PROVIDER PERSPECTIVE:
Ricardo Custodio (1)
Text Transcript

This story is called "Cocaine." It was a busy day, and a sixteen-year-old boy comes in. Basically, he's a "ob" or fresh off the boat or what we call "joj," just off the jet. He's an adolescent, he's been here for a day or so … but he needs a physical to start school.

As a good pediatrician, I always ask about sex, drugs, and rock and roll. So as part of the physical I always ask, "Do you smoke?" He says "no." Drink? "No." I get to drugs. "Do you use marijuana?" "No." Cocaine? "No." "Ice?" "No" "Crystal?" "No" " Metha-amphetamine?" "No."

(And then he said) "Cocaine? My mommy does the Cocaine." And I look at him and in the middle of this very busy day I think 'Oh my god. I've got to do a child protective agency consult. I've got to do all these social services.' And so I start asking him again. Tell me about it. I'm worried about him. " Yes, my mommy does the cooking, she cook rice, she cook soba , she cook all the food in the house."

It was one of those moments where I had to turn. I'm sure he could see me shaking. Because basically it's one of those things where uncertainty sharpens your perception--you know? And it makes things very fresh, and it made me see the importance of language, and what we take for granted when we are just talking to people.