Toronto Youth Documents His Life of Homelessness and Addiction | Red button 

UPDATE: Peter Saunders a.k.a “Rabbit” died in early November 2019. If you or anyone you know is in crisis visit this resource to find out where you can get help: www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/substance-use/get-help/get-help-problematic-substance-use.html

Thanks for all the support i am currently trying to get into rehab! it is quite the process but i am giving it my all

Rabbit is actually very impressive. He is intelligent, thoughtful and extremely articulate. He is more well spoken than most. It is a shame that he is squandering so much potential.

Wow yo.. this dude is actually smarter than most people I know. The way he articulates how he feels is phenomenal. I really hope you make it in this crazy world fam

Even high with his dopamine at 700% he still seems sad as all.

I was once at a recovery house in Toronto and met "Rabbit" when he was about 19. We were friends during his time there, but he ended up getting frustrated and leaving. I remember telling him, "Deal with this problem...NOW. Not later, do it now." We used to quote cartoons and he was actually a pretty funny guy. I was surprised to see him on this video when it came out, and then he approached me downtown asking for money but he didn't recognize me. For some reason I decided to look up this video again today and I can see that he passed away last November. I work for Salvation Army now doing the linens for the homeless shelters in the city, and the death rate is just unbelievable now. I'm really sorry this dude couldn't get it together and lost his life. Be safe out there, everybody!

I knew this man. He was one of the kindest people I ever met. RIP

Reading that this kid is dead just hurt my heart . I hate that happened to him.. 😢

My god this is so sad to watch. I hope he got his life together. People don't realize how strong drug addiction has on someon. Him being honest with himself means a lot. Ty for showing this😓

Thanks for sharing your story. There's a huge problem with addiction and I'm glad we're now talking about it. I hope you find the help you need good luck.

Find out what happened next. Watch an update on Rabbit's story: www.cbc.ca/cbcdocspov/episodes/saving-rabbit

I met rabbit when I was working in Milton. He would rollerblade from his parents house. Sometimes he would wear a full body rabbit suit like you see kids wearing at the raves. He was a nice kid. I think he had started using already. This was circa 2012

23 is so young to be on the streets. im 27 and i couldnt imagine I'd survive.

Damn the pain in his eyes when he says he doesn’t know how he’ll get off the needle

I'm in the same situation. God bless good luck....

This guy knows what he’s doing at least he’s trying to let people know how bad addiction is so others won’t be in his position.

My younger brother used to be addicted to opioids. At one point we kicked him out of the house because the violence got so bad. By the grace of God he’s better now.

Breaks a brother heart .. hope he made it out!

So sad. Hes young. He should be traveling the world, not be shackled to a drug.

I hope your doing better love. This was brave of you

Hope your doing better and you got the help you needed!

I wish he had got a better life... Rest in Peace my brother...

God bless you man I hope your doing well.

i am 33. i have been through a lot in my life on earth. i have been raised in a good home. i was raised well, university educated. but life is not always fair. i have tried and used many drugs in my life since i was, younger, alcohol to start. cocaine, is a hard drug, meth, is a hard drug, opiates are an entire another level of drugs, please, if you haven't experienced physical dependence to opiates or opioids please refrain from speaking like you know what you're talking about. withdrawal and opiate addiction is something you will never, ever understand. i have got off oxycodone before. and been clean. then heroin, i even got clean. i am now on methadone, and i still use. i used to have a good family, my parents, and sibling. over the last few years, I am now alone, not because of my use, but because i turned to drugs. why? i don't even know. my father and i do not see eye to eye. my brother has a new mental illness and my mother, bless her soul, is in the afterlife. i am alone right now. please, have some compassion. Bless.

Hard life he went through... RIP to this wonderful young man. He died of an overdose this morning.

when what people say can bother you its because you're developing a Conscience , and that's a good thing , really , because you're starting to Care

Hi I have been 5 years clean from cocaine it took me a long time to get over the past I did not go to rehab or anything like that I stayed clean because I seen what it did to the people close to me I lost all of my past friends from drugs plus jail I use to hangout with killers and gang members for the most of my young age here in Ontario the one thing I have learned is that never give up you have people that love and care about you ❤️most people don’t understand on how hard it is to get out of a bad lifestyle!!!

People that use usually have gone through something traumatic in their lives. Going to rehab may not work if you don’t get intense counseling as part of the process. Unfortunately most government funded rehab facilities don’t get you that like private rehabs. Might have to do the two separately but get straight to rehab as soon as your therapy is complete.

God Bless you Man

What a shame.. my sister lives in Toronto with the family I'm in Australia.. have been through it all.. rest well bro.

ty for sharing your story, i've never stole from my parent's ever, i don't think i even swore when my mother was around, addiction makes people do things they wouldn't normally do

Get well brother! 🙏🤝

I actually knew this guy, he was a nice easy going guy. Didn't know he passed away. Rest in peace

The government should treat addiction as a disease.

Thx for the story don't give up ever most people give up at the point where if they would have tried for one more day they would have made it

Is it weird to say he kinda looks like Mac Miller....🤔

praying for you

Awe I met this dude once or twice when I was homeless in Toronto back in the summer of 2018, he was cleaning car windows down by the CN tower under the bridge, I was panhandling under that bridge as well, all of us would take turns walking between the cars, I was panhandling for my alcohol addiction that’s why I was homeless, but I’m sober now and I got a home, I’m saddened this guy passed away I wish he would’ve made it out of that life style because it is really rough 😢

Hope you can get through brother been there 😢

So sad :( my boyfriend went from heroin to fetanyl and has been clean since December only because he got locked up after living on the streets for a month. He will be out in September or October this year and I am praying this was enough clean time to keep him clean forever. I've been through this 3 years with him and I absolutely cannot do it anymore. He deserves a much better life than just constantly chasing a high all day, every day.

I live in Toronto, a city in Canada, where I see way too many shades of grey for my own good health. - Chris Landreth.

Rest In Peace.

So many people are addicted to opioids here in Canada and are living on the streets, London and Hamilton are really bad too

There are multiple reasons for addictions. I believe the biggest one is poor family support and upbringing, particularly during the early years of life. It's sad to see many lives going wasted. I wonder whats the best way to help these people. Handing them cash would only make them run for the next high, right? Few times I have handed money, I have told them it's for food only, but I have doubts whether that is adhered to, as the urge can be over-powering.

Cbc. You have documented him for your own selfish purposes. It's fair to think you have enough resources to help him with a plan for his future with regards to social workers and other professionals to get him off the drug

Hope this dude can overcome that. If life already is hard for many that come from a good background and have a house over their head, let alone for someone who is going through this kind of problem. I'm surprised he talks of getting a career one day. It won't be easy but if you can at least be off fentanyl, your life will already improve by a lot. All the best.

Rabbit, I hope you see this. Please help me to confirm if you’re the same rabbit I met while in Michigan with your friend. The two of you were traveling to every state in the U.S. sound familiar?

I'm am so sorry seems like a nice kid

Sad. Rip🕊

Very sad and this young intelligent man has fallen victim to this horrible drug. fentanyl. Its tragic how rampant this drug is. In toronto ... London ... Vancouver ... across the country and North America. Epidemic proportions. Godspeed Rabbit.

If his father knew that he was an addict then why in the hell would he give his son access to his pain medication? I have medication for which I had to sign a contract agreeing to keep it locked up, because if someone were to steal it then that would be MY fault (legally speaking). It's nice that this guy is taking responsibility for his actions, but I think that his family should take some responsibility themselves in allowing him to get his hands on those patches to begin with. I visited Toronto recently, and I was shocked to see how bad the homeless situation is compared to how it was when I had lived there myself years ago. Yes, the shelters were over booked in the winter, but you never saw as many people sleeping on the sidewalks in groups, taking turns pan handling, whereas now it is on every other corner. Under the Lake shore Blvd ramp there were tents set up, so there must be some permanent residents living that way as well. That might be okay in the summer, but the temperature just took a severe drop. If we get a bad winter this year, many of those people could (and probably will) die out there. There must be a more compassionate approach to this situation than leaving people to starve and beg. Many of them out there have been over looked by our health care system in terms of mental health and addiction services, and I think the city of Toronto has a responsibility to these people, and so do we. In B.C they have this clinic for (extreme) Alcoholics where they live full time instead of being stuck out on the streets to fend for themselves. The doctor prescribes them a certain amount of wine (sort of like the methadone program) and they line up for their drink on the hour. It gives them a place to live with a clean, warm bed, food to eat and some amount of dignity given back to them. The staff socialize with them, and they keep them all safe. The police who were originally against this program discovered it was actually a blessing because many emergency service calls had gone down, and the people who they were used to seeing out disturbing the peace were no longer there causing problems. Just watching the staff play cards and joke with the residents you can see that their motivation comes from compassion. I was a little hesitant at the idea of it myself, but after watching a documentary about it, I am much more open minded about the idea. This is not for your average alcoholic. This is for the ones who have failed every program and have been living on the streets drinking whatever they have to, because without alcohol their body will shut down and die. Anything short of that sort of situation would be inappropriate for a program like this one, just as I feel that the methadone program should not be taken lightly (though it often is, especially by doctors in Canada). I can't help but wonder if we could do something a little less extreme for drug addicts. Like what if this guy here could live at a clinic where he woke up to his methadone on site, making sure he had a high enough dose that it actually does what it's supposed to. Plus I would bet good money that he missed his dose sometimes living on the street, because it's hard to show up for appointments every week, or even twice a week for people who do have homes, so I can only imagine how hard it would be for him to make it to every appointment, plus the pharmacy each day. What if this drug clinic could also offer him weed with his methadone? It's been statistically proven to assist with the effectiveness of methadone. It calms people down and when you are calm then you can make better decisions. If he had that solid base, as in somewhere to live, to eat, to shower, staff to look out for him, to treat him with respect, and to remind him that he matters, imagine how much that might do! They can make sure that he wakes up to his medication every single morning, and keep him in good spirits. Then during the day he would have the freedom to do whatever it is he needs to do to move forward, as he is strong enough to do so. Maybe that is seeking an education, or job training, or maybe something like psychiatric help, it depends on the person. The only thing we have even somewhat like that now for drug addicts is rehab, but with rehab you have to stay clean to remain a resident. I am suggesting a place that does not limit people in that way, but instead offers them support and a home base. Addiction is an ongoing battle and not everyone can go to rehab and do it that way. Conditioning is a tricky thing. And co-current disorders can make rehab impossible for some, but there is another way, and I think that these new type of clinics for alcoholics is a step towards that future. Compassion is the only effective way to help someone who can't yet help themselves, not tough love, judgement and intolerance

Opioid addicts are the most intelligent people I've come across. I feel bad for this guy.

Wow im not homeless but I know how U feel not with homelessness thank god my mom stands behind me and has always kept a roof over my head if it wasnt for her id b dead for sure. Ive struggles with opioids for 5 years and I'm finally clean I have messed up here and there but no more than 3 times n 6 months so I guess thats not to bad . I feel so sorry for anyone thats addicted I know exactly how he feels. I now have to get a job and stand on my own 2 feet again. Just glad in still alive. I know the pull it has on you and eventually you will get your life together. I'm glad u got well and wasnt sick for a few hours. Most of all I hope U find the strength to get off it all.

Take everything one day at a time. Trust me I have been there it takes over your life and you feel stuck.

It would be safer (for all of us!), more humane, _more_ effective at rehab, and _cheaper_ to give opiate addicts shelter, food and clothing -- and safe drugs -- than it is to leave them on the streets.

so did they just take the phone back and leave him out there or did they make some sort of effort to help this guy??

its all about relationships.. STARTING with yourself.. sexually abused, doesnt talk to father,methadone, isolation... living in a shelter. REHAB now! Fix it before you lose your teeth, your health all! only 23 get the help needed. wish you courage

Stay strong 💪

I'm stuck in opioid addiction to

80% of opiate users go back to using especially when your body needs it...I'm sure his father needed it to, and when a person is injured they need there meds...There's no way to live in pain or denial of what helps... I wish we as a people could have what we need and I hope you are able to reach out for your needs rather than your wants, that will make you strong. .so stay true to yourself and eat right for now it will help you stay strong

Very sad this guy is so young and had his whole life ahead of him what happened to have caused this for him.

Is this guy still alive in April 2019?

I quit drinking coffee a very long time ago but it was very hard to do. After my first gulps of coffee I would feel that everything in the world was right. What a blissful feeling for a while until the paranoia and anger set in.

Went to high school in Milton with this guy sad to see.

I had a discusting addiction also. Pretty much to this extent. Took me like 7 years to figure out. I'm still on IOAT. But I'm not on street drugs or high. I would have never thought I'd have the strength and I did it. Anyone can if I did. I promise.

I hope you're doing better than you were man. Just take it one minute at a time.

How can we not look after our own citizens when we can afford everything else under the sun.. Hopefully this can improve especially for the youth.

2:48 says alot

Fentanyl is 50x stronger than Heroin? Dayyyum! Plus how do you smoke fentanyl patches? I wear the 100mcg/hr and didn't know you can smoke it?

☹️. If ANYBODY sees these these types of vids, reach out and try to connect with them and show them a better future. He handled his camera and explained himself very well. We 'lost' a future artist, film producer, journalist. Ain't it NOT funny how "one pill" can make or break or change a life, hu? (F-off...) ...'f'...'HARM'...aceuticals...hu? A pill to 'fix', a👎pill to die with....

stick to weed

My lie used to be hell, was on and off opiates for years. Gradually it turned to heroin then fentanyl because there was no more heroin. Overdosed on my bday last September and haven’t used since. I’m so happy now:)

Suboxone saved my life. Methadone doesn’t work as well in my experience. Suboxone makes you feel stable and doesn’t allow you to use at all. As long as you stick to it within a couple months you won’t look back.

Bayview and Sheppard ?

Does anyone know what happened to his friend he traveled with? When he was in Michigan- sober- he and his friend were traveling to all 50 states abs were homeless because rabbits parents were heroin addicts and his friend had massive blood clots and he helped him travel as his last wish. They were attacked several times and robbed. Even their dogs were stolen. Found them in Michigan and I got them help and took them in. Anyone have any idea?

Rip

So how did he end up homeless... did he not a have a family who could have taken care of him

Methadone saved my life. Doesn't work for everyone but I thank god for it. I work 50 hours a week and have not been on anything alse for 6 years. Good luck to you.

Eberle?

I have sympathy for you bud, your right it used too never be enough, to lose the addiction something life altering must happen to force the mind to think differently about what your putting inside yourself. Kind of like champix or vaping to quit smoking. Once your clean you don't want to go back to the waste you once were and your finally ready to be a productive member of society

Doesn't surprise me that hes dead, u could see it coming a mile away from the way he was living

😭

How did he get started? Did I miss it?

In Sweden is also addiction everywhere. Unemployment. But the state is hiding the ugly truth about class society.

Dude was totally trippin out at the end of this! I know the feeling

You ever see "surviving the game" starring Rutger Hauer? This kid would be a perfect!

You got to take responsibility for your life.

thast sad man

He looks like Mac Miller. RIP

I’m 38 just wait prison will change your mind as it did mine. Your still young

this is a failure of the Canada Government. Will prime minister stop being a movie star?

Rip rabbit

Writing things down works wonders.

That's so sad that he died. How can we help drug addicts?

He should play in mac miller biopic

I hope he finds some help

Something about this video seems very contrived.

TURNUPPP

it ok asking for help, there are services available we are lucky living in canada, i can help you as others have helped me

I hope you doing good my friend trying joint church . Or something you too young to be leving in the streets .