By Tara McKee

Content warning: this post contains mentions of self-harm, domestic violence, and suicide. Please take care of yourself and practice caution if these are upsetting topics for you. 

Having a rough life as a child and not really being able to talk freely about my issues was always big for me. I always hid my emotions and my feelings. I shut down rather than talked. Even at a young ag...

The testimony of a person incarcerated. 

By an anonymous writer from jail, 32 years of age.

How did this all begin? That is probably the hardest question anyone has ever asked me. The easy answer is truly just an excuse. You see, I’m writing this response from jail where I’ve been living for the last four months. 

Being incarcerated might seem normal to some but not for me. Never could I imagin...

Written by Kidra Avery, a CSUCI Service-Learning student.

“There is risk, it’s serious, you will lose friends. People will die, but you’re not alone and if a time comes that you need help, there are people there for you.”

Rachel is a long-time friend of mine. She and I were in the same dance class as adolescents, and then attended and graduated from the same high school 1 year apart. We didn’t b...

By Kidra Avery, CSUCI Service Learning student.

This interview was conducted in person at the participant’s home. I received verbal consent from Andrew, the interviewee. Andrew is 27 years old and works as a barista at a local coffee shop. He and I met in high school and played on the men’s and women’s water polo teams both at our high school and local junior college. It was a beautiful sunny Cal...

By Kidra Avery, a CSUCI Service Learning student.

This interview was conducted on Zoom on Tuesday September 29th, 2020. Jonathan and I have known each other since he got out of rehab the second time, and have remained friends since. Our interview was very casual, much like two friends speaking openly, with the awkward recognition that we were being recorded. This is his story.

What if you woke u...

Written by Mackenzie Billotti, a CSUCI student.

For privacy purposes the name of my interviewee will be changed. The interview with David was conducted May 2nd, 2021 on Zoom. We discussed his background and history with prescription drug abuse.

David suffered from a rare spinal disease called Scheuermann's Kyphosis. This is a condition that affects the upper part of the back and causes it to cur...

Written by a CSUCI student.

Through working with BRITE, I was able to reflect on my own experiences involving drug and alcohol abuse. By bringing awareness to these dangerous activities I’ve been able to get a better understanding of why underage kids and even my own siblings participate in them. I wasn’t able to help or essentially persuade my siblings against drugs and alcohol but by using the ...

Content warning: This post contains mentions of physical abuse, drug use, and overdose.

Written by a CSUCI student.

It’s crazy to think that drugs do not impact anyone's lives, because for me it’s always been a thing. I’m not saying that I’ve lived a grueling life, in shelters or anything like that, but I have always been aware of terrible things out there and I’ve witnessed some serious drug ad...

Written by a CSUCI student.

You know, I always hear people talk about how a dad is a little girl's first true love and how dad will set the example of who their daughter will see as a potential partner in the future. I also always hear my family say how kids grow up so fast and they remember me running to the door when I would hear my dad get home from work. I really wish I could still remember t...

Written by a CSUCI student.

Written by a CSUCI student.

Prior to having taken a class that specifically talked about the opioid crisis in the United States, I truly had no knowledge of any of this. It is very interesting to actually learn about different experiences and also from real-life experiences. Personally, I feel that it is very easy to read an article discussing this serious issue and not really make any connection...

Content warning - This blog post contains sexually explicit content.

Written by a CSUCI student.

Alcoholism always starts out fun. In the words of a friend, “All I knew was that it was a drink that made him happy and silly.” -- until that drink overtook them.

The first time is always the funnest, everyone’s a lucky winner.

Warm. Funny. Dizzy. Vomit. Again, another, because I’m a beginner;