were junkies themselves.
In the ghetto's dope jungle, the Muslim ex-junkies would fish out addicts who knew them back in
those days. Then with an agonizing patience that might span anywhere from a few months to a
year, our ex-junkie Muslims would conduct the addicts through the Muslim six-point therapeutic
process.
The addict first was brought to admit to himself that he was an addict. Secondly, he was taught
why he used narcotics. Third, he was shown that there was a way to stop addiction. Fourth,
the addict's shattered self-image, and ego, were built up until the addict realized that he had,
within, the self-power to end his addiction. Fifth, the addict voluntarily underwent a cold turkey
break with drugs. Sixth, finally cured, now an ex-addict completes the cycle by "fishing" up other
addicts whom he knows, and supervising their salvaging.
This sixth stage always instantly eliminated what so often defeats the average social agenciesthe
characteristic addict's hostility and suspicion. The addict who is "fished" up knew personally
that the Muslim approaching him very recently had the same fifteen to thirty dollar a day habit.
The Muslim may be this addict's buddy; they had plied the same dope jungle. They even may
have been thieves together. The addict had seen the Muslim drifting off to sleep leaning
against a building, or stepping as high over a matchstick as if it were a dog. And the Muslim,
approaching the addict, uses the same old junkie jungle language.
Like the alcoholic, the junkie can never start to cure himself until he recognizes and accepts his
true condition. The Muslim sticks like a leech, drumming at his old junkie buddy, "You're hooked,
man!" It might take months before the addict comes to grips with this. The curative program is
never really underway until this happens.
The next cure-phase is the addict's realization of why he takes dope. Still working on his man,
right in the old jungle locale, in dives that you wouldn't believe existed, the Muslim often collects
audiences of a dozen junkies. They listen only because they know the clean-cut proud Muslim
had earlier been like them.
Every addict takes junk to escape something, the Muslim explains. He explains that most black
junkies really are trying to narcotize themselves against being a black man in the white man's
America. But, actually, the Muslim says, the black man taking dope is only helping the white man
to "prove" that the black man is nothing.
The Muslim talks confidentially, and straight. "Daddy, you know I know how you feel. Wasn't I right
out here with you? Scratching like a monkey, smelling all bad, living mad, hungry, stealing and
running and hiding from Whitey. Man, what's a black man buying Whitey's dope for but to make
Whitey richer-killing yourself!"
The Muslim can tell when his quarry is ready to be shown that the way for him to quit dope is
through joining the Nation of Islam. The addict is brought into the local Muslim restaurant, he may
occasionally be exposed to some other social situations-among proud, clean Muslims who show
each other mutual affection and respect instead of the familiar hostility of the ghetto streets. For
the first time in years, the addict hears himself called, genuinely, "Brother,""Sir" and "Mr." No one
cares about his past. His addiction may casually be mentioned, but if so, it is spoken of as merely
an especially tough challenge that he must face. Everyone whom this addict meets is confident
that he will kick his habit.
As the addict's new image of himself builds, inevitably he begins thinking that he can break the
habit. For the first time he is feeling the effects of black self-pride.
That's a powerful combination for a man who has been existing in the mud of society. In fact,
once he is motivated no one can change more completely than the man who has been at the
bottom. I call myself the best example of that.
Finally, vitally, this addict will decide for himself that he wants to go on cold turkey. This means to
endure the physical agonies of abruptly quitting dope.
When this time comes, ex-addict Muslims will arrange to spend the necessary days in aroundthe-
clock shifts, attending the addict who intends to purge himself, on the way to becoming a
Muslim.
When the addict's withdrawal sets in, and he is screaming, cursing, and begging, "Just one shot,
darsice
(darsice)
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