ON THE STREET AGAIN
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Sammy McGuire’s ability to choose between homelessness and “normal” living is questionable. As Leslie Earnest reports, Sammy’s early developmental history--complete with head trauma, situational turmoil and severe psychological stress--may indicate that he had neurological injuries or a disease process of the brain.
As a clinical psychotherapist, I have treated people like Sammy who, when psychiatrically stable and off of alcohol and drugs, do opt for less transient and threatening lifestyles.
MARGARET ALTMAN BLAZ
Van Nuys
Editor’s note: Sammy McGuire died of complications from pneumonia in Gainesville, Fla., on Nov. 25, the day after the article about him was published.
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