Dustin's Story
My name is Dustin Hinson. I am 31 years old and have been homeless on and off for the past five years.
I say “on and off” because there were times when I would either stay with a friend for a month or two here and there, or maybe a family member, until they got tired of my way of living.
My addiction is the main reason for my homelessness, and it began before I even knew it, with the prescription pain medicine epidemic. I played football all my life, and even played Semi-Pro. I was actually really good until a severe knee injury ended my career. I went to the doctor many times over a period of three to four months. Finally, I was given prescription opioids for the pain caused by my injury. I was on the prescription for years, becoming dependent without even knowing. One day, I went to the doctor, and he told me that I had to take a drug test if I wanted to keep my prescription. At the time, the only drugs I did were marijuana and alcohol. I only drank on weekends or special events but I always smoked marijuana from the time I woke up until I went to sleep. So, when I failed my drug test for marijuana, my prescription painkillers were taken from me. I quickly realized how dependent my body had become on the opioids. This is when I began to seek street drugs.
At first, it started off by buying other people's prescriptions, but soon that wouldn't be enough. Eventually, it led to buying fake pills pressed with fentanyl. Once my tolerance was built up, I stopped taking the pills because they stopped working. That is when I started buying heroin. Heroin to me was a lot better than the pills because it lasted for hours and made me feel better than anything in this world ever has. It brought me peace and made me feel as if all my problems were gone, at least until the high wore off and I was back searching for my next dose.
Eventually, heroin got expensive, and I could not afford my habit, so I began to sell heroin after I met someone who had a lot of it for cheap. It wouldn't be long before I would catch my first drug charge that put me in the county jail for four months. Once I got out, I moved in with my mom again, but that only lasted a few weeks. I stayed clean for about three days until finally my addiction got the best of me and sent me out on a mission to find heroin. When my mother found out, she immediately kicked me out and I was on the streets.
So I did the only thing I knew how to do: bought more heroin to sell. Eventually I would again be locked up and charged with my second possession with intent to distribute heroin charge. This time, I was released on a suspended sentence with three years of probation. I was homeless but didn't tell them that, so they would give me probation. It wouldn't be long till they would figure this out, and I was on the run with warrants for my arrest. I ran as long as I could until they found me, arrested me, and sentenced me to three years in the South Carolina Department of Corrections.
I stayed for a year and a half and was released on parole. My grandmother let me stay with her for about five months until she found out I had relapsed and started using again. This time, it was fentanyl, not heroin. My mother told me I needed to move out because she did not want fentanyl in her mother’s house. So, I became homeless again and have been ever since.
Some nights are harder than others, especially when it's cold, or when it's raining, or when it's cold and raining. You never know where you're going to lay your head at night. You never know if it may be your last day on this earth. It has been so cold some nights that I thought I would not make it until morning. Even in a tent and a sleeping bag, my body aches from the cold. Every now and then, I am able save up money to buy a hotel room to get my beautiful girlfriend and me out of the cold for just one night.
Lately, I have been working with someone I found on Craigslist. He pays me very well to help him install walk-in tubs and showers. Although I am still struggling with my addiction, I find myself every day thinking of how badly I want to quit using. I have begun to wean myself down as well as save money for emergency funds.
My girlfriend was arrested on Christmas Day and sent to prison and is to be released next month. I want nothing more than to build a life with her, have a place to live, and a car to drive. She is my rock and she keeps me grounded. I have begun saving money for when she is released so we can possibly buy a car and get jobs.
People don't realize when you're homeless, it's hard to get a job. You never know where you're going to lay your head at night or when you're going to take a shower. And no business wants someone coming to work who hasn't showered in a week or so.
Also, I was shot recently while walking to the store and was unable to work for a few months. But now I am working again and doing a lot better.
I used to look down on homeless people until I became one and started learning other people’s stories. You shouldn’t judge someone for their situation because you have no idea what they've been through. Some have problems with addiction like me. Some have left their homes because of domestic violence or sexual abuse. And some just choose to be homeless.
This is my story.
A great way of telling your story. Amazing and whole hearty.