Genres: Addiction, Behavior, Criminal Justice, Incarceration, Social Service, Trauma
 
"Innocence of a Child" takes readers on an emotional journey through the  life of its author, showcasing the impact of early-life adversities and the  power of resilience. Through the darkest periods of his life, the unwavering  determination to overcome his circumstances provides a powerful  message of hope and redemption.  
 
Excerpt
 
“I was a product of my environment.” That’s what De’Ron Smith says, an expert intervention consultant. Smith, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, confesses that his environment as an inner-city kid greatly influenced the decisions he made. Unfortunately, they were usually the wrong ones. At the age of 7 he took his first drink, smoked his first joint at 11, and by the time he was 13 had done his first line of cocaine.
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However, this was only the beginning. He would later battle a 10-year crack addiction, homelessness, and countless jail terms. He peaked when he became one of the most well-known drug dealers in the city, only to learn that he could potentially receive a 20-year prison sentence.
 
That’s when everything changed.