CBS: The Cost Of Addiction: R.J's Story

RIVERSIDE COUNTY (CA):

Posted by: Darin Schemmer | 02/20/2008 6:20 PM

This was just posted on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric website (click below for video):

(CBS) "Where's your iPod? Where's your phone? Where's your lunch?" he was asked.

It's a typical teenager's morning routine.

But R. J. Feild, a sophomore in Riverside County, is anything but a typical teenager, CBS News correspondent Sandra Hughes reports.

Everything about school is a struggle for R.J. He can barely read because his vision is so terrible. Only one hand works well. And walking is a major ordeal.

When he make new friends, do they ask him: "were you born like this?"

"Yea, which I'm fine with it. It's part of life. Like all my other struggles," he said.

What does he tell them?

"I tell them that my mom did drugs and she made me have to be born this way," R.J. said.

He was born addicted to heroin, with meth, alcohol and cocaine also in his system. Months premature, he weighed only two pounds. His birth mother, who was on public assistance, abandoned him in the hospital. No one expected him to survive.

But then again, surprising folks is what R.J. does best.

Now 16 years old, he just won an essay contest sponsored by California legislator John Benoit, called, "There ought to be a law."

Part of his essay reads, "For my entire life I will need assistance...."

What R.J. is proposing:

All welfare recipients would be randomly tested for drugs.
If they test positive, they'd be offered help.
If they refuse to enter rehab, they would loose their benefits.

It's not just about the human cost, says R.J., but the cost to taxpayers as well. The school district provides a full-time aide and special PE teacher. His medical bills are well into the millions.

At a Republican ladies luncheon, R.J. campaigned to turn his idea into a real law.

"What it's for is to stop other kids turning out like I did," R.J. said. One lady at the luncheon replied: "That's a brilliant idea, R.J."

"Why should there be a law, R.J?" Hughes asked.

"So that we can clean up the people and get babies so they don't turn out like I did, they don't have to go through what I went through, or what I'm going through," he said.

R.J.'s PE teacher is the same teacher who taught him how to walk - way back in kindergarten.

He's had nothing but encouragement from the foster parents who raised him.

"We've never told him there's something you can't do. We'd say you can do it. Just figure out a way," said Mary Beth Field.

Like earning a Varsity letter - in football - for assisting coach Peter McGowan.

"He has a great attitude," McGowan said. "He's a survivor, he's a warrior."

R.J. heads to Sacramento this week to introduce his bill to the California legislature. He knows that turning his idea into R.J.'s Law will be an uphill battle, but R.J.'s not even worried.

He's already conquered mountains.

TAGS: CBS, drug testing, John Benoit, Katie Couric, RJ Feild, RJ's Law, welfare

Comments

KEITH VOELKER said:

PLEASE CONTACT ME, OUR VISIONS ARE THE SAME. ONE WORD, CHOICES. THE HOME TOWN "ENABLING" MUST END. "SUICIDE BY LIFE" MUST BE IDENTIFIED AND NEVER GIVEN ILLEGAL DRUG CHOICES. FAMILIES OF ADDICTS NEED "POWER OF ATTORNEY" TO COMMIT ADDICTS TO TREATMENT.

I HAVE FOR YEARS HAD THE VISION OF A FEDERAL REHAB COMMUNITY ISOLATED 200+ MILES FROM CIVILIZATION IN THE DESSERT. (NEVADA, FOR EXAMPLE). ILLEGAL BLACK MARKET SIMPLY DOES NOT EXIST NO MATTER HOW MUCH THE ADDICT SCHEMES TO MAKE THE WRONG CHOICES. A STERILE COMMUNITY IS EASILY POSSIBLE.

CHILDREN OF ADDICTS MOST WELCOME. NOT A HOSPITAL EXACTLY, A DRUG FREE COMMUNITY. 2 YEARS SHOULD BE THE MINIMUM STAY, ADVANCE TO STAY AS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE COMMUNITY, OR PROVE "CHOICES" TO RETURN TO HOME TOWN, OR PROVE CONTINUED "SUICIDE BY LIFE" AND STAY INDEFINITELY AS A "PATIENT".

ELIMINATING THE SUPPLY OF ILLEGAL DRUGS BY DRYING UP THE CHOICES THAT CREATE DEMAND.

KEITH VOELKER, 304-261-4116 PLEASE CALL. R J FEILDS, YOU NOW HAVE THE CLOUT TO GET THIS DONE AND I WANT TO HELP. I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING WITH YOU.

February 21, 2008 6:24 AM

KEITH VOELKER said:

RESPONDING TO MY OWN COMMENT, ONE EXAMPLE OF ENABLING IS SSI. SOCIAL SECURITY IS CLOGGED WITH UNDER RETIREMENT AGE ADDICTS AND ALCOHOLICS. THIS SSI "ENTITLEMENT" SHOULD BE PLENTY TO FUND THE DESSERT REHAB COMMUNITY, AND LATER, GET THESE PEOPLE BACK INTO NORMAL CHOICES, IN NORMAL SOCIETY WITHOUT THIS SSI "ENABLING ENTITLEMENT".

-EXISTING "ENABLING" GOVERNMENT FUNDING SHOULD EASILY FUND THIS DESSERT "STERILE" REHAB FACILITY.

-FAMILIES OF ADDICTS NEED "POWER OF ATTORNEY" SO THAT "PATIENTS" CAN FORCIBLY BE COMMITTED TO REHAB.

I ASKED A HEROINE ADDICT (TRYING TO RAISE A WONDERFUL YOUNG SON)IF SHE WOULD CHOOSE TO GO TO THIS FACILITY IF IT EXISTED? WHAT DO YOU THINK HER RESPONSE WAS?

February 21, 2008 7:20 AM

Mia Raleen said:

Why stop at random drug testing. Why not add mandatory birth control, too. We need to stop enabling this endless cycle. Addicts receiving assistance need help to make choices if they are unable but they all need to be helping themselves, as well. Teenagers having children and those having child after child in order to stay in the system should be required to be on birth control and only allowed benefit for two children max. to discourage this. Treatment for addicts/alcoholic and a 2 child limit for assistance...is that unreasonable? Is it a violation of their rights or should they give up some rights when they go on assistance anyway. There needs to be a check and balance system in place instead of simply handing out money. They need to show progress towards becoming a part of society again. Accountability to the tax payers who are funding the assistance.

February 21, 2008 4:19 PM

Jen said:

I just wonder its been how long since this was on tv. I just wonder if RJs's Law has been made yet. Id like someoen to let us know how RJ is doing.

April 30, 2008 5:28 PM

Addiction Treatments said:

Well, if we talk about long term effects of heroin use then one of the most detrimental long term effects of heroin is addiction itself. There is no doubt that it is a chronic, relapsing disease. It also gives profound degrees f tolerance and physical dependence. Anyhow, there are many Heroin Addiction Treatments but patients should also be mentally prepared to leave it.

http://www.addiction-treatments.com/

September 1, 2008 2:45 AM

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