Good News / Bad News

I'll get the bad news out of the way first.


Just received a call from "Kelly", she was in the hospital as a result of an OD.  She is fine physically but in a lot of trouble legally and obviously because of her addiction.  I had distanced myself from her this week because I knew she was using and didn't want her around my home (still talked to her daily by phone).  So I can't say I was surprised.


What really looks bad for her is that she was at court this morning for a possession of paraphernalia charge (she got it with Anthony - remember back when he was chased down by a K-9 patrol dog? She was driving the car that day).  So when she goes to court for this new charge, the judge will see that immediately upon leaving the court today she went and bought and used heroin.  She will most likely face some jail time.  I kind of hope she gets some time followed by a court ordered rehab.  She may lose a job she loves (groomer at a pet store) and fall behind in college, but if that's what it takes, so be it. Nothing else has worked so far.


She was crying to me because her dad said "You don't love me!" when she called her parents.  I explained to her that if feels that way to a parent.  We had a good talk.  Of course she swears that it was the "last time".  Sigh.  Keven just shook his head and said "Mom, I really mean it when I say I am never going to use again."  Dear God, I want to believe that with all my heart - and I do.  Time will tell.


Now for the GOOD news:


Guess who got a job today after 10 months of unemployment?  ME!  And not just any old job, a job working for a friend who I have wanted to work with for YEARS.  Its part time and I will work partly from home.  I will write more about it on my other blog if anyone is interested.  I am STOKED.   Now I can actually pay for my own lunch when I go out with my girls every Friday, I can pay my bills, I can put gas in my car!  I will still have to live very, very frugally but I've got that down to a science after the last ten months :)


I am celebrating by having a Starbucks after work with my friend Lauren, I know...pretty wild, huh?  But for me, its wild enough!  No more drama!




Peace, Hope and Love,
Barbara

Update on Today and News Story

So far so good.  Picked him up at 8 am.  When we got home at 9 his probation officer was here talking to my mom!  That was a surprise but we knew she'd be here sometime this week.  Keven likes her a lot, I like her too.  She reminded him of the rules, that he needs to see her twice a week and that he needs to attend 4 NA meetings per week.

Kev and I were together running errands most of the day.  He just left with a friend (female) so I get to practice not worrying, letting go, not being nervous.  I've known this girl for years, as far as I know, she doesn't use drugs or alcohol.  Still, it makes me nervous!  This is the first time he's got in a car with a friend in 6 months!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've added a link to my sidebar called "News Stories" where I am posting articles I run across or have sent to me that relate to heroin addiction.  Here is a quote from the one called "City Declares Heroin Epidemic":

“The problem with the younger heroin addicts is that they don’t understand how addictive it is and how fast you go downhill when you start using, Florek said. “They start using heroin for recreation and can be addicted in a week or two.

In 2009, Dane County reported 125 cases of heroin- or opiate-related overdoses and 18 confirmed deaths. Already in 2010 there have been 14 overdoses and 5 deaths, according to Sgt. Gordon Disch of the Dane County Sheriff’s Office. "

I hesitate to share grim statistics that seem so negative, but solutions starts with understanding the problem, so the first step has to be RECOGNITION that there IS a problem ALL ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.


Peace, Hope and Love,
Barbara