Ben Owen

I've seen people do the most debased, dehumanizing things you can ever imagine. Because their addiction commanded them to. They had become complete and total slaves to a substance. And in turn, complete and total slaves to whoever controls that substance. I didn't know the true depths of human depravity until I was out there. Until I lived in it and saw it.

I've seen people do the most debased, dehumanizing things you can ever imagine. Because their addiction commanded them to. They had become complete and total slaves to a substance. And in turn, complete and total slaves to whoever controls that substance. I didn't know the true depths of human depravity until I was out there. Until I lived in it and saw it.

I've seen people do the most debased, dehumanizing things you can ever imagine. Because their addiction commanded them to. They had become complete and total slaves to a substance. And in turn, complete and total slaves to whoever controls that substance. I didn't know the true depths of human depravity until I was out there. Until I lived in it and saw it.

And all of my hope and faith in humanity died on that street. My hope for having a future died on that street. I was going to kill myself out there. I was interrupted. And then ended up in handcuffs again. How were you going to do it? With a knife. I was just going to cut my own throat. It was the only way I could do it. Because I refused to touch heroin after I got arrested.

And all of my hope and faith in humanity died on that street. My hope for having a future died on that street. I was going to kill myself out there. I was interrupted. And then ended up in handcuffs again. How were you going to do it? With a knife. I was just going to cut my own throat. It was the only way I could do it. Because I refused to touch heroin after I got arrested.

And all of my hope and faith in humanity died on that street. My hope for having a future died on that street. I was going to kill myself out there. I was interrupted. And then ended up in handcuffs again. How were you going to do it? With a knife. I was just going to cut my own throat. It was the only way I could do it. Because I refused to touch heroin after I got arrested.

I would not go back to it. I was still smoking crack, but I refused to touch heroin. And I was afraid that if I tried to overdose, because once you've shot up heroin, there's no other way to kill yourself. It's an embrace from God. Like, it's a painless way to go. My fear was that because my tolerance was so high, I would try to kill myself, and I wouldn't, and I would end up addicted again.

I would not go back to it. I was still smoking crack, but I refused to touch heroin. And I was afraid that if I tried to overdose, because once you've shot up heroin, there's no other way to kill yourself. It's an embrace from God. Like, it's a painless way to go. My fear was that because my tolerance was so high, I would try to kill myself, and I wouldn't, and I would end up addicted again.

I would not go back to it. I was still smoking crack, but I refused to touch heroin. And I was afraid that if I tried to overdose, because once you've shot up heroin, there's no other way to kill yourself. It's an embrace from God. Like, it's a painless way to go. My fear was that because my tolerance was so high, I would try to kill myself, and I wouldn't, and I would end up addicted again.

And I would rather die than have that happen. And so I was going to cut my throat with K-bar.

And I would rather die than have that happen. And so I was going to cut my throat with K-bar.

And I would rather die than have that happen. And so I was going to cut my throat with K-bar.

In and out, in and out. But my whole story is punctuated with highs and lows where everything looks great. I wasn't homeless for five years. I wasn't running from that warrant for five years. But all in, I was battling South Memphis for five years. That run stopped when they found me on that warrant. Wow. And, you know, we were talking about Godwinks.

In and out, in and out. But my whole story is punctuated with highs and lows where everything looks great. I wasn't homeless for five years. I wasn't running from that warrant for five years. But all in, I was battling South Memphis for five years. That run stopped when they found me on that warrant. Wow. And, you know, we were talking about Godwinks.

In and out, in and out. But my whole story is punctuated with highs and lows where everything looks great. I wasn't homeless for five years. I wasn't running from that warrant for five years. But all in, I was battling South Memphis for five years. That run stopped when they found me on that warrant. Wow. And, you know, we were talking about Godwinks.

I feel like this was a missed Godwink on my behalf. But maybe not, because if I'd taken it, I wouldn't be sitting here with you today. Veterans Court refused to take my case. I did serve long enough to be eligible for Veterans Court, even though I don't get, like, VA benefits. I was eligible for that. They wouldn't take my case because of the gun charges.

I feel like this was a missed Godwink on my behalf. But maybe not, because if I'd taken it, I wouldn't be sitting here with you today. Veterans Court refused to take my case. I did serve long enough to be eligible for Veterans Court, even though I don't get, like, VA benefits. I was eligible for that. They wouldn't take my case because of the gun charges.

I feel like this was a missed Godwink on my behalf. But maybe not, because if I'd taken it, I wouldn't be sitting here with you today. Veterans Court refused to take my case. I did serve long enough to be eligible for Veterans Court, even though I don't get, like, VA benefits. I was eligible for that. They wouldn't take my case because of the gun charges.

They were convinced the feds were going to come after me. Now, I knew that wasn't the case because I legally owned the guns and I wasn't actually selling drugs. So I had faith that justice would prevail. But the drug court judge heard about my case and decided to take a chance on me. And he told me that if I would sign up for his program, he would send me to rehab and he'd pay for it.

They were convinced the feds were going to come after me. Now, I knew that wasn't the case because I legally owned the guns and I wasn't actually selling drugs. So I had faith that justice would prevail. But the drug court judge heard about my case and decided to take a chance on me. And he told me that if I would sign up for his program, he would send me to rehab and he'd pay for it.