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KUDZU : KUDZU LIFE

Budd from Philly Streets, 2 Years Later

Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan | December 24, 2025



Use code channel5 at https://incogni.com/channel5 to get an exclusive 60% off.

Link to Budd’s book
https://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Beach-Survival-Streets-Philadelphia-ebook/dp/B0FTYHZMZY

Also, some images in this documentary were captured by Suzanne Stein, who you can follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/suzanne_stein/?hl=en. She is a really great photographer and I recommend you check out her work.

00:00:00 – Budd Rodney introduces himself
00:04:14 – Impact of Kensington’s cleanup policies
00:08:39 – Health consequences of addiction: kidney failure, frostbite, etc.
00:12:39 – Emotional aftermath and mental health struggles
00:18:48 – Losses within the addiction community
00:21:19 – Life and relapse while working as a CO
00:27:46 – Arrest, legal consequences, hiding addiction while working
00:35:22 – Years-long cycle through rehabs and hospitals
00:39:01 – Reflections on hope, recovery, and the importance of staying connected
00:44:05 – Brittany joins to discuss her journey
00:46:20 – Facing consequences as part of recovery
00:53:14 – Theory about addiction stemming from deep pain
01:06:19 – Life on the streets: Survival stories from Kensington
01:13:22 – Early drug use and Budd’s progression from curiosity to addiction
01:21:12 – Camaraderie among the homeless and addicted
01:24:39 – Systemic failures and possible solutions to addiction
01:28:59 – Drug supply chains and rehab industry incentives
01:35:19 – Final message from Budd: hope for those facing addiction

Written by Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan

Comments

This post currently has 47 comments.

  2. @Vercingetorix.Rising

    December 24, 2025 at 9:20 pm

    Recovery is an amazing thing. I got on the clinic in 2019, but didn't really stop using till a couple years after. So glad to have all of my life, back to be back in the gym. To have respect among my peers.

  5. @FactoryFugitive

    December 24, 2025 at 9:20 pm

    Budd, as someone who started using My sisters opioids while she was dying of brain cancer, our Italian alcoholic dad thought enough punches would get rid of cancer and eventually the destruction of opioids from when iI was 13 taking My sisters M80''s that were so strong they would make her sick taking half, I was eventually taking everything she gave Me (IV Morphine, Dlidud, you name it we had it in our house during this time. Even though I had it together as a poly drug addict (which in the first3/1/12 years gave Me My degree & i was working as a future slot floor manager at a casino making $1,400 a week to crashing My car at 125mph on My way late to work from another late night party with 2 hours sleep and I had a seizure on the casino floor after a night of cocaine, Xanax & Whiskey (9ffor the entire night up until 3 hours before I had too be to work. I crashed My car 4000ft from My house, & a local cop still drove Me to work & didn't charge Me (which might have kept it going or maybe he was doing Me a favor by realizing I was a kid just starting his road to rock bottom) & I went from a facility with over 9000 employee eyes and rated top 5 3 years in a row while taking 15 Percocet a day, eventually a bundle of dope and half gram of coke per day. Mix in some MDMA when My synapses were already fried, They watched Me go from a 160lb BJJ purple belt with a college degree to a 13l0lb man who could barely make it to work after My sister & all My grandparents died during covid & I went deeper). Way passed. crush worthy green oxy 80's of 200024 of yellow, BLUE, PURPLE, fent & zene analogues to & eventually tranq dope) (Of which as a non-cancer patient My sister just gave to Me).

    She had more strength to deal with brain cancer without opioids than I could live with the fact she had it & did her opioids for her (at least 40% of which she just gave Me at 12I thought Oxy 80's would make Me tan artist, the next Kurt Cobain. It helped Me get My degree just in time before it ruined My life. At the same time Myt parents became alcoholics after losing My sisters toa myoblastoma of the brain. , Not only was I not talented as him, but I didn't even have the balls to end it. A gf saved Me (being the weak person I was) started fent almost immediately after we broke up0 My sister was more of a bad ass dealing with an EXTREMELELEY RARE FORM OF BRAIN CANCER was green oxy 80's from perdue to tranq that was somewhat every color under the fckn sun & eventually contained zero real heroin & when you did find a real heroin plug it didn't even get you remotely high. You could use 7x the average fatal dose and still feel sick. . I got the Italian brain, blood & athletic body type for. My, My 62 year old mother are still homeless, but at least we got so lucky enough to keep our limbs.

    We may be sober & still die here in the street……but at least were beating what would have killed us within 2 to 3 years max & with no crime's

  6. @vanessasmiles849

    December 24, 2025 at 9:20 pm

    This is a systemic issue, they start kids young on pills and overdiagnose people so that can permanently be on pills. Then alcohol is legal and pushed onto to society. Then when you try to get to get help and change there are limited resources and are seen as a low life. This was such a good documentary

  10. @brentsnyder5717

    December 24, 2025 at 9:20 pm

    Tranq takes limbs! What a delusional liberal. They all are. Blaming the cops for not allowing fires for drugged out homeless on the street and not blaming all the footless armless drugs addict in Philadelphia with online because tranq. This is the number one cause for all these loser drug addicts. Blaming everything and everyone else but their god damn selves.

  12. @ctrlkej

    December 24, 2025 at 9:20 pm

    watching this video made me cry, hearing that many of the people that Andrew interviewed two years ago are no longer with us, the treatment of homeless people, buddy’s journey all of it is so heartbreaking. This country needs more compassion and empathy for the homeless especially when the average American in this country rt now is a paycheck or medical bill away from becoming homeless themselves and just imagining the number of homeless people skyrocketing next year bc many of us won’t be able to afford healthcare all of it is just so heartbreaking. I hate this country

  16. @MrFuggleGuggle

    December 24, 2025 at 9:20 pm

    Unfortunately… losing your legs usually means he will probably be dead in the next 10 or 15 years. Not including the other leftover comorbidities and systemic / organ issues he has from years of heroin / tranq use.

    Your bones are what produce your blood cells – both red (oxygen / nutrient transplant), and white (lymphocytes, immunity, and healing factor). Your leg bones are some of the biggest contributors to that because of their size. So without them, he'll eventually catch a sickness – like pneumonia – his body will be unable to fend off.

  17. @tomtee4442

    December 24, 2025 at 9:20 pm

    For the ones that are just living in their vehicle and not doing drugs. And their working, on disability or retirement SSI check they (shouldn't) be rounded up and taken away. But for the ones that are an all-out addict they are literally harming theirself like this guy. If go vern ment would have locked him up. With a good strict program they could have possibly got him clean. And a good chance he would still have his legs. But let's face it the powers that be could care less. December 20 2025. There's a new drug on the street that's far worse than xylazine or fentanyl. Less than 2 Grams will literally kill somebody. I think this is all planned and by designed to literally take the people out on the bottom. Because pharma makes xylazine, Fentanyl and the newest drug that is just come out. Smoking, vaping, drinking, marijuana and more is all gateways to hardcore drugs. Over 90% of the addicted homeless started out with prescription pills legally. Became an addict and then when they couldn't get the pills anymore being too expensive or a doctor, pain management doctor, shrink or dentist cut them off. That's when they turn to illegal drugs to numb their self. And somewhere along the way they lost everything. And that's why most are living in a tent and unfortunately over 90% are doing drugs. And they're committing crimes every day depending on how bad their habit is. To multiple crimes a day all to get high.

  18. @Fardedon

    December 24, 2025 at 9:20 pm

    "I'm in recovery now, and this is part of my story" – That's the thing about addiction, it's a battle every day. His story continues after this documentary, and I'm cheering for Budd to have a happy ending. Kensy is a short distance away and I've lost people close to me to it, and I've seen a few break free from it. You're the man Budd

  21. @fitxforxbattle

    December 24, 2025 at 9:20 pm

    Fuck. I had sepsis once when I was using, and people said “you could have died” and I grasped it, but I didn’t grasp it as deep until hearing your buddy died from it

  23. @jeremyurena297

    December 24, 2025 at 9:20 pm

    I doubt very many people will see this, but I can’t express enough how grateful I am to have what I have, and I weep for those who are less fortunate. Budd survived a horror story that is more tangible and excruciating than any other I’ve seen. God bless you Andrew for your boundless compassion, and God bless Budd and your family to brave through these hardships no person deserve.

  30. @M.magdaa

    December 24, 2025 at 9:20 pm

    Thank you for sharing your story Budd. You are an inspiration and I hope you know you are helping people. Just knowing there is hope in someone you love who is an addict. Best wishes to you and your family. Happy holidays!

  32. @hi_tech_reptilezz

    December 24, 2025 at 9:20 pm

    I lost my finger to addiction. I was a professional level guitarist and now, I can play again but not like I used to. That said, 8 years of sobriety I have so much more to be thankful for and fulfill my life. It's worth doing anyone out there addicted, to weed and booze to heroin and fent to meth.

    Good luck, work hard, stay humble. 🙏

  33. @thatrogersmith

    December 24, 2025 at 9:20 pm

    “Who cares if it kills me, it’s my choice.”.

    If you existed in a vacuum, I’d agree with you…but you don’t.

    Your CHOICE hurt other people.

    You stole, you took medication from someone in pain that needed it, you assaulted people, etc.

  34. @KentBrooks3

    December 24, 2025 at 9:20 pm

    That's the thing that bothers me about some drug addicts. They tell us we should not be able to tell them they cannot use drugs that they should be able to do what they want. But when they become hopelessly addicted now they want us to help them with everything. It doesn't make sense. That's why a lot of people don't have sympathy for drug addicts.😮

  35. @KentBrooks3

    December 24, 2025 at 9:20 pm

    It is good to see people get better. But it is kind of hard to watch when people can go through $30,000 worth of jewelry stolen from family. Probably spent hundreds of thousand dollars on drugs over time. And a regular person can barely make it in this world working their butts off at a job just trying to make it. An average person that has probably never even had 30,000 at their disposal. Then comes the time to clean up their lives. And now they still have to depend on others to get them through life. It's not fair to themselves or to anyone around them. This guy is fortunate he has parents that have the ability to afford his comfort after he chose to be so uncomfortable in life. I hope he does fine. Maybe after all that, he might come back and save thousands of others from going through the horrible ordeal of addiction.😮

  41. @neonrays28

    December 24, 2025 at 9:20 pm

    There is recent studies that is looking into the benefits of menstral blood and it's regeneration propertieis to heal wounds instense wounds 100% within 24 hours. This would be interesting they see if that has potentional to heal.

  45. @OccupyAhostBody

    December 24, 2025 at 9:20 pm

    You have to laugh at how dark the advertising algorithm is and works. Case in point: Budd from Philly Streets is talking about losing his legs to frost bite…jumpcut to a bearskin ad for a hoodie starting off with it saying "Don't want to freeze your nipples off!" Talk about product placement!

  46. @ortizmusik7115

    December 24, 2025 at 9:20 pm

    all the drug dealers that get busted and all the money they confiscate should go to the health bills these victims go through, cause this is crazy, back in the day when heroin was out, nobody was going through these life changing problems.

Comments are closed.

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