Wanda discussed how she became reliant on drugs: "I used drugs to medicate my mind." Wanda also talked about her addiction recovery: "I was tired of being in pain."

Addiction and recovery are two of the central themes in the documentary. Wanda and Jack talked about using drugs and alcohol, and Wanda went through a recovery program to overcome her addiction.

Wanda's story was ultimately uplifting. Before she recovered, she talked frankly about her addictions and her sense of guilt. She described leaving her children home alone, and we learned that Terrell was born during a time when Wanda was using drugs. Wanda confided in the film that she felt she could have been a better mother to Terrell, whom the family called their "miracle baby."

The issue of addiction in urban communities is a complicated one. Considerable questions can be raised regarding how drugs can be found so abundantly within these communities, the ease with which drugs are bought and sold, and the lack of other non-drug related economic opportunities. Indeed, Wanda comments about how she consistently found drugs, even after being clean and sober, throughout the projects. Although many people still see addiction as a moral weakness, versus a powerful disease, the questions regarding access and availability within urban communities is often insufficiently addressed.

Wanda's words at her graduation from the treatment center were powerful. "I was a lost individual. I didn't know which way to turn. Everything was just going wrong in my life. Other people didn't have respect for me. I really know who Wanda is today. I don't have to go out there and waste my life no more. I put my life in God's hands and I know if I continue to do things on a daily basis, it's going to be OK today. If you haven't ever seen a miracle, look around you because there are miracles all around you."

Discussion Questions

What are some of the reasons that people use drugs?
How do you respond to the statement that people use drugs to "escape?"
Are illegal drugs an international problem? If so, how?
What transnational forces contribute to illegal drug use?
Can illegal drug use be eliminated? If yes, how? If not, why not?
How do you explain the easy access to and availability of drugs in urban communities?
How can churches and other faith organizations respond to the problem of alcohol and other drug addictions in the inner-city?
How do you explain the concentration of liquor stores in inner-city neighborhoods?
What can youth service organizations do to stop the availability of drugsand alcohol in inner-city neighborhoods?

Resources

Narcotics Anonymous (Nar-Anon), (310) 547-5800
Alcoholics Anonymous, (212) 870-3400
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), (888) 644-6432
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, (800) 729-6680