By the age of 13, John Turvey was addicted to heroin. In his early twenties he gave up drugs and became a formidable, if unconventional, advocate for the disadvantaged of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Through his drive and determination, he brought the problems of street youth out of the shadows and into the mainstream of professional and public concern. He challenged all levels of government and is credited with results that include changes to the Criminal Code and a groundbreaking needle exchange program. His blunt, tell-it-like-it-is style has earned him supporters and detractors, but no one denies he has made a difference in many people's lives.