If the baby is not withdrawing by now it’s not going to. Thankfully
@@deen8842
That baby would have been rushed to the NICU as soon as he was born and out of her grasp. She just never saw that baby in withdrawal.
@@deen8842 the baby is a week old. Pay attention.
@Dee Bias The baby is a week old now, that was what the reference to a week was.
@@sharong8511 exactly!
Birth control is free if your so worried that your babies wouldn't be addicted.
You both speak so well. I can tell you are intelligent people. not just street smart. I pray that the chains of addiction are broken and you guys catch a brake and move grow and share your stories. .
ODed 6 times this year been on streets 5 years and has a healthy newborn and wants him back? in and out of prison, drug addicted husband and no job skills other than drug dealer and rip off of innocent peoples credit? she's angry and uses to numb herself and has NO COPING SKILLS? HELL NO 👎. I personally would fight tooth and nail to make sure she NEVER gets her kids
Yeah a “healthy newborn” while smoking fentanyl. Not a chance, so sad. 🤦🏻♀️
I believe she said she was sober for 3 years while working at a recovery center and is a licensed estetitian (sp?) but maybe we just skipped that part and can't see the good in people 🙃
Not to say she should get her kids back right NOW but never? The kid is better off with their sober mother than in American foster care anyway.
@@k_xxo exactly.....massive denial .. I was trying so hard not to be sarcastic. I felt literally ill when she said he was born "HEALTHY" and not "drug addicted". and by her presentation and her behavior she's doing more than "smoking fentanyl"
@@rnkim2564 I don’t understand why people in her position aren’t on birth control. Makes me want to SCREAM.
@@k_xxo Same reason why they are on the streets, Addiction.
It's not even possible to do anything till she commits to getting clean sadly. Her children aren't thar important at this time.
I think Mark is a safe space for the people of skid row they may feel broken but they are blessed to have Mark I wish everyone the best 💚
I'm glad that she found someone who appears to genuinely love her.
She has such a beautiful laugh and smile. I hope they find sobriety and stability. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
And, it continues......
A baby brought into a world 🌎 & he/she is going to spend the majority of his life wishing he was NEVER born.
(No, I'm not saying abortion is better)
A horrible cycle. 😢
Existence is the cause of every person's suffering. Antinatalism is the way.⚡
100% facts
I wish I was never born. That's why I am for abortion. It is better to never be that be with feeling unwanted all your ife.
Let's be honest sometimes abortion is better.
Almost every foster kid wails, "I wish I was never born."
Kim , I hope you find the life you deserve full of love and healthy relationships. Hugs
Baby, you need to get off that shit for your little boys. They need their mom. You need to be around for them and make them proud. We see you and love you and support you. You're beautiful. You can do this ❤
She said she OD 6 times this year and just gave birth to a child last weeks and said the child came out without any type of withdrawals
I'd like to see these two again. Hear a little more about their pasts and what's happened to them in life. They both seem quite smart. Shame they're living this life of addiction. Good they have each other.
I’m sending her so much love and so many hugs. She has a beautiful soul. 💖
Shut up Dope Head 🙄🤫🤫🤫
@@methsmokingneanderthaltrai5309 self reflection must suck for you. I’m not addicted to anything but cigarettes. I don’t even drink. Try again.
@@methsmokingneanderthaltrai5309 I hope you have the day you deserve. 💖
@@methsmokingneanderthaltrai5309 how empty is your life that you made a troll account just to play idiot on this comment section. The people you're trying to mock have better lives than you, i know cause I've done drugs in the past but never was my existence as empty as yours seems to be. Hope you get it together one day.
Sending love and prayers to all addicts around the world Lord please tap your arms around us..good morning from BUFFALO NY
He didn't even mention the child that was born 7 days ago? He literally said "I've been doing everything I need to do to make sure we have what we need" homie what? The placenta barely out and she's sleeping on a sidewalk. Everyone talking about how they so well-spoken, they both ain't shit 🤮
I'm not saying "they both ain't shit" but unfortunately, I've been in her shoes, with a man with a grandiose attitude & huge ego. Usually very self centered. They do the bare minimum for their significant other & think they do SO MUCH & want endless praise! Like "bitch, you're lucky I love you or I wouldn't have given you the last hit off the half smoked Doral light I found on the ground. You're welcome!" & she's like "Ty baby! You're SO sweet! What did I do to deserve such a perfect boyfriend?!" It's almost like Stockholm syndrome & codependency at it's finest. If he said he's been "doing everything he can" to make sure they have what they need & she were to be like "um, but we're still sleeping outside"?? He'd likely reply with a "fuck you, ungrateful ass bitch. I work my ass off to make sure we're taken care of" while she still goes hungry & wears the same clothes for a month.
@@toxic_city I have experienced the same. However, when you get pregnant, you are responsible for another life. When there is a child involved, their needs to be put ahead of the mothers. AND dad needs to care too. Which he doesn't lol. So, I stand by my original statement
Well said Masha
@@toxic_city I will never understand these women, it's mind boggling. Same with the kind of women who like badboys/criminals, no sympathy for them when the shit hits the fan, which it always will at some point.
@@diegoshepherd3464 thank you sir 🙏
I really enjoyed this interview. I wish Kim and Justin the best of luck!! Great couple that needs the right support in order to get clean and stay clean. Keep your head up you two!! You have a lot of people praying for you :)
Great couple?
The way he tells a story like there is nothing wrong with what he is saying, like its normal. "I met her selling in a dope house." " I was in jail and I saw her." "We were all pretty strung out."
Its their life. They can't live life always full of shame. They know its not the best decisions but they are theirs.
@@joshuaaugustin5005 Unfortunately, their decisions also impact the lives of their families and the babies they bring into the world. That's the shame of the whole thing. They suck others into their chaos like a whirling tornado.