The last thing we we want as parents is for our teens to act like adults and that's exactly what they want to do. Smoking, to them, seems like the grown up thing to do. I smoke and I tried to explain to my boys that it is not cool, it stinks, it causes cancer and it's a waste of money. It didn't work they smoke. I can't really be mad at them for it, I mean they grew up watching me do it, so in hind sight, it's my fault.
If I could go back and do anything different with my life it would be quit smoking. I have tried so many times. But, If I would have known what I know now. If I could have seen the future. I would be a non-smoker today. I didn't smoke when I was pregnant, so it's not like I can't do it. I just enjoy it. My boys always hated it. They complained about it, so I never thought they would do it, but they do.
My advice to a parent that smokes is to quit. Even if your child says it stinks. The chances of them smoking is great. You quiting makes their chance of starting very low.
When I was Growing up in Greene County the hardest drug around was marijuana. I'm not saying that's OK. But it's candy compared to the drugs these kids are doing today. I was reading an article in the observer reporter the other day. An officer was at the West Greene High School lecturing on heroin. he said "The average life of a heroin addict is ages 17-24, why 24?, because they don't live past 24".
Heroin is here. It is the worst drug to come to the community. It is being snorted, shot up with needles and even mixed with cocaine or downers. It is killing our teens and young adults. The D.E.A. is doing everything they can to control it, but it not stopping the deaths.
We as a community have to help. We need to help any one we know who is on these drugs. They say you can't help anyone that don't want help. That is not true. We have support groups. We can talk to these addicts and give them the help they want and need. If you know anyone on heroin, which I'm sure a lot of you do. This drug is taking over our community. I myself have known 5 people that it has killed in the past 3 years. Someone very close to me is addicted to it. They are in jail right now. I know it sounds terrible,but I am relieved that he is there. With him there I know he is safe. It's my son. My oldest. This subject hits home for me. I have done everything in my power to help him. He does want help. I believe they all do. No matter how much they say they don't want to quit. There's a deep down problem that their trying to forget and the drug helps them do that. If someone you know has a drug problem, help them, let them know their not alone. Their are rehabs and support groups out their for you and them.
I'm sorry I couldn't get to get this video to copy, but it is worth watching. You can copy on your address bar and watch it. If you know someone that needs help it will be useful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ97lIJUDdc&feature=related
For treatment and rehabilitation
http://www.greenbriar.net/
Bev,
ReplyDeleteI come from a family that is nonsmokers but i marreid a man who smokes and his entire family smokes also. One of my fears for my daughter is that she will be a smoker also becasue she sees it around her. My husband is trying to quit and I hope that he can overcome this habit. Thanks for the blog information. You are correct Herion is out there, it is cheap, fashionable drug that is being used more than pot. I hope that this drug can one day be eliminated becasue of it deadly side effects
Christina Chinchock
Christina, I agree , you see your family din't smoke, so you didn't.. My family did, so I did. It's an on-going cycle. My friends did also, your friends probably didn't. My son's friends do drugs so he started doing them. I was talking to a girl-friend of his. She told me that he was mad at her for doing heroin and she couldn't believe he was doing it, that's how I found out he was doing it. When I talked to him about it he said all of his friends do it. It is ironic how we as human beings do what we see, even as adults.
ReplyDeleteBev Gayman
Hi Bev,
ReplyDeleteI also have someone very close to me who has done herion for 11 years or more. It has consumed everyone involved in this person's life. It is very sad and makes me feel very helpless for this person. I hope and pray that my children do not decide to take this path in their lives. Our world is a scary one. I cannot image what you are going through with your son. I will pray for you. Thank you for writing about such a personal subject.
Cary Bryson
I liked that you used your life to connect with readers. The video was also a good way to put a face on the topic. Unfortunately drugs are everywhere I do not know one person that they have not touched their lives rather through watching a family member, friend, or self go through it.
ReplyDeleteBev,
ReplyDeleteI know a few people who are addicted to heroin as well. I too believe that jail would be good for them because at least they won't have the option of using in there. My grandmother used to smoke cigarettes, and my mother was the only one out of four kids who didn't complain about the smell. She is now the only one who doesn't smoke. Ironic. I'm sorry to hear about your son, but at least he is away from it right now. Nice job on this, and good luck to you and your family...it will be a long road.
Samantha
Hello Beverly,
ReplyDeleteHave you ever been to Alanon group meetings? It is a group for friends and relatives of people addicted to alchohol and drugs;there is one in almost every city and I found it of some benefit.
Ruth Hall
Bev,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post. Both of my parents are smokers, and I hate it. I tried smoking when I was younger and didn't enjoy it at all. I guess I can say I am in the lower percentage of children who don't smoke when both parents did.
I liked that you put your own experience in your post about smoking cigarettes. It helps some readers to know that it can happen, even if you tell your children not to. Also, with your experience, you let readers know how close to home drugs can hit with families.
As far as the writing, it was good. I couldn't find a clear thesis for the post. I knew you were writing about smoking and drugs because of the title, but as I started reading you only mentioned smoking at first. Something that could have been added to the post was a percentage of how many children started smoking when one or both of their parents smoked. That would have given the reader more information on how likely it happens and really get through to the reader the chances of it happening.
I saw a few fragment sentences. They weren't a complete sentence, and sometimes that confused me when I was reading it. Also, whenever you quote a source, the proper citation should be used in the writing and at the end in the works cited page. I notice that when you wrote about the article from your source, the name of the source was not capitalized or put in quotation marks/underlined.
I enjoyed reading your post. I thought marijuana was bad around this area, but I see now that heroin is being used a lot here too.
Thanks for the information,
Kristen Mummert
Beverly,
ReplyDeleteThis was a great post. It is so true. I use to hate the fact that my mom smoked so bad I would take her cigarettes and flush them down the toilet. Ten years down the road and I smoke. Go figure right? It is eaiser for kids to get weed now a days before cigarettes. Drugs ruined a lot of things in my life so I am against them 100%. I like that the community has support groups. Great post.
-Kendra McCracken
Bev ,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this story it was very personal and I apperciate it and your concern to prevent smoking and drug use.
Jaycin Firestone
So I do not know if you have ever heard of it but my gram was hypnotized and she actually did quit smoking. Also, I lost two close friends to heroin overdoses, and I just wish i could go back and help them, but I just did not know what was wrong with the. If anything I think that people that use do not realize how much the people in there life care about them. But to get help that individual must want help.
ReplyDeleteCassie Gilkey
Bev,
ReplyDeleteI thought the post was alright. I like how you used facts from your life to make this post a good one. I think you need some more work on the structure and some grammar though. There is enough information for a thought provoking plea, but I just don't think it is organized well enough to be a great post. I'm glad to hear that your son is wanting help, I just hope he receives it in a way that benefits his health. Many people end up trying to get off drugs only to get right back on them. I hope he isn't one of those people and fights to stay off the drugs he is on.
Nice Post,
Richard Jordan
Kristen, thanks for the input on this it may help with my essay. I am horrible at english.
ReplyDeleteAlexander, yes, I know. That's what scares me I have heard that about 2% of heroin users actually quit. thanks for the feedback.
ReplyDeleteKendra, You never know, my 13 year old hates that I smoke and I'm afraid he will too, because my other 2 do. I am glad to hear your against drugs though. We sould start a huge Againt Drug Community...or something. I don't know. There has to be something we can do.
ReplyDeleteCassie, your right, if someone don't want to quit, their not going to. I know a ladie that goes to bingo, her and her sister was hypnotized, she quit, her sister didn't. so, I guess it works for some people. I would like to try it.
ReplyDeleteJaycin, thanks for the comment,
ReplyDeleteRuth, I have never heard of them, but I would like to check into something like that.
ReplyDeleteSamantha, thanks, it will be a long road. I know he is better off there. I just feel bad that I am glad he is there.
ReplyDeleteAmanda, they are terrible. This is a small community. Heroin is not suppose to be killing people in our community. That happens in the city. A lot of my son's friend have overdosed, some have died. It's a horrible drug.
ReplyDeleteCary,
ReplyDeleteThank yo so much. I will pray for you also. I was reading an article in the paper the other day. It said, the average heroin addict are the ages 17-24. He went on to say, why 24? Because they usually don't live past 24. This really scares me, my son is 22.
Bev,
ReplyDeleteI totally understand where you are coming from, when I was younger before I had children I had a problem with Marijuana, not just for fun, I couldn't function without it. The only thing that opened my eyes was my children and I could never imagine one of them making the same mistakes. I applaud your personal story and want you to know your kids are always going to "try" something, it is our job to prevent it but that doesn't always happen. Sometimes children need to go through certain situations in order to make them realize some things aren't what they seem. Good Piece,
Alison.