Annual Walk Against Drugs

This past Saturday we had our annual drug walk.  I have mixed feelings about, but generally think its a good thing.  It sort of makes me sad though, because Keven walked this walk several times in his school years.  Drug Awareness had the opposite affect on him - it triggered a curiosity in drugs rather than a desire to stay away from them.  I know several of you who have said the same thing about your sons.

So the question is:  WHAT CAN WE DO TO STEER KIDS AWAY FROM DRUG ABUSE?

I honestly don't know if there's a way.

How many of you remember watching "Red Asphalt" or similar driver's ed films designed to scare the heck out of young drivers?  The idea was, if we were shown in graphic, real images what can happen if we drink and drive - or drive to fast, etc; we would choose NOT to risk it.

Well, I hate to admit how many times I drank and drove as a youth, and how many times I drove way too fast for the fun of it.  And today we have texting and driving to worry about too.

I don't know if we can scare or educate kids away from drug use.  But what can we do?  Drug test them?  Threaten them?  Beg them?  Just be the best damn parents we can be and hope that they make good choices?

Its sad to me to see all those people marching againstdrugs knowing that some of them will end up addicted, or dead.

Thanks for checking out the advertising links here....and triple thanks if you made a purchase. I appreciate it so much. Peace, Hope and Love, Barbara

New Recovery Site and Antoher Installment of "A Year Ago Today"

Tom at RecoveryHelpDesk has launched a new site, I've joined and hope some of you do too.  Tom is a certified alcohol and drug counselor with many years experience.  I respect his philopsophy and have learned a lot from him.  The site he started is a place to learn and discuss, its called "junkjunk".

New Opiate Recovery Social Networking Site Launched:

junkjunk! is a new social networking site for people living with and seeking to overcome opiate dependence, their families and friends.
You can find it at junkjunk.ning.com
It’s free to join and all are welcome.

A Year Ago Today, Part Five (actually this happened a  year ago on Jan. 6)

Was he dead or alive?  It was the longest night of my life, asking this question over and over.

K had been home from the hospital (suicide attempt) for only five days and already some of his old drug friends  had come by.  This was back in the day when I still believed some of his lies and allowed him to manipulate or threaten me so he'd get his way.  Since I felt he was in a "fragile" state of mind, I allowed him to use my car at 8 pm to drive to his girlfriends to "say goodnight to her" since he hadn't seen her all day (she'd been at work).

The gf, "C" was not a drug user.  She had visited K in the hospital with me and I got to know her pretty well since we  had long drives there and back several days in a row.   So when she called me at 10 to ask if K was home, we both freaked.  He was suppose to be with her.  He lied to me.  He was out using drugs.

Long story short from 10 pm - 8 am the next morning I was either sitting in the front window hoping and praying he'd show up or driving around town with "C" on the cell phone giving me directions to every friend she knew of K's that did drugs.  I actually did catch a glimpse of my car at about 3 am but couldn't follow it so gave up and went home.

At 8 am he pulled up in front of the house.  I had his jacket in my hands and met him at my car.  "You're going to rehab right NOW!"

"I know mom, I need to."

I took him to South Coast Hospital ER, they had a drug program.  He'd been shooting coke/heroin all night and he was a mess.  They immediately gave him something to calm him down.  It was our first very expensive attempt at rehab and he lasted in there for five days.  I learned the three C's from a meeting there:  You didn't cause it, you can't control it, you can't cure it. 

It was one of the worst nights I've ever had and I will never forget wondering if he was dead or alive.  I really thought I had lost him.

Call me crazy....I don't care

I love Bruce Springsteen.

I've followed his career since the 70's, long before anyone out west really "knew" him (had a friend from Jersey who turned my sister on to his music).  

I've seen him in concert every time he's been to Southern California since 1981 (20 so far).  I admire him for many reasons, but its mostly about the music:  his passion for writing and performing meaningful songs about real life. His music has provided the sound track to my life, changing and evolving through the decades but never losing its ability to touch me in and make me feel alive.



So I decided, what the heck, I think I'll write him and inform him of the opiate/heroin epidemic that is spreading across HIS country.  His kids are teenagers, if he doesn't know about this stuff, he should.  I want to tell him about my son, and your kids.   

I want him to use his voice to bring awareness and make a difference. And, I believe he'll help, I honestly do.... if he ever gets the letter, that's just how he is.  Now I have to figure out how to get the letter to him, I guess via his manager or agent.  I will keep trying till I hear from him.


So that's my crazy thing I'm going to do.  I'll let you know when he gets back to me.



UPDATE ON K:  He's not doing so well.  They have him on some new meds, took him off all his old ones.  I want to trust that this doctor is good and that she knows what she's doing.  I am working really hard at staying in the moment and not worrying.


Peace, Hope and Love,
Barbara

P.S.  Those are just a few of my ticket stubs, if you click on them check out the PRICES we used to pay for concerts.  Its outrageous what we pay now.  Never bring up "Ticketmaster" in front of me unless you want to see me get on my soapbox about the unfairness of their practices, another thing Bruce cares about and has spoken out on.