I live in a small town within a larger community that is nowhere near as big as where I grew up. My graduating class was 636 kids and that was just our high school - the rival high school probably had an equal number of kids. The typical class size here is 200.
This week, in less than five days, two young people have died from heroin overdoses.
I knew of the kids; I didn't personally know them.
People like to think, "Not my kid."
Oh yes.
YOUR kid. MY kid. OUR kids.
The following piece is very powerful. It is well worth the 8 minutes.
This week, in less than five days, two young people have died from heroin overdoses.
I knew of the kids; I didn't personally know them.
People like to think, "Not my kid."
Oh yes.
YOUR kid. MY kid. OUR kids.
The following piece is very powerful. It is well worth the 8 minutes.
Everyone I know lives in a community that rallies together in times of great tragedy.
Here's what I want.
I want the community to rally together BEFORE the tragedy. I want people to take a stand and say, "No more."
Our community has a D.A.R.E. program. I was recently told that some of the kids wear their D.A.R.E. shirts when they go to parties. They enjoy the irony of it. Really? Well, I guess yes, because let's face it, we were all teenagers and young adults once and weren't we too, ironic and invisible?
I honestly have no idea how drug addiction starts.
Hell, I can't figure out my own addiction to food and I've got years of therapy under my belt.
How is it that the baby you rocked gets addicted; you know, the same kid who probably had to be held down to take children's Motrin.
What happens when you HAVE talked about it and it still occurs?
In our community we have an amazing woman named Clare. Clare is the "Lunch Lady" - her term, not mine. She knows every single kid who goes through the schools. She is helping to lead the charge to have people speak out about this god awful drug. She has support from a number of other people who all want the same result. A dialog. No more whispering. SHOUTING about it. Rallying before the next kid dies.
As I read through the many Facebook posts about this in the past 12 hours it humbles me to read the stories from the parents who have lived through this with their kids. People who have great parenting skills have kids who get addicted to drugs. Great kids get addicted to drugs.
There can be no blame. The pain is far too great to cast a stone.
I think I am most horrified by the fact that there are adults with kids selling this shit to our kids.
When I was a teenager, WAY back in the 1970's, I read Go Ask Alice. The book remains in print. In the past few years I read both, Beautiful Boy and Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines. A point and counter point version of the same issue from a fathers point of view and his sons response to the father's book. If you haven't read them, I suggest them - not easy reads.
One of the first songs I ever learned to play on the guitar was this Neil Young song.
I love the song. I hate the song.
Here's what I want.
I want the community to rally together BEFORE the tragedy. I want people to take a stand and say, "No more."
Our community has a D.A.R.E. program. I was recently told that some of the kids wear their D.A.R.E. shirts when they go to parties. They enjoy the irony of it. Really? Well, I guess yes, because let's face it, we were all teenagers and young adults once and weren't we too, ironic and invisible?
I honestly have no idea how drug addiction starts.
Hell, I can't figure out my own addiction to food and I've got years of therapy under my belt.
How is it that the baby you rocked gets addicted; you know, the same kid who probably had to be held down to take children's Motrin.
- I know there will be people who will say it starts with drinking.
- I know there will be people who say it starts with smoking pot.
- I know there will be people who say it starts with poor self esteem.
- I know there will be people who say it starts with peer pressure.
- I know there will be people who say it starts because it's fun.
- I know there will be people who say you can prevent it by talking about it it at home.
What happens when you HAVE talked about it and it still occurs?
In our community we have an amazing woman named Clare. Clare is the "Lunch Lady" - her term, not mine. She knows every single kid who goes through the schools. She is helping to lead the charge to have people speak out about this god awful drug. She has support from a number of other people who all want the same result. A dialog. No more whispering. SHOUTING about it. Rallying before the next kid dies.
As I read through the many Facebook posts about this in the past 12 hours it humbles me to read the stories from the parents who have lived through this with their kids. People who have great parenting skills have kids who get addicted to drugs. Great kids get addicted to drugs.
There can be no blame. The pain is far too great to cast a stone.
I think I am most horrified by the fact that there are adults with kids selling this shit to our kids.
When I was a teenager, WAY back in the 1970's, I read Go Ask Alice. The book remains in print. In the past few years I read both, Beautiful Boy and Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines. A point and counter point version of the same issue from a fathers point of view and his sons response to the father's book. If you haven't read them, I suggest them - not easy reads.
One of the first songs I ever learned to play on the guitar was this Neil Young song.
I love the song. I hate the song.
I caught you knockin'
At my cellar door
I love you, baby,
Can I have some more
Ooh, ooh, the damage done.
http://youtu.be/c-WUo4sFGgA
At my cellar door
I love you, baby,
Can I have some more
Ooh, ooh, the damage done.
http://youtu.be/c-WUo4sFGgA
