Sunny Bosco’s article “Never Give Up” was a look at drug addiction on the shoreline published on Oct. 13 in the Valley Courier and six other Shore Publishing newspapers. The story generated a considerable reader response from community members, recovering addicts, and parents like this one, who wrote to tell his or her family’s story.
An article recently in the Valley Courier hit home in ways that I felt compelled to write this letter. It was about a warm, loving young man from Madison who fought and ultimately lost his battle with drugs. Our son is fighting the same battle. The only difference is we still have hope that he may not lose his battle. Nobody ever wins a battle with drugs. For those that are lucky enough to stay alive and find sobriety, the fight is part of their daily life.
Our son is a caring, loving, funny, smart, and athletic young man. The impact he has on people and his ability to light up a room with his personality are traits that always set him apart. That was before drugs robbed him of these gifts.
Our son started drinking and smoking a little pot. I was one of those parents who probably would have lived with a little drinking and pot smoking in high school, knowing he would grow out of it. We would never condone it and there would be consequences, but I am a realist. In hindsight, I could not have been more misguided. The first couple of times we caught him we punished him but did not really think much of it. As it became apparent that we had a serious problem I began to research, read, and focus on the problem. We discovered our son was also using household items to get high like cough syrup, cold tablets, and even nutmeg-yes, nutmeg the spice can be used as a hallucinogen. This can start in middle school for many kids.
This all led to prescription pain killers, muscle relaxers, and anything else he could get his hands on. As we monitored text messages, checked Facebook, and even set up our own surveillance, we found out he was getting them from kids in school. Even sadder is these kids were stealing it from parents, grandparents, relatives, or friends. These are not street drugs that have stolen the last two years of my son’s life and put him near death-they are drugs in ordinary people’s homes that are left exposed and available to our youth.
Prescription pain medicines have led to seven hospital visits, four of which lasted a week; multiple police visits; a 30-day in-patient stay; a year and a half of hell at home; and, ultimately, a brush with death a few weeks ago. He has used Xanax, Percocet, all the oxy pills, ambien, klonopin, hydro morphine, tramaodol, soma, methocarbomal, adderall, and others. If you have a teenager and prescription medicines in your home there is a chance my son or someone like him has ended up with some. The kids who are supplying are not the prototypical drug dealers. The names I have compiled include honor students, star athletes, kids that go to school out of town, children of town politicians, and young ladies. They range in age from 8th grade to early college. Do not ever think, “It could not be my child;” you may be wrong.
I realize at this point my son’s problem is something that he has to own and deal with, but I wonder if things may have been different if we all were more responsible with the storage and use of prescription drugs. Just because a doctor prescribes it, we tend to have a more relaxed attitude. These drugs are dangerous and often lethal to adolescents and adults. In-patient admissions have increased 400 percent over the last 10 years for prescription medicines, while every other substance in-patient-admission rate has declined. These drugs are more available, cheaper, and are more addictive than marijuana. Please lock them up, count them, and return them at events in local towns when you can turn in unused drugs. Talk to your kids openly; ask questions. You can purchase easy at-home drug tests online or at drug stores.
Our son is currently in a long-term rehab facility and seems to be in the right frame of mind to turn his life around. Our biggest fear at this point is that, when he returns to society and to school, these drugs will still be readily available. These come from someone’s medicine cabinet at home and will continue to be taken until we all become responsible and vigilant. Even if our son can build the strength to resist temptation, the idea that someone else’s son or daughter will be next is frightening. Will your child be the next to try them, abuse them, or overdose? How can any of us accept this?
I did not write this for sympathy. I have written this in hopes that this may make people think and act to stop this madness. I pray for every family enduring the anguished that goes with adolescent drug addiction and all those families that will continue to go through this until we put an end to it.
If you would like to reach out and talk to a family who has lived through that, please contact us at saveourkids93@yahoo.com
Regards,
Concerned and Scared Parent
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