Roland Preston|Relapse. Overdose. Saving lives: How a Detroit addict and mom of 3 is finding her purpose

2025-05-04 20:53:46source:PredictIQ Quantitative Think Tank Centercategory:My

Editor's note: This is Roland Prestona content warning. The following package contains extremely graphic descriptions, images and video of drug use and addiction, as well as discussion of sexual assault and suicide.

Take it easy, Amanda tells the visitor.

But the visitor, a middle-age woman from the suburbs with expensive-looking highlights brushed through her hair, doesn't listen.

Sitting at the kitchen table in the brick bungalow on Detroit's east side where Amanda stays, the visitor fills her syringe fuller than Amanda thinks is wise. She eases it deftly into the top of her right hand, pulls back the plunger until blood seeps into the barrel indicating she has hit a vein and then pushes in the heroin. The drug works quickly. In less than a minute's time, the visitor's words are thick and slurred. Slowly, she collapses, her head melting onto the heavy black table, just missing the hunting knife and mirror she'd laid there earlier, next to her buffet of vodka, juice and drugs. She begins to snore, the loud rumble a sign of overdose ― which is exactly what Amanda was trying to prevent. The woman looks pale, maybe even a little gray.

More:My

Recommend

Stanley recalls 2.6 million mugs after dozens of customer complaints, including burn injuries

Stanley is recalling 2.6 million mugs sold in the U.S. after the company received dozens of consumer

The Non-Aligned Movement calls Israel’s war in Gaza illegal and condemns attacks on Palestinians

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Heads of states of the Non-Aligned Movement Saturday called Israel’s military

Amid tough reelection fight, San Francisco mayor declines to veto resolution she criticized on Gaza

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Amid a tough reelection fight, Mayor London Breed has declined to veto a non-bi