The Other Side Of The White Line

The Other Side of the White Line began as a small group of poems I wrote toward the end of my active addiction. A few months after starting the poetry collection, I left Boston for a rehabilitation center in Florida. I had been drinking and using drugs for seven years, and I was exhausted, scared, sick, and fading into the effects of addiction. In those seven years, although friends and family told me at times, I was unaware of my problem.

In the two months I spent in rehab, I wrote several poems. I was humbled that I could relate to alcoholics, heroin users, and meth addicts, of all different ages, races, and economic backgrounds. I was grateful to face my addictions honestly with these women, and understand my relationship to drugs and alcohol with education, bravery, and care. After I was released from rehab in August 2018, I worked for months and compiled the poetry series into my senior creative writing thesis. My thesis was nominated for the senior writing award.

After graduating college, I compiled my poetry thesis into a short script. For three years, I wrote and rewrote the script, until I found myself ready to create a team and share my ideas with friends and family. I am almost done with pre-production and looking for funding to turn my script into my first short film.

When the film is completed, I am submitting the final version to film festivals and competitions, to continue awareness about addiction today. Eventually, I want to raise enough money from the completed film and sponsor an individual to receive help at the rehabilitation center I attended.

I have remained sober for the past three years and know I will continue this journey for the rest of my life. I am here to share my personal experiences of addiction, queerness, family, and love, and my guess as to what life would be like if I continued to use.