The reasons why people begin using drugs vary from one person to another, however, there does seem to be one common denominator  pain.  Whether physical or emotional pain, it needed to be lessened or numbed.  This is especially true of the intense emotional pain caused by sexual abuse.  Melinda, Sharneese and Charles all were victims of incest and sexual abuse, along with neglect and betrayal at very young ages.  They all admit there was a connection between these events and their drug use, even if it took them years to understand it.