I watched the first two installments of this documentary decades ago. The second installment of those two ended at some date maybe 20 years ago and nothing looked especially promising for the three main subjects. (The 4th one, Mike, was in prison and maybe still is. We didn't find out about him.)
Freddie tested positive for HIV and spent years in prison, fortunately kept alive by HIV drugs. Rob also spent years in prison as did Deliris. All three came out clean determined to make a go of things at last and stay off drugs for good.
Rob was doing great. He had a job at a drugstore and when it closed they transferred him to another of the company's stores, because he had been a good and reliable worker. But the manager of the new store, upon learning about his past, fired him. He was unable to get a steady job after that. Freddy also had problems getting steady work and staying 'clean', given his family and friends who were all 'using'. He ran into trouble with his finances and life in general and was on the fence about whether he could keep up being clean. Deliris started out strong, then relapsed... she looked like death. Rob however is seen visiting her in one clip, urging her to get clean again.
Fast forward... the first thing we see is Freddy in his casket. I wasn't expecting that and caught myself saying 'Oh no...'. He lost his will power and drive to stay clean, and died from drugs. Then we see how Rob also died... on the floor of his small apartment, from an overdose of pure heroin. The police give us a view of his apartment, with blood all over the floor that came out of him after he shot up for the last time. We also get a look at him in the morgue, including his face which is greenish and lifeless. It's obviously him though. Again, so hard to see.
Deliris however - she got clean and stayed that way for 13 years! She gained weight and got healthy and began working to help other addicts to get off drugs and get them help. She was even named Newark NJ's 'Citizen of the Year' for her triumph over heroin and her success at life once more. But then... Covid hit. She lost her job and her support group was disbanded over the virus. After three months on her own with no support, she bumped into an old acquaintance who (may they burn in Hell) sold her some heroin. One shot, she overdosed, she was gone.
This was so hard to watch. I'm a full grown adult man and the very last scenes put tears in my eyes. We also saw Deliris in her casket and her family and friends grief stricken. For me the worst and most moving moments were seeing her young grandson - who looked just like her own son had at that age - crying at the side of the grave as her casket was lowered. That hit me.
I had really hoped that at least one of these people would straighten out and live happily ever after. During the course of the earlier parts of the documentary I got to know them and to a lesser extent some of their family members, and I learned to care about them. They were not bad people. Having such a devastating ending to all three stories was just so very sad. People who think we should legalize drugs and lessen penalties for those who sell them should be made to watch what drugs did to these people, and their families. Whether the drugs are legal or not, they will get you addicted and kill you. Freddy said exactly that, late in the program - 'I don't care how long you been clean, if you ever used before, you're gonna use again.' Sadly he was right in all three of these cases.
Rest in peace Freddy, Rob and Deliris. I hope your stories save the lives of some other people.
Freddie tested positive for HIV and spent years in prison, fortunately kept alive by HIV drugs. Rob also spent years in prison as did Deliris. All three came out clean determined to make a go of things at last and stay off drugs for good.
Rob was doing great. He had a job at a drugstore and when it closed they transferred him to another of the company's stores, because he had been a good and reliable worker. But the manager of the new store, upon learning about his past, fired him. He was unable to get a steady job after that. Freddy also had problems getting steady work and staying 'clean', given his family and friends who were all 'using'. He ran into trouble with his finances and life in general and was on the fence about whether he could keep up being clean. Deliris started out strong, then relapsed... she looked like death. Rob however is seen visiting her in one clip, urging her to get clean again.
Fast forward... the first thing we see is Freddy in his casket. I wasn't expecting that and caught myself saying 'Oh no...'. He lost his will power and drive to stay clean, and died from drugs. Then we see how Rob also died... on the floor of his small apartment, from an overdose of pure heroin. The police give us a view of his apartment, with blood all over the floor that came out of him after he shot up for the last time. We also get a look at him in the morgue, including his face which is greenish and lifeless. It's obviously him though. Again, so hard to see.
Deliris however - she got clean and stayed that way for 13 years! She gained weight and got healthy and began working to help other addicts to get off drugs and get them help. She was even named Newark NJ's 'Citizen of the Year' for her triumph over heroin and her success at life once more. But then... Covid hit. She lost her job and her support group was disbanded over the virus. After three months on her own with no support, she bumped into an old acquaintance who (may they burn in Hell) sold her some heroin. One shot, she overdosed, she was gone.
This was so hard to watch. I'm a full grown adult man and the very last scenes put tears in my eyes. We also saw Deliris in her casket and her family and friends grief stricken. For me the worst and most moving moments were seeing her young grandson - who looked just like her own son had at that age - crying at the side of the grave as her casket was lowered. That hit me.
I had really hoped that at least one of these people would straighten out and live happily ever after. During the course of the earlier parts of the documentary I got to know them and to a lesser extent some of their family members, and I learned to care about them. They were not bad people. Having such a devastating ending to all three stories was just so very sad. People who think we should legalize drugs and lessen penalties for those who sell them should be made to watch what drugs did to these people, and their families. Whether the drugs are legal or not, they will get you addicted and kill you. Freddy said exactly that, late in the program - 'I don't care how long you been clean, if you ever used before, you're gonna use again.' Sadly he was right in all three of these cases.
Rest in peace Freddy, Rob and Deliris. I hope your stories save the lives of some other people.