Tim Murphy

(1955 - 1996)

     Tim grew up in Rockville Center, on Long Island  (he  played basketball...had a great jump shot!). He moved to Gainesville, Florida in 1974 to go to college (this is  when we met). Gainesville was good for Tim, after college he started his own business, got married and bought a home. In the mid 1980's Tim began his battle  with heroin.  After a few years he moved across the country to California, trying to leave his addiction behind.  Southern California's "low dose" methadone program did not work for Tim and it wasn't long before his  marriage was over his health was going and his  money was gone.  His last attempt to start over took him to Hawaii, where he stayed clean for about a year.   Staying clean may be what killed him, the dope was  getting stronger while his "resistance" was getting  weaker.  The story ended in 1996, the way too many of these stories end. (overdose) The saddest part of this story is that "low dose methadone clinic". They  had a chance to help, but politics kept the Doctors from prescribing adequate doses to satisfy the  cravings.