David Allan Reeves is currently serving time at Marianna Federal Correctional Institution in Florida for numerous crimes he committed. He existed in a vortex of addictions that included a huge number of pharmaceutical drugs, heroin, methadone, ecstasy and alcohol. In the 20 years of being an active addict, the miracle is that he is alive to tell his story.
David Allan Reeves Bio
Born in 1969 in Alabama, David Allan Reeves grew up in an intact family with three brothers, Renny, Chris and Brian. He experienced what he called a normal childhood. Although he didn't like school, David enjoyed sports, running in particular, and graduated high school in 1988. In his appropriately entitled book, Running Away From Me, he recalls that at the age of 12 he felt he did not fit in and started to slip between the cracks. He studied psychology and art at the University of South Alabama and Troy State University-Montgomery.
Onset of Addictions
At the age of 14, David started to smoke marijuana with two of his two brothers. Marijuana “magnified and amplified” his enjoyment of everything. David smoked marijuana with only two of his brothers and his uncle. It wasn't long after that he witnessed his brother Brian becoming addicted to Dilaudid, but at that time, needles scared David.
When David was attending the University of South Alabama he was at a party and tried ecstasy. He felt if one small pill could make him feel that good, he was willing to try any pill. As he writes in his book, “I was now ruined, corrupted, infected. Drugs became an obsession.”
Pharmaceutical Junkie
David became obsessed with trying any pill that would make him feel good or give him an intense high. By 21 years old, he was so deep into addictions that if someone convinced him that drinking urine could get him high, he'd drink it. He lost his fear of needles from watching his brother and started shooting Dilaudid, and from there snowballed into a pharmaceutical junkie. Xanax, Lortab,Demerol, Tylox, Darvocet, Ritalin and Valium were some of his favorites.
The Addictions Roller Coaster
From this point on, David Allan Reeves did whatever it took to survive. His thoughts and actions were controlled mostly by drugs. His first attempt at coming clean was unsuccessful. He went to a methadone clinic to aid in eliminating the heroin. For David, methadone “was like trying to put out a fire with gasoline.” He remembers that once his body became accustomed to having daily methadone, the need to be “obliterated” came back with a vengeance.
As time went on, David's addictions were so intense he resorted to robbing pharmacies to get his fix, and before long, robbing banks. His last bank robbery resulted in his arrest and being shot by police. His tolerance for drugs had reached a level where it was almost impossible to sedate him from the pain of the wounds he had sustained.
Addictions Recovery
David is now four years into sobriety. He has courageously written a compelling book that may not only help an addict struggling with recovery, but it will helped those who are trying to support a loved one through addictions. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to obtain an understanding of how the mind of an addict works.
David Allan Reeves' release date is in June 2013, but he hopes for an early release in December 2012.
Running Away From Me
David Allan Reeves
Dog Ear Publishing
Karen Stephenson - Karen has written for several newspapers and print media in addition to many online publications. She holds a B.A. in English and an ...
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