NEW BEGINNINGS

Dear Person Who Sells Drugs — Can We Please Chat for a Minute?

It’s a matter of life and death

Dear person who sells drugs,

Remember when you were a kid and the dreams you had about the kind of life you wanted to live? I’m pretty sure being a drug dealer wasn’t one of them.

I imagine there’s a painful story that brought you to where you are today. People you trusted have hurt and deceived you. They’ve led you down dark, twisted pathways, and you’ve done things you regret or can’t forgive. You may think you’re stuck in this life now, but please hear me out.

Toxic drugs are killing our loved ones, and it has to stop.

You can’t change the past — none of us can. But you can change direction and take control of your future. Doing this will have a far-reaching ripple effect in the world — more powerful than you’ll ever know.

Every time you sell drugs to someone, you are damaging them. By creating and feeding addictions and putting people at risk of toxic drug poisoning and violence, you are leaving a trail of misery and ruining lives.

Your actions hurt you, your family and friends, countless strangers and their loved ones. Though you may try to push them away, these thoughts disturb you. I know deep down you don’t want to live this kind of life.

You are better than this.

Imagine waking up each morning with a clear conscience, knowing you are not hurting anyone. Visualize living a happy, healthy life, however that might look for you.

While mending your life, you may find ways to give back and help people. Instead of being part of the problem, you could be part of the solution. After all, you have lived experience with this way of life. Only those who have been there can truly understand others caught in the same traps.

There are a million alternate lives you could lead. It’s never too late to choose a different path, and you can do it.

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

— Nelson Mandela

The first step may mean moving to a different city and starting fresh. You may have to stop hanging out with certain people, and you may be lonely for a while. But don’t be afraid of that. It’s good to have alone time to think and get clear on what you want to do with your life.

Taking the first step may involve having the courage to ask for help. If you’ve become estranged from your family and they’re supportive, consider reconnecting with them. It’s hard to make the first move and reach out, but what have you got to lose?

If you’re selling drugs to feed an addiction, you’ll need to get yourself into a recovery program and stick with it. It will be tough, and nobody’s going to pretend otherwise.

But think of the countless others who have recovered successfully before you and gone on to lead happy, healthy lives. People can and do recover from addictions. If they did it, you can do it too.

You have to commit to finding another source of income that won’t hurt you or others. There are countless other ways to make money that will leave you feeling good about yourself instead of how you feel now.

Perhaps you’ll have to put pride aside and accept a low-paid, unskilled job to start with to support yourself. If it means taking a step back and a reduced income, so be it.

Turning your life around will be a challenge. You’ll have to be strong and self-disciplined. It will take guts. There is a happier, healthier life out there waiting for you.

If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it.

— William Arthur Ward.

For your sake and our families, take the first step, and everything else will follow. We’re depending on you.

Please — for all of us — take that step today.