The Cost Of Addiction: R.J's Story

(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.

[sweetspuds1]

I am for this law..But I think everyone on welfare and SSI/SSD need to be drug tested. I used drugs for many years. What got me off the stuff was getting arrested. Was the best thing that ever happened to me. I got 6yrs clean from drugs, by the way no kids. I was smart in that area. I haven''t had a seizure in 6yrs. I got a job and I am slowly getting off social security and disability. I just can''t live off what I make a month on this income. So I am for this law. But I think all people need to be drug tested. It isnt just people on welfare. Its peeps on ssi/ssd too.

[libsrc0kskrs]

For what it''''s worth.. I am subject to random drug testing to earn my pay so I can pay taxes. My taxes support Family Services, so why shouldn''''t people getting the assistance be subject to drug screening too?

Posted by Dooder712 at 07:13 PM : Feb 21, 2008
+ report abuse

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because your nieghborhood liberal WOULD NOT ALLOW THAT.

[paganmama]

"What R.J. is proposing: All welfare recipients would be randomly tested for drugs."

It''s sad that this child has been brainwashed into believing that ALL people on public assistance are drug users. This is a classic exampling of stereotyping at it''s finest.

[keithle1]

Where do you think most violent criminals come from? Stable, loving families with a mother & father who make the kids the number one priority?

[keithle1]

Single women, assuming they have half a brain cell, need to use birth control AND demand that the Super Stud they''re sleeping with use a condom. If the man of your dreams doesn''t want to use a condom then the party is over. I''m sure you''ll be able to resist his charms.

It''s one thing for a married couple with kids to lose their jobs & end up relying on public assistance for a temporary period. No one has a problem with that.

It''s another thing for single women to have child after child & expect the government to pick up the tab. Single women have to take responsibility for birth control because they''re the ones carrying the baby for 9 months & will be doing most of the caregiving. Or their mother/grandmother will. Single men, especially black men, have an interesting habit of disappearing in such situations. It''s going to change your life in a HUGE way. Unless you get an abortion.

[michellem99-2009]

I am for the mums to be to be tested for illgal drugs that may be in their system to handicap a child. It is not right. I DO FEEL THAT THERE ARE PERSONS THAT MUST BE FIXED TO THEY CAN''T BREED. I had to fight to have gotten my tubes tied at 28. I was in a blind centre but left with a friend 24+ years ago. I am on meds. I think it is something that need to be addressed. The non handicapped don''t want to think about what drugs will do the unborn. I have gone thru the change of life at 37. I am 53.

[jewwop1]

PS,. I forgot to mention the most important part of RJs story and thats the babies who would be saved! Its a win win situation.

[jewwop1]

I agree with RJs Law and the others on here. Why shouldn''t ANY person not just woman, but men too who are receiving Public assistance be tested! They are receiving,cash, foodstamps and most importantly better healthcare then my own father who worked all his life and is now a retired Senior! Why shouldn''t they have to do something for our Working tax dollars! I live in Philadelphia, worst crime in the nation, mostly due to drugs not that our Mayor will admit it! So Im all for it! If these people are forced to get help then their off the drugs, the crime stops and then the free Methodone programs stop and we save more tax paying dollars! It would be a trickel affect. I Believe drugs are the root of all Evil and the reason we have soo much crime and craziness in the world today! Please let us know how we can help! Im sure the entire working nation would join forces with RJ! Im ready to do what I can! RJ your amazing, Keep Striving, Im praying and rooting for ya!

[sdance1]

This is a powerful story and one brave man''s struggles and accomplishments should inspire all of us to honestly look at all of the issues involved with welfare and lives destroyed from drug abuse. Without attacking, we should be asking what can be done. Innocent victims need to be protected and in circumstances in which individuals are not acting responsibly but are enjoying the rights (to food, shelter, etc...)then the govt. needs to take more control. If individuals are receiving assistance then their freedoms are subject to a wiser authority. Pregnant women should be given assistance but in a more responsible way whether it is required living in facilities that ensure maternity care or frequent visits from social workers to insure that they are taking proper care of themselves and their unborn babies.

[dooder712]

For what it''s worth.. I am subject to random drug testing to earn my pay so I can pay taxes. My taxes support Family Services, so why shouldn''t people getting the assistance be subject to drug screening too?