Randall, 43, lived with his mother and stepfather until he was 8 years old. His stepfather was his “father… a good man.”
“We used to go to the track and play pool together… I am the person I am because of him. He
taught me to respect my elders, do my catechism – I look up to him.”
After his “father” left—Randall refers to him as his “father”—“I learned about abuse.”
“My mother physically and mentally abused me. She drank and had many boyfriends. I wasn’t the best son. We got past the problems.”
At about age 17, Randall started to smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, and smoke pot. “Alcohol was my drug of choice. I used heroin and cocaine; I shot heroin but never had a habit.” 
Randall “went to prison for killing a man.” After serving 8 years and 3 months, Randall “was out for almost 7 years.”
He went back to prison for an armed robbery: Randall got drunk at 6am, kept drinking until about 6pm. “My wife and I robbed a convenience store.”
“I need the Moving Ahead Program (MAP). I am worried about… after MAP. The sober house I am in is not sober: people drink and use drugs, including heroin.”
“I want to stay connected to MAP. I want to go back to school. I always speak my mind. I am very honest. I am a hard worker and I want to be loved.”