FOLLOWING THE PATH TO ADDICTION

Editor's note: This is the second part of a series looking into drug
abuse. Ryan (not his real name) talks about his experience using drugs
and participating in the Vernon Treatment Centre teen program.

He's a good-looking young man with short hair, wearing jeans, a
T-shirt and an earring.

"It started with weed. We were in Grade 5. My buddy stole some from
home and we smoked and thought we were so cool. By Grade 8 we couldn't
party or have a good time without alcohol or drugs. You get a bum to
bootleg for you but half the time you get ripped off."

Even so, it was easy enough to keep the supplies coming.

"To get drugs and alcohol all I had to do was pick up my phone. It was
easier to get drugs than to buy a pack of smokes. You can get
everything - cocaine, ecstasy, mushrooms, hallucinogens, GHB (date
rape drug), acid, LSD, meth.

"It's easier to find cocaine than weed. It's free at first then you
start selling a couple of joints to friends to pay for yourself and it
grows. The drug dealers know how to manipulate people."

He never thought to question what was actually in the drugs they were
selling him.

When Ryan was first doing drugs he found he could keep up with school
work and sports. He was good and was competing at a provincial level
in his sport.

"Even when you go out to sports there's alcohol and drugs around. It's
the cool thing to do. It ruined my sports, I got so I would rather do
drugs and drink than do sports. I knew what I was doing was bad but I
never thought it would get out of control. I felt like I could keep up
with everything."

He gave up on sports, was failing at school and stealing to support
his habit but he still wouldn't admit he had a problem.

A couple of months ago he had an argument with a friend who told the
school counsellor about his drug use as a way to get back at him. It
was time to make a decision.

"I said I wasn't going to go to that stupid program but a week later,
of my own will, I went to try it out. I did my first day and my second
day and my third day and realized that it would help.

"I felt awkward at first. Owning up to my problems - that was hard. I
can say what I have to say and nobody's there to judge me. Some of the
other people's stories are touching, they made me cry. It's like a
family. We all look out for each other."

He hopes other teens will be able to get honest with themselves and be
willing to participate in the program.

"I had been trying to avoid the problem. Now I wake up happy to come
to the program. Now I can go to the meetings and I have someone to
call when I need help. I would say to people not to be afraid to get
help. It's out there and it's really good. If you don't want to talk,
at least come and listen and you'll learn a lot.

"You'll be way happier after you admit you have a problem and get help
for it. Talk to your school counsellor. Once you tell someone it's way
easier. I couldn't be any happier right now."

His family was surprised when he made the decision to attend the
Vernon Treatment Centre program but are supportive. His good buddies
respect his decision and they are able to enjoy spending time together
without drugs and alcohol. He thinks parents and friends have an
important part to play in helping kids get clean and sober.

"A lot of parents don't know what their kids actually do. My mom
accused me but I'd make up the biggest bullshit stories. I lied about
everything."

He said parents should look for things like kids sleeping all day,
mood swings, sniffles in the morning every day, money and jewelry and
other valuables in the house going missing and kids making excuses
about losing or lending things to others. Another warning sign is when
a teen is always asking for more money.

Ryan feels good that he has been able to make changes in his life but
he knows the problem isn't going away.

"You've got dealers in town as we speak ready to get someone."