Roxanne Strong really, really likes her job. She calls it her “passion” that brings her “overwhelming joy.” She works at the front desk at the Salvation Army’s downtown Austin, Texas shelter. Strong’s often the first point of contact for people who call or come in looking for help. Perhaps she feels so passionate about her job because she was once that person who came into the Salvation Army looking for help ten years ago. At that time, Strong had been an addict for years. We have been hearing a lot about addicts in the news because of the opioid crisis. Roxanne Strong did not become an opioid addict. But her story is a very graphic look at what life as an addict is like. She talked with KUT's Jennifer Stayton earlier this Fall at the Salvation Army’s downtown Austin, Texas shelter about her journey from addiction to what she calls her "dream come true" life.
