METH ADDICT GIVES ADVICE TO FELLOW ADDICTS FROM PRISON

To the editor: My son wrote the following letter in the hopes of
having it published in The Allegan County News so people could read
it and take his advice.

Cheryl Caswell

Otsego

Dear readers: My name is Rob Caswell Jr. I am currently serving my
second prison sentence due to my meth addiction.

I want to take this time to apologize to my family, friends and
loved ones--especially to my son, Gage Caswell. I love you, son.

I have been struggling with this addiction for about 11 years, minus
the 40 months I served in prison the first time.

I am writing this letter not only to apologize, but also to try to
encourage people with this addiction to get help before it is too late.

I thought I had my addiction beat when I got out, got a decent job
working 40 to 50 hours a week, went to my A.A. meetings and
one-on-one counseling, reported to my parole officer every month and
stayed clean. I figured I was over it.

Well, I wasn't. Once I finished my classes and completed my parole,
I slowly started to fall back into it; before I knew it, I was once
again in over my head. Not even two years since I got out, I found
myself right back in prison. This time, I am serving an eight-year sentence.

Prison is no place for rehabilitation. It is just as easy, or maybe
even easier, to feed your addiction in here.

Although I don't take part in those activities in here, there are
many that do. In most cases, guys don't come in with a drug habit;
by the time they leave they are addicted to some sort of drug.

There's an old saying, "Out by eight, with a spoon by noon." So,
even though you are incarcerated, that doesn't mean you are being
rehabilitated.

Basically, what I am trying to say to anyone with a drug addiction
is: get help before it's too late.

Being a drug addict, I understand the struggles you go through
everyday. If you face your addiction and deal with the struggles out
there--where you have support from family and friends--you may not
end up in prison where the temptation and struggles are the same, if
not worse. You'll have nobody to really help you; even worse, you
may end up dead.

Since I didn't continue with my treatment, once again I fell victim
to my addiction. Once again, I am putting my family and friends
through unnecessary heartache and pain. So please: Believe in the
power of addiction and get help before it is too late.

I would also like to thank my family for being there for my son and
I and showing the understanding and support one needs to make it
through the rough times.

Thank you,

Rob Caswell Jr.