The Heartbreak Outside My Window
From the window next to my computer, I can look out and see groups of young men walking down the street. They are wearing jackets and ties and seem to be at a loss as to exactly what they are supposed to be doing. They’re not sure of the protocol as they slowly make their way up the street to a house not far from mine. They have just returned from a funeral of their friend - a young man just a couple of years out of high school. A few days ago, from this same window, I could see the paramedics and fire department and a few hours later the medical examiner all approaching the same house. A night of alcohol and drugs mixed with a young man’s feeling of invincibility came to a tragic end. I pray for the boy. I pray for the family. And, I pray for the young men who don’t know what they are supposed to be doing. Hopefully, they will figure out more than how to act at a funeral. Hopefully, they will figure out how to keep another funeral from happening.
del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Newsvine5 Comments
Post a comment
Loading ...
how do you know drugs/drinking was involved, alot of religous children commit suicide to get “closer to god” how do you know he just wasnt overly faithfull?
A coworker of my husband’s lost his 21 year old son to an overdose of prescription drugs last week. We feel so brokenhearted at this senseless loss. This young man had completed a treatment program and seemed to be getting his life back on the right track. I pray for his family too - and I pray that we can raise awareness about this issue and hopefully prevent more families from dealing with this pain.
We always hear about kids feeling invoncible. I know I certainly thought nothing would ever happen to me when I was 16. I believe before addiction that feeling of invincibility is what gives teens the green light to go ahead and experiment. When things go too far it’s a huge shock. No one ever expects it. Having lost two people I grew up with to driving under the influence, I can relate to the sense of loss the men above are feeling. Being young and realizing invincibility doesn’t really exist is a huge shock. Any life cut short is a tragedy. Just wanted to share.
The Partnership created http://www.drugfree.org/memorials to give families and friends a special place to remember the lives of loved ones lost to drugs and alcohol. The stories are powerful and heartbreaking. Take a look and let us know what you think.
-Julie, Director of Community
I lost my own 31-year-old son who was a Paramedic and an RN to a multidrug overdose. I understand the suffering that addicted people go through. As my son always told me, “Mom, nobody wakes up one day and decides to be an addict.” They may choose drugs, but they do not choose addiction. Addiction comes as a total shock to them. This is not how they thought it would be when they did that first line of cocaine or whatever.
Since my son’s death 6 years ago, I’ve written 3 books on drugs and addiction. My third book is geared specifically toward 5th and 6th graders because this is the age where we need to start reaching them before “the addiction monster” gets them. You can check out my books by visiting my website http://www.theaddictionmonster.com I urge all parents, kids, and educators to read these books especially The Addiction Monster and the Square Cat which is a fictionalized version of my son’s struggle and death from drugs, as told by the sassy but lovable family cat. Ironically, this book is quite often in the #3 position on Amazon.com’s Best Sellers List in Substance Abuse, right after Nic Sheff’s book.