Preventing Drug Abuse One Child At A Time

First Things First

2009-11-22T07:36:00.000-08:00

First let

First let me give you a little background. I have five brothers and two sisters. Yes you read that right, 8 children, 5 boys 3 girls. I am “number 7” and the baby girl, as people always ask where I fall into the mix. Were my parents crazy, perhaps, but I never once felt as though I wasn’t loved. Sitting here today I can honestly say that everything my parents did/didn’t do was because they felt that they were doing the right thing at the time. Were they perfect? No. Of course there are things that they wish they would have done differently. Out of 7 living children 5 have battled or are currently battling drug addictions.

What went wrong? It is easy for one sitting on the outside to say what caused the outcome. But, on the inside things are not so easy. One find themselves feeling helpless, mind boggled at what is happening, asking themselves what went wrong, how did it get to this point, and will it ever get better. My parents both from small towns in Arizona not having much experience with drugs at that point in their lives if any at all moved to a big city in California, not knowing before what this would mean for their family. This was so my dad could finish his degree. In the coming years my oldest brother slowly but surely kept slipping away from them. Despite their efforts, he turned to drugs as his way to fit in. It was pretty much downhill from there, with my 3 brothers and 1 sister following in his footsteps. We lived in CA until I was in the 4^th grade. Tired of the drugs, fast paced life, and the crime among other things, we moved to the small town of Duncan, AZ. (Wonder where that is? Good luck, and don’t blink or you will miss it.) But, the battle didn’t stop there. They thought a small town would be better, they thought it would minimize the chances of drug use in their last 3 children left at home. Bless them for trying. Little did they know that not only were there a great deal of drug addicts in the small town, but drugs were very easy to obtain there. I was able to stay completely away from drugs, sadly the other two were not.

Unfortunately I have experienced firsthand the affects of drugs in a family. Not only are my brothers and sister addicted, but my father in law has struggled with his own addiction to prescription drugs. I have seen how they destroy a person and a family. I have taken on the task of writing/compiling this blog hoping, praying that it will stop one person somewhere from doing drugs. My purpose is to show people that even though they may think the choice they are making will only affect them, the reality is that it will affect everyone around them especially those they love the most. This blog will contains writings from people who have felt the wrath of drugs through no fault of their own.

Drug Prevention in Schools

2009-11-16T03:03:00.000-08:00

Drugs are infecting our schools, our work places, and sadly our homes. Drugs are destroying the lives of our loved ones and so many other wonderful people and even their families. My question to you is why? Could it be that we just aren't getting the knowledge out there, especially to the young people of the terrible effects of drugs? Could it be that some people think it will never happen to them, or that they have control?

I, like many of you, had D.A.R.E. when I was in school. Six grade to be exact. I still remember the red t-shirts that I wore proudly and the D.A.R.E graduation, feeling like I was 10 feet tall and bullet proof. Most often, at least back in those days, when kids went through a program like this they did it willingly and with smiles on their faces not really understanding the reality of drugs or their dangers. That was the one and only time that I ever had D.A.R.E. I can only remember one other drug prevention related program that I had, and that was an assembly in High School when a man talked to us about the dangers of smoking cigarettes. Fortunately for me, my mind was made up long before then to not smoke, along with alcohol or do any other drugs for that matter. Unfortunately for some, either their mind's weren't made up when they were younger, or they were and then fell victim to peer pressure.

Do you see the problem here? I do. For me it is plain to see. I was fortunate, I had parents who taught me to make my mind up when I was about 12 years old to make a decision to not even try drugs. But, what about the kids who don't? What about the kids who have parents who just don't or can't educate their kids, or worse what about the kids who have parents who are addicts themselves? Do they have a chance? How will they know? I truely believe that drug prevention needs to start not only at a young age in schools, but that it needs to continue all through the rest of the school years with assemblies, drug prevention packets, community involvement, and recreational activities for youth and their families.

My daughter who is 7 and I have already talked about drugs and the dangers of "simply" trying them. Some may think I am crazy, but I have been talking to her about drugs for two years now. Even more this last several months. We have acted out senario's of the peer presures that often comes before drug abuse. I want her to know how peer presure might feel. I want her to have her mind firmly made up before she is placed in those situations. I pray that her being educated on drug abuse will stop her from doing it. I pray that she will proudly say NO THANK YOU! This is not fool proof I know, but making the decision young stopped me, so her chances of saying no will be even higher.

The lack of knowledge I had is what I want to prevent in other children. The only thing I had were the less than desireable example of drug abusers, which sometimes can be enough, but sometimes it can not. It wasn't enough for a lot of people I know including some of my own loved ones.

Let us work together and dillegently to keep or attain drug prevention in our schools and educate our own children, and other children in our lives. If you don't know where to start or how you can help, check out the great websites below on drug prevention. Get your family and friends involved with you. Talk to your local schools about their drug prevention programs, if any, and what you can do to help. TALK to your children. If you think this is not necessary you are deeply mistaken. 42% of teenagers whose parents talk to them about the dangers of drug use are LESS likely to use drugs than parents who don't. If you think this doesn't pertain to you in your life right now, you are wrong. It could be your child one day, or someone you love. If you don't have children you can still help.

http://www.teendrugabuse.us/teen_drug_use.html
http://www.theantidrug.com
http://www.cadca.org/

Until Next Time,
Brandi :)

Welcome

2009-11-15T12:47:00.000-08:00

Through this blog I hope to change someone some where for the better. Wether it be someone who has a family member/friend who is addicted, someone who is additcted them selves, or someone who wants to learn more and help. I have one true passion in this life, and that is to help kids stay off drugs.

I see or read about what other people are doing out there to help prevent drug abuse, and I think what can I honestly bring to the table that other people haven't, how can I help kids think twice about using drugs? I have decided that I do have something to give, maybe the same as others, maybe different. I have my own unique story, not of drug addiction, but rather that of no addiction because of the addictions of people I have loved the most in my life.

I am an ordinary woman with an ordinary life trying to do an extraordinary thing. Will I make a difference? You tell me.

Love,
Brandi :)