ONE PARENT'S ONGOING SIEGE OF TEEN'S DRUG ADDICTION

To the Editor:

I felt the need to write this in response to your commentary ("Increasingly,
Drugs Are Stealing Our Kids, Reporter, Sept. 18). I am a parent whose child is
a drug addict. Just to write or say these words causes physical and emotional
pain. We have been dealing with this issue (drug addiction) for a couple of
years and if I had the answer to this problem I would have solved it long ago.

Unless you are going through it with a loved one you have no idea the
complicated disease of addiction. I wrote a letter to the Reporter about a year
ago reaching out to the community and police department to take an aggressive
approach to get these kids off the street. Sometimes the only way to try to get
help is for the person to be put into the legal system, where they are forced
to deal with their issues. One of the things that I have heard over and over
again is that we as parents didn't "cause it," we can't "control it" and we
can't "cure" it. If we could only live by these words and accept it, but as a
parent it is very difficult.

Are drugs stealing our kids? You better believe it. Would I have done anything
differently in rearing my child as a youngster? The answer is yes, but that is
in hindsight and you cannot change history. I had always believed that young
people that got involved in drugs if they came from a broken home or had
parents that were physical abusers, alcoholics or drug abusers themselves. But
that is a myth. It can happen to anyone. Can love conquer an addict? The answer
is no.

In the article there was a comment: "Where are the parents?" I can only comment
on where I am. After seeing you child overdose and go into several
detoxification programs and drug rehabilitations and the problem still exists,
you look for answers from professionals. Their answers are to take a tough love
approach. You don't know how difficult that is, to know your child is living on
the street, getting high every chance they get without regard to consequences
and the fear that death with be the ultimate solution and pray that they get
arrested so at least they'll be safe, for at least a little while. So please,
unless you are in this situation, don't blame or ask where are the parents.
It's different in every situation.

I know the police department is doing their best to handle this epidemic but as
citizens of the community don't turn the other cheek if you see something. Call
the police, make them aware. You may be saving a life.

- -Please Help,

A Parent's Worst Nightmare

Editor's note: While it generally is the policy of the Reporter not to publish
unsigned submissions, because of the sensitive and personal nature of this
letter, an exception was made.