ADDICTS HAVE TO WANT TO CHANGE

Re: Treating the problem, editorial, Jan. 20.

There's one important issue in this equation that I want to address. I
totally agree: Drug addicted parents need drug treatment. It always sounds
so easy. Treat the parents who have an addiction: problem solved. Ask any
judge, Family Continuity caseworker, drug addiction specialist, counselor or
detox facility, and he will tell you that addicts must truly want help to
change their course in life. If they don't earnestly desire to radically
change their lives, even the most intense treatment programs and case plans
are not going to help. You can lead an addict to help but you can't make him
receive it. Healing comes from a desire to want more in life than using
drugs offers. It takes motivation (which starts on the inside), treatment,
counseling, Narcotics Anonymous/Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, a sponsor and
faith in God and one's self.

All the state funding in the world cannot give addicts a heart's desire to
change their lives. They have to want it. Yes, it is truly sad and
heartbreaking that children have to suffer and be parentless because their
parents are addicted. But no one can change the addicts' lifestyle, no one
can change their friends or their hangouts but them.

- -- Sharon Blair, Largo