I recently reported the story on teen drug use in Abilene, particulary the prominence of ecstasy. Though only one teen spoke with me on camera about the issue, almost every one of the tens of local teenagers I talked to about x said it's commonplace among their peers. The same, as you might have guessed, was said of marijuana.
The thought that teens are experimenting with the drugs without their parents knowing is frightening enough. Hearing from other teens that those who try such drugs seem to get "bored" with them and move onto potentially more dangerous drugs, I should hope many would find unnerving.
I have seen people very close to me become ensarled in the narcotic web. The addiction consumed, terrorized, demoralized and utterly destroyed their lives. That is, until they got help. Their dependence on drugs largely affected my life and the lives of others around me. And guess what. The spirals all began with a social experiment. "Let's just try it! Just this once..." I can only imagine what they must have thought as teenagers, when the thought of taking that pill or that puff "just once" entered into their minds. Hooked. A life of dreams, shattered.
Thankfully, I have also seen the face of recovery, how someone can overcome a life of addiction at any age. Did it happen overnight? Far from it. The process took years of deceit, lies, heartache and immense pain for both parties. It can, however, be done. Texas Rangers center fielder (one of my heroes) Josh Hamilton is proof of that.
On the other hand, I have known those who were not so fortunate. Their lives were cut short, along with their passions, ideals and all that came with it. Talk about affliction; the loved ones of such deceased know the meaning of the word.
I didn't intend to write about such a weighty subject, but when I thought of teens partying the night away trying anything and everything just to fit in, my heart broke. Perhaps 9 our of 10 of those teens walk away unscathed, but there is and will always be that one. The one who got in too deep. The one whose aspirations of becoming a lawyer or professional athlete and one day starting a family suddenly crumble. To that one, I say don't do it! Rise above the peer pressure and be better than the rest. Outshine your classmates by saying "no" now. It could mean your life. To those already in deep, you can do it! Stay strong. Want help. You can do anything you set your mind to. I've seen it done.
Meg
You can view the story here: http://bigcountryhomepage.com/search-fulltext?nxd_id=313937
I was a drug addict for about 10 years. Crank, coke, x, pot, alcohol, mushrooms, you name it, I did it. I used to say, "at least I don't shoot heroin." Teens who use X think they're indestructable, (like we all do as teens) but I have told my children since they were very young. DON'T EVEN TRY IT! Ecstasy, coke, speed will eventually cause a chemical imbalance in the brain due to decreased serotonin levels. Let kids know they are messing with their brains when they use these drugs. There is never a story about how someone did drugs and everything got better and better. Either they kick the habit, die, or end up in jail. I knew 4 people who committed suicide in their teens and early 20s, and many more who have died in their 30's and 40s due to drug abuse. It is a slow, depressing, and unmerciful death.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your openness, Jeff! Hopefully it will encourage others to wake up to what's going on.
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