By: Christine Souders, csouders@cbs4qc.com
CBS4 talked to a woman who would only go by the name 'DEB' to conceal her identity.
Right now, Deb is seeking treatment after spending three years in prison for doing heroin and selling it on the streets of the Quad Cities.
Deb said her 'obsession' with heroin began 30 years ago, when she was first introduced to the powerful drug by another user.
"He came to the car and said I couldn't get any cocaine, but you can snort this and it was heroin, and then I snorted it and I loved it. I never wanted him to get cocaine again," Deb said.
Soon after, Deb said she started shooting heroin with a needle.
She showed us her arms where there are permanent scars, but she said the scars go much deeper.
Deb remembers watching someone in her circle overdosing on the drug.
"One was right in front of my face, and I tried to revive her, and I was unable to," Deb said.
Deb said she too experienced some close calls with death.
"I remember the 1st time I shot up. My friend walked me around the blocks of inner city Davenport, where their mother lived, and kept me alive that day," she said.
Sometimes, Deb said she would use up to eight times in one day.
To support her habit, she sold heroin, which eventually landed her in prison. But, she tells us being locked up was a blessing in disguise.
"To be taken out of my situation off the street, somewhere where I had no access what so ever to anything," she said.
It's been almost a year since her release, now she finds refuge in recovery. Reflecting on her years of drug abuse, she admits living a life full of regrets.
"Not being there for my kids like I should of. Conning people out of money, I did a lot of other things too that would be illegal for money, and you know you hurt the ones you love," she said.
Deb said she's not surprised heroin is on the rise in the Quad Cities. Telling us it's not too hard to find.
