Sunshine Stories

To mark Overdose Awareness Day 2024, read Devin's Sunshine Story by guest contributor Theo Fountain. This powerful story is unique, featuring a person in recovery from drug use...

By: James Sherman When I first came to Prevention Point Philadelphia (PPP), I had abscesses on both of my wrists. I was hesitant to go to the hospital because of a previous...

When, for the first time, Crystal and her husband have a small apartment of their own, they’re having a big party and everyone from Prevention Point Philadelphia is invited: Dee...

Eric never thought he’d make it to 30. He began using heroin when he was 19, overdosing twice. “There was no way I was going to make it through my 20s,” says Eric, now 33. He...

Michael used to sleep on the streets, a knife tucked in the side of his wheelchair in case of attack, living in what he calls “Kill or Be Killed” mode. Now he has his own apartment...

Last year, we featured former PPP participant Kali Lamb in a Sunshine Story. We were overjoyed to receive an update from her this month! Read about the wonderful life she’s...

During the 13+ years that John lived on the streets, he’d often hunker down behind a closed supermarket. He remembers nights so cold and wind so biting that he got frost bite on...

About eight months ago, Aisha says, “everything was falling apart.” “It was getting bad, slowly but surely,” she says. “My addiction, my relationship with my children. It seemed...

Left to right: Francis Wildflower, Naomi Wildflower, and Jamila. Photo courtesy of Naomi. Jamila admits she was a “hard case.” Although she was unhoused and dependent on illicit...

Portrait of Jackie: Kit Ramsey Jackie’s life was a struggle from the start. Born and raised in Kensington, her childhood was marked by sexual abuse and neglect. When, at age 14...