Book Description

Eric's memoir begins with a vivid memory of the first time he smoked crack cocaine with his father at only fourteen years old. By eleven years old, Eric was drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana with his classmates and his cousins. Because much of his life felt so unstable, substances were an essential coping strategy for him early on. Soon, drugs and alcohol became part of his daily routine. Eric started getting in trouble with the law around age sixteen, and from there things escalated quickly. He spent two weeks in juvenile hall, and dropped out of high school shortly after. By seventeen he was fully hooked on smoking crack cocaine and would do just about anything for a fix. His relationship with his family deteriorated. As a result, Eric lived on the streets, stole what he needed when he needed it, and eventually went to prison. Eric spent the majority of his twenties and thirties in a vicious cycle: drug use, prison, release, relapse, over and over again. Although he was able to stay clean and focused on his health in prison, he would relapse soon after his release. Then, after weeks or even months of homelessness and drug use, he welcomed another stint in prison as a break from the hold that crack had over his every move. Eric tried rehab, escort work, and even had a successful stint in the adult entertainment industry. Nothing served a permanent solution to manage his addiction. Eventually, he found himself back in prison. His 19th trip to prison would prove to be the most monumental. Eric developed his first real friendship with another man, named Curtis. Curtis shared his life story with Eric, and encouraged Eric to do the same, with as much honesty and integrity as possible. It was through this relationship that Eric was finally able to learn to trust, and begin to heal from his past experiences of being manipulated by his father. Eric also formed lasting friendships with some of the speakers at the NA meetings he frequented. It was through these relationships, and the trust that was fostered through them, that Eric found true freedom. These relationships also set him up with a type of supportive, sober network upon release, which he had never had before. Now, Eric lives his life as a free man and is grateful to experience many things he feels he missed out on when he was younger. He now takes life day by day, putting one foot in front of the other, and sees every day as an opportunity to learn from others and most importantly, honor and cherish himself. He hopes that his story will inspire other people to reach their highest potential, no matter how long it may take, and savor each moment along the way.