“With my words as artillery. No job, but never free. Have an economy that always hurts, and for society a swine. I stand with hat in hand mi, with a desire to be clean. I thrive on bad odds, but can not promise that I will be. ” Eriks’ thoughts on life.
“Erik” is back in Badeparken – a place he for everything in the world will fail to seek . Here he has lashed and sold large quantities of drugs. It started at an age where most crowded leisure time playing cornet in the school band, or pointed at the local Little League. It could evolve foul. The environment did not respect, strongest man got his right. “Erik” tells of violence in the street, where people could find on drag knife. Although he claims to have been on both sides of the knife.
It’s been several years since “Erik” last visited Sandefjord. He would rather avoid it, for trauma and the many painful memories tend to lead to a multitude. Now he looks good about. Consider the darkened area, showing us the bench where he often used to sit. The eyes are tired and sad.
– It is equally disgusting every time. I’m not fond of the city here at all, he says with depressed pitch.
In the park during school hours
“Erik” is now in the late 20s. As 10-year-old started a long and heavy drug history with sniffing gasoline. Two years later he took his first hashish smoke, before it started over a year later. Amphetamines, Rohypnol, ecstasy pills – eventually heroin. He was hooked on the drugs that were obtainable.
While others went to school, went “Erik” in the park, and was there all day.
– Almost none of my friends knew where I was. It was my little secret, he says.
“I think I die when I live, it pulsates when I struggle, it hurts when the heart requires, so I let my mind soar.”
He was left to itself. After a childhood marked by violence and total lack of care and love, he received at age 13 told to leave home. Mother and stepfather would no longer have him with them. His father was an alcoholic, and not able to take care of neither “Eric” or the other siblings. He had no place to go. Completely abandoned and left to solitude, and with strong trauma luggage. Traumas that haunt him it today.
– When my friends went home to eat dinner, I was sitting alone. It was just sad and lonely every time, he describes.
Stayed on the street
The city was his only constant companion. At nights he slept often on ridges at schools and industrial areas, where it was a little warm obtainable. Sometimes he stays with friends, mostly by sneaking in and out of the bedroom windows without friends’ parents knew about it. But for several years he lived more or less on the street, before the age of 14 moved in with his older brother and a few friends in a tiny group.
They smoked hashish together, took ecstasy, amphetamines and Rohypnol . Heroin sprayer was taken up more often than before. It also happened that he hung with an older junkie – a Relationship from Badeparken.
– He used garbage bags isolation and opened the stove to heat up lodgings, says “Eric.”
The young boy gained gradually good money selling hash, but wanted a side business. The most natural were resorting to crime. To break into cars became a trademark. He stole with his car and speakers in a large scale. Eventually “Erik” too many husinnbrudd conscience.
– In this way I got confirmations of buddies, who made me feel valuable. It was the only love I got, says “Eric.”
Many judgments and fines
He did not get away each time. “Erik” convicted six times in court since 2002 and fined 10 times, most recently this year. But in reality could record been much longer.
– I have been an extremely active gain criminal, but sneaked away mostly. Had I been taken for everything, I’d been in prison for many years, he assured.
In Sandefjord finds he still fragments of her past, including a daughter who is placed in foster care. She is the reason that “Erik” visiting the city on a cold December day. He took a final farewell to Sandefjord several years ago. As 24-year-old was the first time he admitted to rusklinikk. Having come home, kept “Erik” themselves sober well over one year. But the city caught up with him. Old debt and dregs of the past did he landed on kjøret again. Therefore he left Sandefjord for good.
Back Falls have been many since. He has been hospitalized several times, managed to stay sober for a period, before the bar back to the same kjøret.
Getting help for trauma
Today, he gets help, above all to cope with the psychological aspects of having grown up in a home marked by little love and care. Trauma inducing episodes from childhood has been ingrained. Several psychologists believe “Erik” suffering of so-called reactive attachment trauma. Because of overproduction of stress hormones in the brain, is the “reptilian” or instincts, which have gained control. Therefore, it was only after repeated trauma therapy that the brain to “Eric” succeeded ressonnere normally. When obtained reality him brutally.
– I was so accustomed to living in the madness. It was normal for me. Now I’m trying to do everything it takes to be able to live a normal life as possible. But it is difficult. In the meeting with the community every day, I get reminded that I am not sufficient. To live with such a disgrace, is challenging. But I know that I am a good man who has much love to give. Especially for people who have lived as I have done. I hope to give unconditional love to other people. I will do before I die, says “Eric.”
“My thoughts go to all those who have reached rock bottom, waiting for times that never came, and live their lives on loan. When it seems to lighten, then comes a flood. So always be prepared, for you must then you have to. “
Believes Sandefjord municipality must take responsibility for client
Attorney Arve André Larsen believes it is obvious that Sandefjord municipality should have done more to help “Erik” out of a homeless existence. But the municipality claims they have done everything they could.
In September announced Larsen that he considered legal action against Sandefjord Municipality for his client. The main reason is that “Erik” in young age was kicked out of his home, and was partially resident on the street for several years. Larsen believes upbringing to “Eric” should have triggered more extensive measures than what CPS initiated – primarily a care order.
– It is well documented that he has lived on the streets. Child welfare service was also aware that he flew from couch to couch and slept outdoors. That something like could happen without triggering extensive measures to get him in foster care are quite startling in itself. There is an inadequate intervention, says Larsen Sande Blad.
– There is a limit
The municipality has rejected allegations by the lawyer to “Eric”. In response to the Larsens process notice shows, among other things to the child welfare service became aware of “Eric” in the mid 90s. It was then enabled unequal follow up until he came of age.
“It crawled documentation shows that both parents, school and child welfare service tries to facilitate him,” writes the municipality in its reply to Larsen.
It is also noted that “Erik” shall have been given all the documentation in the case in 2006. For this reason, believes that the municipality that the limitation period of three years is exceeded.
– The municipality takes responsibility within the given limits established by law and in accordance with the municipality resources. There will be a limit to how far the municipality has the opportunity to be involved in the individual’s fate, said lawyer and legal adviser Mette-Marit Juel Gulliksen in Sandefjord municipality.
– unkindly by the municipality
She also support the municipality’s argument around the limitation that it would be difficult to document actual conditions after so long.
The municipality will therefore not go along with a liability in the matter. Larsen is now considering, in consultation with his client, his next move. He characterizes it as “shabby” of Sandefjord municipality to “hide behind procedural rules” in the case.
– My client wants someone to take responsibility. Then Sandefjord Municipality at least admit that they might not have done enough for him, he said.
