Drug and alcohol addiction and abuse. Recognition. Prevention. Treatment
20/20 Parenting. Recognizing and mitigating early vulnerabilities and risk factors.
Letters to Kerry
Stories of Victory, Struggle, Tragedy, & Workplace Concerns
September 6, 2006:
My beautiful 21 year old niece discovered crystal meth / crack - we're not sure what else - and we're not exactly sure when it started. Before we realized drugs were involved - I convinced her to see a psychiatrist and she was diagnosed with a bipolar disorder. Now we're not sure if it's mental illness or the drugs. It's been hell for a few years now. Early this summer, Linda left for the Calgary Stampede and hasn't been back since. Tonight I received a call from Edmonton - she was picked up by the police for jaywalking, in the company of a fellow who had nine outstanding arrest warrants. Apparently, she's been doing crack. I begged the police officer to have her admitted to hospital, but he said there were no EHS staff working nights in Alberta, so she's being released to a shelter. It all feels so hopeless. She was a beautiful, talented, exceptionally bright girl. Things are just getting worse and worse. I am glad to find your site - just to have someone to say this to. Someone who's been here.
Thanks,
a very concerned Auntie
This is a heart-wrenching situation for this entire family and thousands more like them. I so wish there were more we could do for our beautiful kids before they become entrenched in this horrid drug culture, trapped by their own minds, severely influenced by the drug and drug dealers that control them. When a family faces this it is devastating on all levels regardless the outcome. What a travesty. – K
