Holy Shit. Sam if you read this. It's Bill from Chicago. I took you down Chicago Ave. You lost your backpack, and I still have your phone. I thought you were going back to Denver. How'd you end up in LA?
He still so young. I have faith he'll make it! I got clean at age 25 and I'm now 34 and was the best decision I ever made! You can do it! Please NEVER GIVE UP!!!
@@bobbybrooks4826 stop making all these assumptions about people you don't know. yes there are some alcoholics that don't physically abuse their children and are just "escaping" reality. but this is a form of abuse by neglect. My mom was an alcoholic and completely checked out. stepdad was sober and ruled the family with an iron fist and abused us so much I had to leave the house at 15. If my mom had her wits about her I'm sure that never would have happened. don't assume that people are lying when they try to talk about their abuse. maybe you're triggered because you're a bit of a drinker?
I feel so bad for Sam. He seems to have a really good heart and has just been shit on, his entire life. I really hope he gets the love he needs and deserves.
Hard to succeed doing anything in life when you have no self worth like this man. He's clearly a highly sensitive person that was surrounded by toxic assholes his whole life. I pray that one day he meets that person who convinces him he has so much to offer this world.
I totally agree but hopefully he gets some sort of therapy/rehab so he can be the person who notices his self worth. Addicts are highly vulnerable to codependency and that can cause relapses if they lose the person who “gave” them their worth
Stay on the subs or whatever they’re giving you or try Kratom, anything is better than using again because even if you get addicted to the substitutes they won’t kill you if you take them right. Stay the fuck away from skid row, going back there is agreeing to die young.
@@elijahgavin6706 yes Sir. Skid row is only to die young. It wasn't my first few hours there when the paramedics found me alone on the toilet without pulse
Don't worry about the past Sam, that's why it's the past. Just keep moving forward. We are rooting for your success and happiness. Many of us don't get a good hand in life and it is far more common then most people let on. Every day sober is a small victory, revel in your small victories. Wishing you the very best. 💙
how are you doing buddy? just want u to kno ppl care about you and want to see yiu thrive, you are smart and much stronger then you think, just belive in yourself.... i will pray for the best
He seems like he’s searching for a place to belong. Then drugs ruin the relationships and he runs. He doesn’t seem to have coping skills. I hope he finds his family again. If they’re no good then I hope he finds some good people to help. He reminds me of a lil boy lost in the world
Very true he was a product of his environment they follow by example! And he definitely was shit on his whole life 🥺His so called parents should be proud of themselves 💯‼️🥺
@@Lorena-vq7jy the thing that fucking baffles me is how this dude STILL wants to talk to them and cares about them still. Like I can’t see how someone can just like still want to associate with their parents and family if this is how they are.
@@peterrusso8050 Because it’s simply the way we operate as humans! I was severely abused by my dad but I still love him with all my heart in fact I take care of him he’s 88 years old it’s just something we’re program to do is to love our parents can’t answer that question one way or another
People really need to think about the future and how it can turn out before having kids. If you're not stable, don't even think about having children. This is one of the outcomes of growing up in a troubled home.
@@wesleyalan9179 thats great to hear, thats the best outcome. But theres obv the other side of the coin and it goes wrong being unstable, probably most of the time
@@kevinharkins6186..yes,sadly there's the other side of the coin,well said my friend. Unfortunately, some folks just don't know how important it is to change their ways because of the responsibility they took on becoming a parent. Sadly,I know a few folks like that,its real sad.
Right? Yet you see so many people here that think it'll change them or get pregnant with disregard. I forgot their names but that white couple addicted to fentanyl, they were TRYING to get pregnant. Mark is a very talented man for not saying shit to that and staying objective.
This interview is heartbreaking.. he’s never felt loved .. all his friends are dead... I just want to sit and talk to him .. listen to him .. reassure him .. do anything I can to help him .. thank you for listening to him Mark. Just heartbroken 💔
invite this good hearted kid in to your home and your tune would immediately change i do pray, , for YOUR naivety, do not take it personally but this guy needs a lot more than good intentions, he needs to be in a hospital far far away from LA
@@freakyfrank4303 l agree.. I let a homeless guy stay at our place one night and the next morning he was walking around out the front just wearing his underwear, scratching himself like a big gorilla outside his cage.. Someone called the cops.. 😂.. it's funny now I think of it. Glad he at least had his undies on. But we should have taken him to the hospital instead.
Dude has PTSD and anxiety out the ass too. You can see him reliving the trauma as he tells the story to the point he gets overwhelmed :( Needs more than hugs and prayers which is why he resorted to one of the strongest opiates. And he'll have to replace it with something if he ever stays clean. If you see this Sam, we're rooting for ya and would love an update! Your recovery doesn't depend on your abusive family.
For people that argue drug abuse/addiction is a choice should see this. How he describes what waking from an overdose feelings like, yet he still uses. Sam - you ARE worth happiness and a meaningful existence. I hope you are able to begin your path of recovery soon. 🖤💫
I had a pretty rough childhood myself, turned the table on my abusive dad one night at 17 grabbed some clothes while he was knocked out I hit the road. Finished high school working after school and on the weekends .Life isn't how you start out in life it's how you finish ,now happily retired doing whatever I want to.
It's heart breaking to hear him talk about wanting to go home to see his family again, the same people that made him feel like a waste of space. And his love still seems unconditional. I wanna give this dude a hug for real.
To wake up from an OD.. stiff, cold, freezing, emotional and hurting so bad... so scary to be alone, you can hear it in his voice. Hope today is better, Sam. Great interview Mark, and love your portraits soooo much! *hugs*
Sam. The fact that you are alive after what you've been through is a miracle. Being rejected by your family creates a pain like no other. It's so painful that you would rather deal with the problems of addiction than face it. However, you ARE worthy, you ARE good. You CAN have and DO DESERVE a good life. Fight for it, young man.
@@1211jinx yeah I agree with you. The longer he stays, the longer it will be to get out. I said I was gonna take off and its been 20 yrs already... Smh. If I see him ill holler at him
He's very very thoughtful and insightful. He mentions being shy and peaceful. This is one of his great strengths. He's very eloquent indeed, despite the trials of his life. It would be great to hear of his being reunited with family members. Those ones who would be willing to care for him. And help to heal his wounds, instead of inflicting pain and causing more concentric cycles of restlessness, neglect and abuse. He has a lot of experience to draw from. He's very loveable as a human being. He can be saved, but in my opinion its about reconciling his past and finding the space for healing. This will be very intricate and challenging for him to face. But, I believe it is possible for him to find his place. His insights are very real and vivid for him. He has a remarkable degree of empathy and love for people. Especially in terms of how he describes the longing he feels for his family. 🤲
Childhood trauma is a catalyst for self destructive behavior. It's so heartbreaking. I love that this channel exposes that. If everyone were trauma informed the world would be a better place. "If we could read the secret history of our enemies we should find in each man's life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility." -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
I just turned 28 myself and this guy's story really moved me. Being that we are both the same age. I've never been homeless but I definitely went through very similar personal/family issues growing up. A lot of rejection as well. Sam, I really hope things turn around for you soon, and stay safe!!!
When you feel worthless, you attract bad people, it's like a magnet for evil. Try loving yourself a little bit Sam. And if you can't, just avoid people for a couple of months.
I’m probably around his same age and I also grew up in spring, Texas. This really hit close to home. For all I know this kid could’ve been sitting behind me in class. It’s crazy how people in your own backyard are struggling and you wouldn’t even know it. I wonder if we know any of the same people. I hope this man finds the strength within himself to build the life he wants and deserves!!!
Some parent's are really failures when it comes to parenting.Sad to hear his story.☹️He seemed like a nice man,eloquent and respectful.Sam,if you get to read our comments,i wish your life gets better someday.🙏 You have potential.
I just found this channel and I'm absolutely addicted. This man and a lot of other people you interviewed made me feel all kinds of emotions. It makes me value and appreciate what I have in life and raises this need to help others. Thanks, man. Keep doing what you're doing.
True Story!! (Opioid Heroin Crisis) "Truth" tells a story from both sides User/Dealer while in love Song>>ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-gTszzHPc77k.html Video>>ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-NfkZLllg5hg.html
@@rolanddabeats8087 He has no future if he remains in skid row.He has potential so i hope he finds opportunities to better his life.It might be a tragic and rough start for him but he can do something to change it.
This guy has such a gentle soul, and he has so much untapped potential. I didn't hear him ever mention rehab but that seems like a possible way out for him if he can stay on the wagon. Although staying clean is like climbing Mt. Everest for any addict.
Also - thank you Mark for doing this. You have helped me gain so much perspective and compassion. You are really doing a great thing by creating awareness around trauma and abuse. Everyone you interview have the most heartbreaking stories. I pray that they get the love and support they need to get healthy. You have truly opened my heart and mind to those on the streets and struggling with addiction. They deserve a chance, like we all do.
This really breaks my heart. I really hope that he will find a way back to his family. I see so much potential in him. I hope he will see it too. I hope that he will realize his worth. He matters, so much. I wish I could hug him. Truly so saddening...
Sam I hope you get to read these kind comments left for you. It really breaks my heart that so many children are being raised by unfit parents. Growing up being abused, feeling unsafe and like they are just in the way and then made to leave just to be made homeless! Sam you're still young and things could change for you! Get out of skid row before it kills you please🙏 I hope you can reconnect to friends and people who love you. 🤗😘💕
Sounds exactly like my ex, K-why, when & how he started using. He’s such a great person when he’s clean. He’s 44 and lives with his folks, I just couldn’t handle his emotional instability. I want the best for Sam. ❤️
True Story!! (Opioid Heroin Crisis) "Truth" tells a story from both sides User/Dealer while in love Song>>ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-gTszzHPc77k.html Video>>ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-NfkZLllg5hg.html
Yea, I am from Houston too. Grew up in Sharpstown. It doesn’t surprise me at all that he ended up like this. But you are right, him finding his way into one of these videos is surprising!
this is so heartbreaking... he seems like such a soft, kind and sweet soul. i wish i could jump through the screen, give him a big hug, sit with him and let him talk his heart out❤
Not only do you make great interviews and raise awareness about struggles and sorrows happening right in front of us but then, your pictures are art worthy to be hung up on museums
I hope this experience of having people listen and have compassion for him will help him turn his life around. He seems like a gentle soul traumatize by abuse.
I just heard the whole story and wow that stabbing though - people can SEEM 'nice' and all but shit hits the fan when all the lights are out so to speak. Man, homeboy been through a lot especially as a child. Strong as ever - I'm hoping he gets better and finds his family again.
True Story!! (Opioid Heroin Crisis) "Truth" tells a story from both sides User/Dealer while in love Song>>ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-gTszzHPc77k.html Video>>ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-NfkZLllg5hg.html
I know a lot of young people in long term recovery from opioid addiction. This kid could get into a program and get some counseling, do the work and be a changed man. I can see it in him. There are great recovery communities that would welcome him, and he could help others.
He has a big heart, he wants to go back to the same people (family) who tortured him since childhood, left them on the street and become the man who he is because of them...specially the hard drugs...it's like stockholm syndrom...its very sad. I wish him the best of luck
These videos are the most important videos on the internet. I’m so grateful for having the opportunity to see them. Keep up the excellent work. ❤️ You are making a difference, helping the rest of us truly see and hear people. One of the answers I’d like to hear from God, why do people who don’t want or love children, have so many, while those of us who would have loved them, don’t or can’t have them. Sam could and would have been loved dearly by many childless parents.
You may have a small stature but you have a huge heart. You are articulate, smart and kind. Years are passing, as you said, but you have decades to look forward to. Don't beat yourself up. You are not "useless or a waste of space or in the way". Those are your feelings, and those are real. But I have faith that you will be blessed with a better life. Don't give up, on yourself.
As unsettling as these videos may be, they do bring some sort of comfort to those struggling. “Maybe im not the only person in the deep end with no life jacket”. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Mark for another brilliant interview & all the work you do on this project. You have helped so many on both sides of the addiction syndrome get a much better understanding of how hard it is to actually get out. I hope & pray it makes parents & teachers understand how important it is that childrens brains avoid any type of trauma while in development ! From before birth until at least 18. We would have less on the streets & in prison if we as adults understood this. Please make some of your interviews into a program that that can be shown in schools both to parents as well as kids.
My heart breaks for you man. To hear you talk about your early life and all the nasty struggles, but then to hear you say you didn’t realize it wasn’t bad until you lost your ID. Nothing has gone your way, and I’m praying for you man. I really hope so much good comes into your life. You are loved.
@@AlexiHolford It has to occur to you to do it. Once a person is aware that they have beliefs about themself, and can question them, it doesnt have to be hard at all. It can literally just a be a moment of realisation that what they were believing wasnt the truth. When beliefs are based on long term habitual thoughts they can be harder to identify, and once identified may have to be continually questioned, which could take months or years to resolve. I've experienced both.
@@onepartyroule - I have had literally decades of therapy. I know myself very well. I am 51 years old and my first therapy experience was after I tried to kill myself at 7 years old. After a second attempt at 18 years old, I was diagnosed as having bipolar disorder. It’s a lot to unpack and it is a lot to accept. It has never been easy for me. So, regardless of your opinion and saying it doesn’t have to be hard, I challenge you. So many people would have improved their lives if it was such an easy thing to do.
This is heartbreaking, listening to a lovely young man who has suffered so much. He has so much potential, i really hope and pray that he gets the help he needs.
Hi Sam - I’m not sure if you’ll ever read this but I hope you do! So many people are rooting for you in these comments. You aren’t alone. I’m so sorry you had to deal with abuse. You don’t deserve that and never did. I really hope you can get clean, you can tell you have a genuine heart. Stay strong and be safe. Skid Row is a scary place. Thank you for sharing your story ❤️
For anyone struggling with addiction please get into a rehab. Exit to a sober living where you are held accountable through drug testing. Get into a 12 step program and work All 12 steps. Sit still for a while. Get out of your head and be of service to others. We do recover!
i really resonate with sam. my father is also an alcoholic and sam seems like an empathetic person that grew up in a turbulent household which i can relate to. here for you sam, you can get your life back thousandfold
My heart breaks for Sam. He has endured so much abuse in his life and it is still happening today. He’s a nice guy even after the life that he has had. I hope someone can help him. Please if any of you reading this can help Sam please do. He is so vulnerable, so messed up. Take care Sam. You are a good person. You need to believe that! It is easy to see that. I hope someone out there can help you. I will be looking for updates on you.
Man as a person that has been through addiction and shit like that I always think it is so easy that this could be me. Its not hard to get your self on the trap and once your in it is so hard to get out. I believe that you got this man. You'll get better some day. Keep on pushing
watching these. helped me turn my life around. i was going down a bad path. super addicted to cocaine. when i overdosed the first thing i thought about when i came to was is my coke still safe ? i’ve been sober one week and one day now it’s a new chapter for me. to anyone reading this who needs to hear it. it’s never too late. i believe in you
Mark is a voice for the voiceless. Thank you Mark. I hope everyone realises they're worth. That they are more than their experiences and that forgiveness is powerful. No matter how painful, it will eventually set you free. I say this from my own experience. And forgiving yourself will help you learn to love and protect your soul
Everyone needs purpose, he sounds like he wants to find his purpose/place in the world.. and his childhood trauma is still keeping him small. I hope he finds something to live for, because he seems like he’ll sacrifice heroin for real love.
Well it’s a nice thought. But he didn’t sacrifice drugs the one time he says he WAS in love. He hid them from her and kept doing them and they ruined his relationship. But I hope he’s able to kick
Sam's lack of eye contact says so much. He's had the spirit and confidence beaten/stabbed out of him by the people he thought he could trust. I truly hope things work out OK for him.
I just want to give Sam I big virtual hug. It’s so sad to see how much he just wants to be loved and accepted. I hope he’s doing well in Denver, if he’s still there. Stay strong Sam. 🙏
You have had such an incredibly tough go of things and of life so far @Sam Mauldin . You clearly have such a big heart and you deserve love and compassion. You deserve great things. You have so many people rooting for you. Sending love from Portugal.
Prayers for Sam. The Great Comforter please guide him and never leave his side. Sam has a Father that makes him our brother, a Father who will love and protect him from this world he struggles against. Please Father touch this young man and allow this beautiful soul to be freed!!!!
@@s_photo1385 @ ???? I know how old he is!! 😂😂 I HEARD IT COME OUT OF HIS MOUTH!! Look I’m 58 yrs old I may not look it but ohhh but I am!! Period! He yg to moi I got adult 3 daughters age 32.29& 24 . So he is a KID TO MOI!! And 28 is yg!!!!! Period!! AND YOUR POINT IS WHAT SIR?? Seriously u don’t have ANYTHING BETTER TO DO THIS MORNING??? Don’t be that guy EH!! ✊🏾🇨🇦
...uh, they're just having a little fun and pointing out that "yg" doesn't mean what you think it does, at the very least it doesn't stand for "young" online. I think you might've made that one up, and honestly it was a bit jarring to read.
Poor thing his family have really disappointed his upbringing. He didn't get the time to just feel safe and wanted. I really wish him the best. Look after yourself. I can see that he is very vunerable and just wants his family back. I really hope they see this. He really needs support. 🙏🙏
@@albertomedina4294 the weather is absolutely beautiful. Our Autumn days so far have been quite warm. I haven't worn a jumper yet 😃 We have had a little bit of rain off and on which is keeping everything nice and green but majority of the time it's been great. ☀️😎🌅 Lovely to meet you Alberto. Thanks for the chat. It's morning here now and he sun is shining. Happy Friday.
Narcan immediately induces withdraw, being brought out of an OD medically is probably really hard to do, in my opinion that’s the exact time you need to really sober up!
Addiction is a systemic issue. We as a society need to create better conditions so less and less people are inclined towards drug and alchohol. There are so many factos here (economic, genetics, bad upbringing and so on). Most families are quite dysfunctional to various degree and many children grow up traumatized and feeling worhtless. This affects their everyday decisions.
As a fentanyl addict 23 I’m glad I’m doing the first step to get better ,it’s day #9 sober I can tell you who are struggling with the same that I haven’t felt this healthy In so long the pain is so disgusting and painful I wouldn’t want to feel that way ever again .
Sam reminds me alot of myself when I was his age. He only needs a little rehabilitation, and direction. You can see he is intelligent, and his confidence will return with a little faith. I'm 29 yrs clean. Stay safe Sam! Thanks for the video.
