Junk Jobbing
Sixty-three year old Roxanne goes skiing in Aspen and on weekend getaways to Miami. That’s what she would like you to believe. Really she’s a heroin addict and has been for over a decade. I remember growing up and my mother tried to deter me from doing drugs through means of scare tactics. She warned that if I did drugs I would die immediately, “You’ll die the first time. Make no mistake. Instantly, after the first try”. So, as you might imagine Roxanne was somewhat of an enigma to me for lasting as long as she has.
The story of Roxanne although sad is not all unusual. Our world is bombarded by drug use televised through shows like Intervention and Celebrity Rehab. It seems as if you are part of the minority if you don’t have a drug problem. Yet, all the stories you hear never place the addict working at a high school. That is what makes Roxanne’s story special.
Yes, our district hires heroin addicts. Not recovering addicts, but those committed to their vice. Ones that leave for an hour at lunch and don’t just pick up a sandwich. I never believed that someone could function like this until I witnessed it first hand. Down in the office I see her sitting behind the desk one minute the next her eyes roll back in her head and she slams her forehead on the desk. I clap my hands to resuscitate her, “Roxanne, what are you doing? Wake up!” A few seconds later she comes to.
Roxanne get her heroin in the dumpster of the school. The custodians told Margie in the main office last week that her dealer drops off the dope and she jumps into the garbage heap to retrieve it. I thought they were making it up. I didn’t believe it until I saw it for myself. One day I followed Roxanne outside during her break. I stayed far enough behind so that she wouldn’t detect me. Sure enough she walked towards the dumpster and disappeared. I crept closer and her head popped up from the debris. “Roxanne”, I asked, “What the hell are you doing in the dumpster? Are you out of your mind?” “I dropped a contact”, was her only response as she quickly climbed out of and headed back into the building.
So why didn’t anyone report her to the police so she could get arrested and maybe get some help? Not to mention , get her out of the school where she was supposed to be responsible for children!
She worked in the office. I don’t know why she wasn’t reported. Maybe it couldn’t be proven.
In some places of employment in CT., random drug testing is permitting if there is suspicion of drug use. In this case, I think it would have been warranted. We just learned about drug testing in the Cooperative Work Experience class I assist at the high school.
There was definitely grounds for suspicion in this case. I have no idea why it was never investigated, but I’m not surpised since so many things went unnoticed or were swept under the rug.
Check out the movie Half Nelson with Ryan Gosseling.
I don’t fully understand why no one wanted to help out this person? Is it because they just thought that she was too old and this was the only job that she will be working at before she retiers? Just remember that age is just a number and that it’s never too late to seek help for someone or yourself as well. (I hope that I can remember when my next bday comes up that I will jiust say “it’s just a number the BIG 50!”)
Maybe it was because people thought if they got involved, then they would get stuck “volunteering” to help, her like drive her to rehab, or maybe they thought they’d have to testify against her if she were arrested and they feared retaliation. I think its just like when people see an accident on the side of the road, they look, call it in anonymously, or drive right by ,but are reluctant to do anything because they feel like it will take up too much of their own time if they get involved. Of course they seldom put themselves in the victim’s position because if it was them, they would want help, but they are too lazy or indifferent to help another person in need.
WONDERFUL Post.thanks for share..